Swiss Railway Engineering Company Is Coming to Saxony

Strong industrial base in the region

This move strengthens the company’s presence in Germany and lays the groundwork for further expansion in Europe and on international markets. Richard AG specializes in the development, manufacture, and assembly of components and systems for electrical power supply in the rail industry. Its product portfolio includes pantographs, vacuum main switches, and disconnectors. From its development and production site in Switzerland, the owner-managed company has been supplying renowned rail vehicle manufacturers worldwide for 120 years. 

“In Dresden, we have found a location that offers excellent conditions for the development of our activities in Germany and Europe. The region has a strong industrial base, excellent expertise in the rail and mobility sectors, and a highly qualified workforce. We look forward to working with our local partners to further develop innovative solutions for the rail industry and create long-term jobs in the region,” explains Roman Sommer, CEO of Richard AG in Switzerland. 

Close Interconnection of Economic Regions

During the site opening on June 9, Dresden’s Mayor for Economic Affairs, Jan Pratzka, welcomed Richard AG as a new investor in the state capital. In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Thomas Richter, Head of the Foreign Trade & Trade Fairs Department at WFS, emphasized that the company perfectly complements the strengths of Saxony’s rail and mobility industry. This assessment was also shared by Dr. Sven Körner, Managing Director of the Institute for Railway Technology GmbH, and Manuela Gogsch, Managing Director at the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce, in their remarks.

Dr. Richter also highlighted the close ties between the economic regions of Saxony and Switzerland: In the first quarter of 2026, Saxon companies had already exported goods worth around 750 million euros to Switzerland—an increase of about 70 percent compared to the same period last year. As a result, Switzerland has moved up from 9th to 7th place in exports this year. In 2025, bilateral trade in goods reached a volume of approximately 2.6 billion euros. 

These close ties are also reflected in the work of  the Saxony Trade & Invest Corp. (WFS) —vwhether in location promotion or in the internationalization of Saxony's companies. Specifically in the rail technology sector, a business trip was recently organized in 2023 in collaboration with partners such as Rail.S, Swissrail, the German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce (AHK Schweiz), and DREBERIS. WFS will support the company in networking within Saxony’s rail industry and is available as a contact for joint activities both domestically and abroad. An opportunity to meet WFS and SAXONY! will arise, among other places, at the InnoTrans International Trade Fair for Transport Technology, which takes place from September 22 to 25, 2026, in Berlin, where WFS is organizing a joint SAXONY! booth.

Central Role in Customer Support

With this investment, Richard AG underscores its long-term commitment to Saxony and further highlights Dresden’s appeal as an international business and industrial hub. The new branch will play a central role in serving customers in Germany and Europe, as well as in the further expansion of the company’s production and development activities.

The new branch will operate under the name Richard Deutschland GmbH. During the start-up phase, Agata Reichel-Tomczak, Managing Director of DREBERIS GmbH in Dresden, will take over management. The establishment of the branch in Dresden will create new jobs in the region. Work on equipping the production facility and the first recruitment efforts will begin as early as June 2026. The company is seeking employees in the areas of assembly, sales, administration, engineering, and logistics to gradually expand the new location.