Wood storage

Our histoy

We look back on over 50 years of company history. Founded in 1967 by Hilde Richter, the company is today managed by her grandson, Julian Richter Jr.

Playground equipment allows the child to play a role.

Hilde Richter

Over 50 years ago, when Hilde Richter from Hamburg came up with the idea of building wooden play equipment for children’s playgrounds, which until then had been dominated by steel poles, nobody could have imagined that she would achieve something so successful.

Julian Richter Sr., who studied at the Holzfachschule Rosenheim (Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences), Upper Bavaria, built the first prototypes according to his mother’s sketches in a small forge near Frasdorf, where the company is still at home. The play equipment from this period still characterises the company’s product catalogue, which now contains almost 1,000 items.

Hilde Richter was not only successful in changing the way communities think – above all, she was able to pass on her vision of making the world a little bit better for children to her son and her grandson, who today runs the company. The Richters don’t simply build playgrounds, they create play worlds. A deep awareness of social and educational issues forms the basis for the family’s heartfelt understanding of children.

Our
Richter snail

Hilde Richter’s initial design for the play figure with the name “Dorothea Snail” originated as early as 1964. Dorothea Richter later used it as an inspiration for drawing the company logo of Hilde Richter Spielgeräte.

The Richter snail has been protected by copyright since 1981 and has a high recognition value.

The snail not only stands for the like-named play character but, with its slow pace, friendly character and down-to-earth approach, it also symbolises the Richter company philosophy.

Historical milestones

2020

Beginning of cooperation with Seilerei Voigt from Bad Düben
Start of cooperation with Marcus Construction, our export partner for Australia

Major project “Gathering Place” in Tulsa/USA, largest playground in the USA

2019
2018

Start of cooperation with ELO & NITZAN, our export partner for Israel and Japan

More than 100 employees for the first time
50th company anniversary
Project "Tulsa Riverfront Park" in Oklahoma, USA
Project "Port of Melbourne" in Australia

2017
2016

Project "Governor’s Island" in New York City, USA
Award ‘Australia’s Best Playground’ for the playground at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne
Start of cooperation with Ute Sauer & Thomas Macholl of TMH Handelsvertretung

Maggie Daley Park” project, Chicago/USA
Publication of the projects book “Welcome aboard"
Start of cooperation with 3K Insaat., our export partner for Turkey

2015
2014

Project "Sochi Olympic Park", Russia
Beginning of cooperation with Australian export partner Baron Forge

Malesický Park” project, Prague
Start of cooperation with LLC AFAGROUP, our export partner for Russia
Start of cooperation with PUCZYŃSKI - mała architektura, our export partner for Poland

2013
2012

Project " Beauvoir Elementary School " in Washington, USA
Project "Dumfries House" in Scotland

70th birthday of Julian Richter Sr.
Foundation of Timberplay Scotland Ltd. by Harry Harbottle

2011
2010

Start of cooperation with APE Studio, Inc. our export partner for USA
Start of cooperation with HŘIŠTĚ REJ HER, s.r.o. our export partner for the Czech Republic
Start of cooperation with Stiliom AB our export partner for Sweden and Norway
Regional garden show in Rosenheim

Julian Richter jun. becomes managing director

2009
2008

Completion of the conference rooms in the Alpenhof

Start of cooperation with Nature Play Ireland Ltd. our export partner for Ireland
Start of cooperation with Demetra Società Cooperativa Sociale ONLUS our export partner for Italy
Transfer of Ströbl GmbH to the son Fritz Ströbl
Project "Dorado Beach East" in Puerto Rico

2007
2006

Start of cooperation with Ingrid Horn and Eckhart Herrmann, the H + H commercial agency and Martin Stangneth
Hall of Science” project in New York

Richter acquires the rights to Graubner equipment
“Spielstationen zur Entfaltung der Sinne” (play stations for developing the senses)
"Zoo Barcelona" project in Spain
Transfer of the company from Hermann Burlafinger to his sons Bernd and Jochen

2005
2004

Start of cooperation with Heidi Schönherr and Dirk Löding for German areas
Start of cooperation with LudoCrea.ch GmbH, our export partner for Switzerland
Start of cooperation with KOMPAN Hellas Ltd., our export partner for Greece

Ouwehands Dierenpark” project, Netherlands
Start of cooperation with Caracol, S.A.R.L., our export partner for France

2002
2001

First internet website of Richter Spielgeräte GmbH

Major project “Princess Diana Memorial Playground” in Kensington Gardens
Start of export to Great Britain
Start of cooperation with Timberplay Ltd., our export partner for England

2000
1999

First ship for "Playmobil Funpark" in Zirndorf, Germany
Start of cooperation with Soveral Consultadoria e Gestão Lda., our export partner for Portugal

Death of Hilde Richter
EXPO Lisbon
First business relationships with Slovenia

1998
1997

Completion of the European Standard
Succession of the commercial agency Liane Weise by her niece Gabi Palme

Start of cooperation with BDU Espacios de Valor, SL, our export partner for Spain

1994
1993

IGA (garden festival) in Stuttgart
Start of the cooperation with Thomas Lampa
Development of the distribution network for the area of Eastern Germany

Beginning of collaboration with Peter Heuken;
Intensification of European exports

1992
1989

Start of cooperation with the Graubner company

Extension of the office building next to the engine shed

1986
1984

Beginning of cooperation with Corocord

Richter’s “Sturdy children’s house”

1983
1982

Festive inauguration of the playground in Frasdorf
Start of cooperation with Liane Weise and Jakob Ley

First customer event “Frasdorfer Fachgespräche”
First contacts with Arabia

1981
1980

1980 Beginning of collaboration with Alfons Lachauer
Beginning of cooperation with the Callwey Publishers
First Richter catalogue

Inauguration of assembly shop
Beginning of cooperation with Moser

1979
1978

Birth of Julian Richter
Construction of the assembly shop
35 employees

Incorporation as a “GmbH” company (managing director: Hilde Richter, Julian Richter, Hella Richter, Norbert Rechler)
Beginning of cooperation with Günter Beltzig
Richter designs the first playground adapted to the needs of the disabled in Hamburg (Borgweg  playground for the blind)

1977
1976

Purchase of the company premises
30 employees
Start of Julian Richter’s work on the Standards Committee
Start of cooperation with WEBER Baustoffe & Fliesen GmbH

Relocation of the sales office from Hamburg to Frasdorf

1975
1974

Norbert Rechler joins the company

IGA Hamburg (garden festival)
License agreement with Hugo Kükelhaus

1973
1972

Completion of Julian Richter’s engineering degree
First business relationships in the Benelux-Union

Relocation of operations to Frasdorf into the Buchauer sawmill

1970
1968

Julian Richter begins his studies at the Holztechnikum Rosenheim (Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences)

Julian Richter sets up a workshop in Bavaria
Start of own production
Actual company launch

1967
1966

Foundation of the company Hilde Richter Spielgeräte

Self-determined work in the Richter Spielgeräte workshop
People

Cooperation means co-determination

More

[Translate to English:] 4.40900 Baumbank
Values

Play value - Sustainability - Security

More