What Rutab does

Rutab AB is a Swedish privately held company founded in 1987 and headquartered in Nässjö, Sweden, operating as a specialist B2B distributor to the Nordic electrical industry. The company's core product portfolio centers on cable management and electrical installation hardware: cable glands (kabelförskruvningar), cable entries (genomföringar), protective hose (skyddsslang) with IP66/IP68 ratings, junction boxes, quick-coupling hose fittings, machine cable, and fire-resistant cable. Adjacent categories include work lighting (arbetsbelysning), presence-controlled lighting systems (belysningsstyrning), AV-system solutions, solar energy products, and stove safety devices. The company also operates Printshop, an online platform for designing and ordering cable labels, signs, and decals.

The business runs a hybrid go-to-market: a nationwide Swedish reseller network complemented by a regional direct sales force organized by four business areas (Installation/AV-System, Industrial, Signs & Cable Marking, Work Lighting), with sales managers covering territories including Norrland, Stockholm, Mälardalen, Småland, Västra Götaland, and Sydsverige. Revenue is generated through one-time B2B product sales to electrical installers and industrial customers; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled via direct quotation or through the Printshop platform. Geographic footprint covers Sweden and Norway (via rutab.no), with offices in Nässjö, Stockholm, and Helsingborg, plus a production facility in Grebbestad for cable labeling.

Rutab holds ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) certifications, both dated 2025 in the source material, and participates in major Nordic electrical industry trade fairs including Elfack, Nordbygg, Scanautomatic, and Elmässan Stockholm. The company is independently owned with no disclosed external investors, funding events, or M&A activity. Leadership includes CEO Mikael Brunell and CFO & HR Manager Catarina Ekenstierna. Headcount sits in the 11-50 range, consistent with an SME-scale specialty distributor.

Name

Rutab

Legal name

Rutab AB

Website

https://rutab.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rutab AB is a Swedish privately held B2B distributor supplying cable glands, bushings, protective hose, machine cable, work lighting, and lighting control products to electrical installers and industrial customers across Sweden and Norway.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Components

NAICS

Hardware Retailers (44414), Wiring Device Manufacturing (33593)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Cables, Connectors & Wiring Harnesses Retail (CRACAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Electrical Supplies Retail (Wiring, Switches, Breakers, Conduit) (CRAIADAE)

Keywords

• Cable glands
• Protective hose
• Machine cable
• Work lighting
• Junction boxes

Headquarters

HQ city

Nässjö

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B Product Sales: Rutab generates revenue through the sale of hardware products to the electrical industry, including cable glands, protective hose, junction boxes, work lighting, lighting controls, and cable labeling solutions. Products are sold through a network of resellers and directly via sales representatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Rutab supplies hardware products for the electrical industry, including cable glands, cable entries, protective hose, junction boxes, machine cable, fire-resistant cable, work lighting, lighting control systems, and cable labeling solutions via the online Printshop platform. The company sells through a nationwide reseller network and a regional direct field sales force organized by business area (Installation/AV-System, Industrial, Signs & Cable Marking, and Work Lighting).

Product overview

Rutab is Sweden's leading supplier of cable glands, bushings, protective hose, and a strong player in machine cable, lighting control, and work lighting. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of electrical installation products organized around core categories: cable glands and fittings, protective hose systems, junction boxes, quick couplings, and fire-resistant cables. Supporting these are work lighting and presence-controlled lighting control systems, machine cables, AV systems, and solar energy solutions. An online Printshop service enables customers to design and order cable labels, signs, and decals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Printshop: Online design and ordering platform for cable labeling, signs, and decals

Products and services

• Skyddsslang (Protective Hose) Protective hose systems for mechanical protection of cables in industrial and installation applications, including IP66/IP68 rated solutions.
• Kopplingsdosor (Junction Boxes) Connection boxes including standard, burial-rated, and combination units for cable splicing and connections in electrical installations.
• Arbetsbelysning (Work Lighting) Work lighting and temporary electrical solutions for industrial and construction environments, including LED warning lights for vehicles.
• Belysningsstyrning (Lighting Control) Presence detection and lighting control systems for energy-efficient building management.
• Maskinkabel (Machine Cable) Industrial machine cables for automation and manufacturing applications.
• Brandresistent kabel (Fire-Resistant Cable) Fire-resistant cables designed for safety-critical installations requiring maintained circuit integrity during fire.
• Printshop Online platform for designing and ordering cable labels, signs, and decals. Users can create accounts, design custom markings, and save templates.
• Solenergi (Solar Energy) Solar energy products for sustainability and efficiency applications.
• Spisvakt (Stove Guard) Stove safety devices for safer living and accident prevention.
• CABseal Industrial sealing products for cable and pipe penetrations.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Whistle BminorOthersExternal whistleblower service provider used by Rutab to guarantee anonymity for individuals reporting concerns about business conduct not aligned with company values and code of conduct.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Helukabel: European manufacturer and distributor of cables, wires, and cable accessories including glands and protective systems. Competes with Rutab in machine cable, fire-resistant cable, and cable protection.
• Lapp Group: Global manufacturer of cables, cable glands, connectors, and cable accessories sold through industrial distribution. Overlaps directly with Rutab's machine cable, cable glands, and protective hose offerings.
• Ahlsell: Largest Nordic distributor of installation products, tools, plumbing, and electrical supplies to professional installers. Highly comparable to Rutab as a B2B electrical/hardware wholesaler serving Swedish electrical contractors via field sales and resellers.
• PFLITSCH: German specialist in cable glands, cable entries, and sealing solutions for industrial and explosion-proof applications. Directly comparable to Rutab's cable gland and entry product line.
• Hummel Group: Manufacturer of cable glands, enclosures, and connectivity solutions for industrial and harsh-environment installations. Directly comparable product portfolio to Rutab's cable management and protection lines.
• Wieland Electric: Specialist manufacturer of cable glands, connectors, and electrical installation components for industrial and building applications. Directly competes with Rutab's core product lines of cable glands, bushings, and junction boxes.

Broad incumbents

• Signify (Philips Lighting): Global lighting company with significant work lighting, LED, and lighting controls portfolios. Competes with Rutab in work lighting and presence-detection lighting controls as part of a much broader offering.
• Schneider Electric: Global electrical equipment, lighting controls, and energy management company. Its wiring device, lighting control, and industrial cable management portfolios overlap with Rutab's broader product lines.
• Rexel: Global B2B distributor of electrical, lighting, security, and energy management products with operations across Europe including the Nordics. Overlaps with Rutab but serves a far broader portfolio and customer base.
• Sonepar: World's largest B2B electrical distributor, operating in Sweden and across Europe. Competes broadly with Rutab in cable management, lighting, and installation products at greater scale and geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rutab
• Instagraminstagram.com/rutab_ab

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rutab