Ravensburg is today a thriving shopping town in the wealthy region of Upper Swabia. Unemployment is relatively low. The nearest large cities are Munich, Stuttgart and Zurich, approximately a two-hour drive away each. Ulm, Konstanz and Bregenz are each less than a one hour drive away.
Ravensburg is part of an urban agglomeration that also comprises Weingarten (W�rttemberg) and several suburbs. Ravensburg, Weingarten, and Friedrichshafen (on the shores of Lake Constance) share the functionality of a Oberzentrum (that is, the highest-ranked centre in the system of spatial planning and development in Baden-W�rttemberg).
Mechanical engineering has traditionally been the main industry branch in the region. Based on the demand of the paper and textile industry (now widely reduced) and a long tradition of flour, paper and other mills many engineering factories arose at the end of the 19th century. Today the primary exponents of this branch in Ravensburg are the left-overs of the former Escher-Wyss AG (a subsidiary of the Swiss Sulzer AG) which are now subsidiaries to the Austrian "Andritz Hydro".
Ravensburger AG, whose headquarters are located in the town, is a company internationally known for board games, jigsaw puzzles and children's books.
The pastry factory Tekrum (Theoder Krumm GmbH & Co. KG) is another company with an internationally-known brand name. Since January 2005 it has been a wholly owned subsidiary to Griesson�De Beukelaer.
� Vetter Pharma, a manufacturer of pre-filled injection systems
� Omira, one of the largest dairies in Southern Germany
� tool factory Hawera Probst (a subsidiary of Robert Bosch), the worldwide market leader in hammer drill bits
� component supplier EBZ Engineering Bausch & Ziege (formerly Nothelfer, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Automotive)
