Company History

R&M is growing solidly in 2019 in spite of the challenging market environment. Strategic acquisitions in the US East Coast and in China strengthen R&M's position in its largest sales markets. The product range for the three market segments Data Center, Public Networks and LAN Cabling will be further expanded and the digital range will be enlarged. Customer-specific webshop solutions are being implemented in several countries. The successful launch of innovative products contributes to success and opens up new opportunities for the future. In the coming years, R&M will invest in new telecom market segments, especially in comprehensive solutions in the areas of mobile communications, smart cities, smart buildings, and smart networks.

A dozen new products are being launched by R&M in 2019 - more than ever before in a single fiscal year. Particularly worthy of mention is the new distribution platform Netscale 72 with the DCIM software inteliPhy net.

Thanks to the innovative strength of the company, R&M now covers the entire connectivity range.

2018 will be the most successful year in the company's history. In January, the company is honored for its exemplary corporate management in and for the economic region of Zurich. With the takeover of the Czech fiber optic manufacturer DIXI a.s., R&M expands its expertise in the development and production of fiber optic cables. In August, a state-of-the-art plant for the manufacture of fiber optic products is inaugurated in Bangalore, India. Both plants produce solutions for data centers and FTTx applications.

At the Data Center World in London, R&M presents the "Telco Edge", a micro data center for cloud edge infrastructures. With "PowerSafe", R&M introduces a quality seal for Power over Ethernet applications. In the fall, the "Better Connected" initiative is launched to prove that R&M's high-quality networks help customers save money and time throughout the entire life cycle of fiber optic data networks.

R&M can look back on 2017 as one of its most successful years to date, and one in which it continued to develop as a leading provider of fiber optic solutions. R&M solutions are being used in the construction of the world’s largest airport in Istanbul. The takeover of Brazilian firm PETCOM should enable significant developments in the company’s regional market position. R&M now has production facilities in seven different countries. The market position for hyperscale data center customers continues to see positive development. The SYNO Splice Closure and Polaris Box have enabled long-planned partnerships to be concluded with the world’s leading carriers. The ultra-high density platform Netscale and the infrastructure management system R&MinteliPhy are setting the standards in the data center market. In LAN cabling, R&M is able to provide solutions for intelligent buildings, digital ceiling and POLAN. R&M is supporting the introduction of the dual professional education system in Bulgaria, based on the Swiss model, and is training young people there as electromechanical engineers.  

R&M further improves its performance and ends the year with excellent results. New pioneering products, such as the Netscale system for Data Centers and the SYNO gel dome closure for Public Networks, are launched. With the acquisition of REALM Communications Inc. in Silicon Valley, the company is active as R&M USA Inc. in the North American market as from May 2016 and therefore on all continents. The Values for Success reinforce the corporate values with regard to the future. A new company motto is also launched at this time: We provide connectivity that matters. 

At the very start of the year, the Swiss National Bank abolishes the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 to the euro, placing Switzerland under enormous pressure. Export-oriented companies like R&M must quickly find ways of adapting to the new situation. Thanks to the consistent implementation of a cost-saving program and a lot of hard work on the part of all employees, turnover in 2015 still saw a slight increase. R&M opens new subsidiaries in Morocco and Brazil. R&M expands its portfolio in the carrier market with UniRack2 and FibereasyRack2. With the FM45 Cat. 6_A and the FO Field 1.1, R&M launches two even more powerful field-installable connectors onto the market. The Cat. 6_A module sells so well that production can be doubled. 

R&M introduces the HD SCM street cabinet for 1728 splice connections. This is a world record in this segment. In early March R&M acquires the business activities of AFS India and employs now a workforce of more than 800 employees worldwide. R&M announces strategic partnerships with Fluke Networks, Finisar and Xena Networks. The Cat. 6_A Easy Lock sets new standards in the installation of twisted copper cables. R&M celebrates its 50 years anniversary at HQ and international subsidiaries with employees and business partners. Video - "The first 100 years of R&M" In the anniversary year the company increases turnover and EBIT significantly compared to the previous year.

Under its new CEO, R&M was able to increase its sales by 7% and double its EBIT. R&M opened new offices in Brazil and Turkey. Business in the data center segment got a big boost when R&M won out over a tough field to land a data center project for Philipp Morris. There were also major FTTx contracts, especially from the Middle East. The InteliPhy marked the first time R&M launched a system for the automatic control of networks. The company also scored a big hit with the field terminable FO Field connector. Another new product was the HD MPT. R&M prepared the new Corporate Social Responsibility Report in accordance with the GRI Guidelines for the first time, impressively underscoring its sustainable conduct as a company. On a roadshow, R&M traveled to customers in Switzerland, Germany and Austria in a modified bus to present its solutions for data centers and FTTx. R&M intends to visit other countries in 2014. There is no doubt: R&M is equipped for the future. 

Chairman of the Board of Directors Hans Hess ran R&M as interim CEO also operationally until the end of August. Then, Michel Riva took over at the helm of R&M on September 1, 2012. On October 2, the new FO production facility in Sofia was officially opened in a ceremony also attended by Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev. Besides strengthening the strategically important position of R&M in the EU and in Southeastern Europe, this plant was a response to demand for FO technology on the world market. The company geared its efforts fully toward future market trends. FTTx, data centers, and office cabling were the focal segments. 

After 12 years at the helm of the company, Martin Reichle decided to seek a new CEO to advance the company's growth strategy at the strategic level more energetically in the future. Chairman of the Board of Directors Hans Hess took over as interim CEO. R&M unveiled a new distribution platform for street cabinets, a new high-density panel for data centers and a new cable management system. The company also received two awards. The first was the iF Product Design Award for the Cat. 6_A module because of this product's space-saving design and ease of installation. The second was a Silver Dolphin in Cannes for the corporate film "Error Message. 

SAP was rolled out as the new ERP system at company headquarters. R&M completed the biggest investment in its history, the new Cube at Binzstrasse 32, and moved into this new complex. The owner family thereby set the future long-term direction of the company. The Optical Distribution Frame (ODF) became a big seller. The ODF allows large numbers of optic fibers to be connected and distributed in a tiny space. The year also witnessed the launch of Raceway, a cable laying system ideal for data centers and for central distribution systems for network operators.

In the United Arab Emirates, R&M opened up its second regional supply chain hub. This hub enables the company to serve the important future markets in the Middle East more intensively. R&M set new standards for offices and data centers with its newly developed Cat. 6_A module. The angled panel, a solution for data centers, improved the handling on the rack while the new LC Duplex generation was the first to contain laser protection and a lock for locking up the connector. With these safety features, LC was now able to be used more easily in office buildings, residential buildings and highly compact computing centers. An outlet for Fiber.to the Home (FTTH) was also launched. 

The Asia hub in Singapore opened as a pilot project. Work also began on the roll-out of a new forward-looking ERP system intended for use worldwide. Several new products were unveiled once again such as the VDSL splitter, RMS45, and Global 2U patch panel. 

A further step was taken in the transition to the next generation of owners. Hans Reichle stepped down as chairman of the Board of Directors. Hans Hess was named his successor. R&M put in a sterling business performance for the fifth consecutive year. Since 2002, it had doubled the size of its workforce and its sales. On the production side, one highlight was the innovation award for the FM45, a field terminable RJ45 connector. Other new products included the U-Box, the CATV cable-TV solution, the FiberModule, VARIOLine and the Patch Guard for FO connectors. 

The export markets developed quite positively. By this year, R&M was making 75% of its sales abroad. The market organization in India got off to a lightning-fast start. With offices in Bangalore, Delhi and Bombay, R&M now began serving the booming IT market in India. It put a flexible wiring duct, DRM45, Plug&Lock, SLIM and HTU (home termination unit) on the market. 

R&M further improved its market position particularly with growth abroad. One vital step was the company's successful entry into the Chinese market, where it opened a representative office in Shanghai. With the StarReal10, R&M launched a solution for 10GBit Ethernet on the market. 

Hans Reichle wrote a book about the history of R&M over these four decades. R&M issued a new mission statement under the motto "fit for the future." The company espoused the same basic values it had when it was established. It still focuses on continuity, sustainable development and customer orientation, trust and mutual responsibility. The SC-RJ FO connectors developed by R&M became the preferred industry standard because of their compact design. 

Along with classic solutions for carrier cabling and enterprise cabling, R&M now added products and systems in the industrial cabling and residential cabling segments. R&M unveiled its innovative RCC45 at the trade shows and sparked a lot of interest. It was the first time the incoming supply for the device or plastic optical fibers had been additionally integrated in an RJ45 module. The trend to expanded generic cabling prompted R&M to devise total solutions for communication and mains-current cabling all the way to the workplace.

The abrupt end of the stock exchange frenzy left people everywhere noticeably sobered. The economic slump continued and investments were reduced to a minimum. R&M now focused on precisely defined main target markets and core areas of expertise. With its founding of the Copper and Fiber Optics Innovation Group, the company was able to invest efficiently in new products. R&M succeeded in gaining market shares in this difficult year. 

The bottom suddenly fell out of the telecommunication market, mirroring the general global economic trend. In the meantime, exports accounted for about 75% of business. R&M continued investing in innovation and quality. CLASSIC, STAR and VISION were launched as system solutions in the LAN segment. Splash Line, the latest product innovation featuring dust and moisture protection, rendered networks even more fail-safe under unfavorable conditions.

The much-esteemed company co-founder Renato De-Massari died on July 4 at the age of 66. He was an exemplary leader and highly respected by business partners and employees alike. A new standard was being prepared in the national and international standard-setting bodies with the Cat. 6 to cover yet another increase in transmission capacity for local area networks (LANs). R&M actively collaborated with these bodies. In doing so, R&M became the first manufacturer worldwide to market top-line Cat. 6 modules produced fully automatically. In that same year the world's most modern production plant for 100% in-line tested RJ45 Cat. 6 connector systems went into operation. Fiber optics production concurrently moved into a new facility and saw constant further expansion. R&M scored another big hit with its VS compact distribution system. 

Hans Reichle withdrew from the operating business and handed the reins of company management to his sons Martin and Peter. Hans Reichle continued to be Chairman of the Board of Directors. Reichle & De-Massari was replaced as a logo with the shorter R&M. The 10th million Cat. 5 module rolled off the assembly lines. 

Expansion abroad proceeded at a rapid pace. Further subsidiaries were established in Dubai, Austria and Hungary. The number of employees worldwide hit 438, with 333 of them working in Switzerland. R&M commenced its own production of fiber-optic connector systems. The SC-RJ FO connectors were launched.

An ultra-modern fully automatic production plant was put into operation for the RJ45 direct connectivity modules. Three further subsidiaries were founded: Reichle & De-Massari Ukraine Ltd., Reichle & De-Massari Malaysia and Reichle & De-Massari do Brasil Ltda. 

The transition from the founders' generation to the next generation began. The Reichle family took over all shares from Renato De-Massari, who withdrew from operating business to take a seat on the Board of Directors. Output numbers increased thanks to success with exports. R&M decided to streamline production and developed the RJ45 Cat. 5 direct connectivity module and parallel to that a fully automatic production plant. The elimination of PCBs eliminated soldering and the heavy metal problem. The new Venus outdoor boxes protected the copper or fiber optic interfaces. 

The establishment of Reichle & De-Massari Far East (Pte) Ltd in Singapore marked a crucial step. This subsidiary was put in charge of all business in Asia. By this year, about 50 specialists were working in product development to meet customer needs with new solutions and products. The RJ45 short module with PK93 and the shield connection 93 were launched on the market. R&M thus provided users with a significant optimization of the tool-free connection technique. The new R&M Duro module with polymer-protected contacts combined a weather-proof design with tool-free connection. 

R&M took its first steps into the Eastern Europe market with the founding of Reichle & De-Massari Polska Sp.z.o.o. in Warsaw. RJ45 became increasingly well-established as a new connector standard for generic cabling systems. R&M developed its first connection and distribution modules in keeping with this trend. Easy Lock, a tool-free connection technique, gained international attention as a result. A strain relief sleeve and the coding system known as Data Safe Lock ensured increased security and reliability. The development of a main distributor frame for optical fibers set new standards in terms of compactness and handling. The newly developed VS Standard distribution system supplemented the range with an export-oriented product. R&M became certified under ISO9001.

The telecommunication market became increasingly deregulated. It was obvious that a small domestic market like Switzerland would be increasingly tight in the future. R&M decided to target further markets for business development. It had 140 employees at this time. A new production and logistics building was purchased in Wetzikon. 

In just eight years, the workforce had grown from 24 to 140 employees. The enlarged business complex at Binzstrasse 31 in Wetzikon was finished and officially opened. In the same year, R&M purchased another property in Wetzikon. 

R&M founded a subsidiary in Italy, Reichle & De-Massari Italia S.r.l., now with registered office in Origgio. R&M put into operation the first fully automatic production plant for the manufacture of outlet inserts. The 19" rack designed by R&M enabled seamless integration of active components in the distribution systems. The RJ45 standard became the international standard. 

The company quickly outgrew its facilities. A warehouse built just two years earlier was enlarged with the addition of two new stories. The VS83 Modular distribution system was introduced. The company hit the limits of its capacity. Different proprietary connectors and cables caused great confusion in the market. R&M recognized that integration in its own modular connection and distribution systems would be highly beneficial for users.

R&M founded its first subsidiary abroad. Reichle & De-Massari GmbH in Germany commenced operating business. Business continued flourishing. A new 1800m² warehouse was planned. 

The workforce had now grown to 24. R&M renovated a building at Binzstrasse 31 in Wetzikon for new offices and factory facilities and then moved in. First experience with foreign business involving a contract for a large plug-in patching distributor in Manchester. 

The oil crisis cast its shadows. A halt in construction and a loan decision delayed the building project in Wetzikon. The company moved into temporary quarters on Pündtstrasse in Uster. The modular 2-pin terminal featuring the self-lifting terminal plate with seesaw effect functioned after several tests. 

The registered office of the business was moved to Uster. The attic was renovated and offices were set up in it. The first two employees joined the original duo of founders to form a quartet. A year-end surprise occurred when the Directorate General of PTT sent an invitation to participate in a project competition for developing connector boxes with 40-pin connectors. The first T+T outlets were soon delivered. 

The company was founded. The garages and homes of the Reichle family in Wetzikon and of the De-Massari family in Pfaffhausen served as offices, workshops and warehouses. The wives worked actively alongside their husbands. There was soon a dual cause for celebration: Swiss PTT, the national postal, telephone and telegraph authority, issued a license to R&M and the first order arrived.