About Us | Conveyor Handling Company

Company Founded

1975

Anthony and Marion Alvarez founded Conveyor Handling Company (CHC) operating out of their home in Woodlawn, MD - a humble beginning that laid the foundation for decades of growth and innovation.

Their son-in-law, Rich Rittermann, joined the company to support installation and service.

Building a Foundation

1978

Tony and Marion moved into a larger home nearby. There, Tony transformed his basement into office space and the garage into a functioning shop.

That same year, another son-in-law, Alan Carey, joined the company to support sales, adding to the growing family legacy.

A New Home, Leadership, & Growth

1980s

The 1980s marked a decade of transformation for CHC. In 1982, the company relocated its 10-person team to its first dedicated office in Jessup, MD.

That same year, Jean Rittermann joined the company, ushering in the next generation of family leadership. In 1985, Nancy Carey joined the accounting team as Tony and Marion retired, confidently passing leadership to Jean, Rich, Nancy, and Alan. The decade closed with continued growth as Mike Putsche became CHC's first salesperson to surpass $1 million in annual sales in 1987.

Expansion, Partnerships, & Success

1990s

The 1990s established CHC as a leading material handling systems integrator. In 1990, the company secured its first $1 million contract with a $1.24 million conveyor installation for Seagram's East Coast facility, fueling continued expansion and the move to a larger headquarters in Jessup in 1993. In 1996, CHC became a proud Hytrol Systems Integrator, strengthening a key industry partnership. Later that year, the company reached another milestone by selling its first $5 million+ project, delivering a comprehensive conveyor and rack system for Fila.

New Frontiers, Leadership Transitions

2000s

CHC expanded its reach globally and geographically, landing its first international project in July 2003—a $1.2M conveyor system for a U.S. military base in Germany. In October 2004, the team returned for a larger project and also completed a $400K sortation system for FedEx in Anchorage, Alaska—their furthest domestic install to date.

Nancy retired in 2010; in 2012, Doug Rittermann—son of Rich and Jean, and grandson of Anthony—joined the company as a Sales Engineer. He was promoted to Director of Sales in 2017. Alan retired in 2018.

Growth Through Landmark Projects

2020s

In 2020, Doug became Vice President to lead Sales & Operations. CHC continued its momentum into the late 2020s, securing major projects that reinforced its industry leadership.

These included its first $10M project for Easy Spirit in Cranbury, NJ, featuring a full material handling system with pick modules, sortation, pack stations, pallet racking, and print & apply, followed by Johnson Brothers and Clemens Food in 2019 ($9M each), Capital Electric in 2022 ($6M), major installations in Houston and Gastonia in 2023 ($8M), and Intralox/USPS in 2024 ($8M).

A New Generation

2024

As 2023 came to a close, Jeani and Rich announced their retirement, marking the end of an era.

On January 1, 2024, Doug Rittermann officially became President and full owner of CHC, ushering in a new generation of leadership. Built on a strong foundation and guided by a strategic forward-looking vision, CHC is poised for ongoing innovation, growth, and industry leadership.

A Legacy of 50 Years

2025

As CHC marks its golden milestone of 50 years, the company takes pride in being anchored by a dedicated team of over 60 current employees—12 with over 15 years of service and 16 with more than a decade of commitment.

With sales offices in five Mid-Atlantic states and customers in over 25 states, CHC is recognized for its strong commitment to performance, innovation, and service, continually building on its legacy of experience and reliability.