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Exports from
Fribourg
leave visible
marks…
Fribourg companies export to 173 countries.
Fribourg Development Agency
Switzerland
─
Bd de Pérolles 25, P.O. Box 1350
CH - 1701 Fribourg
T +41 26 304 14 00
www.promfr.ch
2013 | FRIBOURG network FREIBURG
“Fribourg –
A Canton Taking The
World by Storm”
Editorial by
Beat Vonlanthen, 4-5
Contents
INTRODUCTION
6
Fribourg, the Global Hub of Richemont International SA
7UCB Farchim: Cimzia®, a Sales Potential of 1.8 Billion Swiss Francs
8-9
Food and Foodtech Around the World
10Translait: Logistics Underpinning Export Success
13
JNJ Automation, Conquering Canada
20
A 21st Century Tetra Pak Alternative to Tin Cans
23
Cremo Passes the 100-Million Swiss Francs Mark for Annual Exports
27
Villars Chocolates Enter Ten New markets in Just One Year
e_ The English version
of the magazine can be
downloaded in full at:
www.fribourgnetwork.ch
f_ Une version française
intégrale du magazine
Fribourg Network est à
télécharger sur le site
d_ Eine vollumfänglich
deutschsprachige Version
des Magazins Fribourg
Network Freiburg steht
auf der Website
zum Download bereit.
30-31
From Bicycle to Aircraft
33
Liebherr Machines Bulle is Broadening the Spectrum of its Possibilities
41
Digi Sens: Protecting the Environment with Digital Measuring
43
Jesa: A New Assembly Process to Conquer the Automotive Market
47
Contrinex: Growing with the Market
48-49
KnowledgeWithout Frontiers
51
Dartfish Sets Sights on Amateur Sportspeople Across the World
55
Selfrag: Technology with High Commercial Potential
61
Morphean: Aiming for International Success with VideoProtector
65
International Contract Experts Made in Fribourg
USEFUL INFORMATION
67Useful Addresses
69
Index of Quoted Companies
70
Advertisers
contents
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3
Editorial
Fribourg – a Canton Taking the World by Storm
Masthead
Fribourg Network Association,
c/o Fribourg Development Agency,
Bd de Pérolles 25, P.O. Box 1350,
CH-1701 Fribourg
Editor Committee
Jean-Luc Mossier, president, Fribourg
Development Agency
Christoph Aebischer, Fribourg
Development Agency
Chantal Robin, Sofraver SA
Jacques P. Bersier, College of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg
Paul Galley, Michelin Recherche
et Technique SA
Laurence Niquille, Ministry
of Economic Affairs
Nicolas Porchet, eikonEMF
Alain Riedo, Fribourg Chamber
of Commerce and Industry
Managing Editor
Philippe Crausaz
Crausaz & Partenaires SA
CH-1763 Granges-Paccot
Editor-in-Chief
Frank-Olivier Baechler
CH-1700 Fribourg
Editorial Staff
Frank-Olivier Baechler
Patricia Michaud
Sara Seddon-Kilbinger
Arthur Zurkinden
Translations
Barbara Horber and
Elaine Sheering from
Transit TXT
TraDoc SA and
its team of translators
Photographs
cf. page 70
Concept and Design
Nuance, CH-1753 Matran
Ad Sales
Fribourg Network Advertising
Arnold Krattinger
Print
Imprimerie St-Paul SA,
CH-1705 Fribourg
© 2013 FNF, annual release
All rights reserved.
4
|
editorial
by Beat Vonlanthen,
Cantonal Minister of Economic Affairs
and Employment
If you were to take a map of the world and highlight Fribourg’s 173
export markets, what you would be left with is an impressive picture
of our canton’s international reach. The image of a rural, sedentary and inward-looking canton is now confined, fairly and squarely,
to the history books. Today, Fribourg is a resolutely cosmopolitan
canton whose economic influence is felt far beyond Switzerland’s
borders.
This issue of Fribourg Network Freiburg is given over to export,
proving beyond a reasonable doubt that, despite the strong Swiss
franc and sluggish economic climate, that our exporters have managed to beat the odds. Not only have they kept their export levels
stable but they also are optimistic about the future.
The food industry, which has long thrived in our canton, perfectly
symbolizes this subtle balance between tradition and modernity.
Our dairy products, especially chocolate and cheese, have helped
build – and continue to build – Fribourg’s international renown. Even
the area of food technology, which caters primarily to the primary
sector, manages to develop products with high added-value. The
arrival of Nespresso shows, if further proof was needed, that the
canton of Fribourg is a dynamic and attractive business location.
The world is constantly changing, a fact that has not escaped the
canton. Mobility is a key driver of Fribourg’s development across a
wide range of economic sectors like the automotive industry, heavy
construction equipment, road and rail transport, navigation, aeronautics and aerospace. Added to these is, of course, “soft mobility”
(non-motorized transport), which is synonymous with sustainable
development, an issue at the top of the canton’s agenda.
It is crucial that our business community, and others, can count
on high-quality and outward-looking education providers. The
canton of Fribourg must also harness the enormous potential of
its fast-growing population by further developing its service- and
knowledge-driven economy. At the center of its efforts must be
the promotion and support of an innovation culture. With the
blueFACTORY technology park, the canton is taking a giant step in
the right direction.
Freiburg – ein Kanton erobert die Welt
Fribourg – un canton à la conquête du monde
Von Beat Vonlanthen,
Staatsrat,
Volkswirtschaftsdirektor
Par Beat Vonlanthen,
Conseiller d’Etat,
Directeur de l’économie et de l’emploi
Nehmen Sie eine Weltkarte, einen Stift und kreuzen Sie alle 173
Länder an, die zu den Freiburger Exportmärkten gehören… Sie erhalten so ein beeindruckendes Bild der internationalen Ausstrahlung unseres Kantons. Das Bild des ländlichen, unbeweglichen
und isolierten Kantons ist definitiv überholt. Freiburg ist weltoffen
und seine wirtschaftliche Ausstrahlung reicht heute weit über die
Landesgrenzen hinaus.
Prenez une carte du monde, un crayon, et commencez à cocher
les 173 pays qui figurent parmi les marchés d’exportation fribourgeois… Vous obtiendrez alors une image impressionnante du
rayonnement international de notre canton. L’image d’un canton rural, immobile et replié sur lui-même a définitivement vécu. Fribourg
s’est ouvert au monde et son rayonnement économique dépasse
désormais largement les frontières du pays.
Aus diesem Grund ist die vorliegende Ausgabe von Fribourg
Network Freiburg dem Export gewidmet. Sie beweist eindrücklich,
dass unsere Unternehmen trotz des starken Frankens und der
verhaltenen Konjunktur eine stabile Exportaktivität aufrechterhalten
konnten und optimistisch in die Zukunft blicken.
Ce numéro de Fribourg Network est donc tout naturellement consacré à l’export. Il témoigne avec vigueur que malgré le franc fort et la
morosité conjoncturelle, nos entreprises d’exportation maintiennent
un niveau d’activité stable et entrevoient l’avenir avec optimisme.
Die in unserem Kanton immer schon sehr starke Lebensmittelbranche symbolisiert dieses subtile Gleichgewicht zwischen Tradition
und Moderne vorzüglich. Unsere Milchprodukte – allen voran die
Schokolade und der Käse – haben den Grundstein der Reputation Freiburgs auf der ganzen Welt gelegt. Aber auch der auf den
Primärsektor ausgerichtete Food-Tech-Bereich entwickelt Produkte
mit hoher Wertschöpfung. Ein weiterer Beweis für die Dynamik und
Attraktivität unseres Kantons ist auch der Zuzug des Grosskonzerns Nespresso.
Die Welt verändert sich, dessen ist sich auch der Kanton Freiburg
bewusst. Einer der wichtigsten Entwicklungsfaktoren seiner Wirtschaft ist die Mobilität und zwar in so unterschiedlichen Bereichen
wie der Automobilbranche, dem Baumaschinensektor, dem Strassen- und Bahnverkehr, der Schifffahrt, sowie der Luft- und Raumfahrt. Nicht zu vergessen der Langsamverkehr – das Symbol einer
nachhaltigen Entwicklung, nach dem auch wir streben.
Äusserst wichtig ist zudem, dass diese Tätigkeitsbereiche, neben
vielen weiteren, auf wettbewerbsfähige und international ausgerichtete Bildungsinstitutionen zählen können. Der Kanton muss aber
unbedingt auch das grosse Potenzial seines unglaublichen demografischen Wachstums nutzen, indem er Dienstleistungen und
Know-how entwickelt und valorisiert. Höchste Priorität muss aber
auch der Innovationskultur zukommen – ein wichtiger Baustein für
den künftigen Technologiepark blueFACTORY.
La branche alimentaire, historiquement très forte dans notre canton, symbolise parfaitement cet équilibre subtil entre tradition et
modernité. Nos produits laitiers, chocolat et fromage en tête, ont
fait – et font encore! – la réputation de Fribourg à travers le monde.
Ils n’empêchent pas l’industrie du Foodtech, tournée vers le secteur primaire, de développer des produits à forte valeur ajoutée. La
venue de Nespresso est, à cet égard, une preuve supplémentaire
du dynamisme et de l’attractivité de notre canton.
Le monde bouge et le canton de Fribourg l’a bien compris. La mobilité est, d’ailleurs, l’un des principaux facteurs de développement
de son économie, dans des secteurs aussi divers que l’automobile, les machines de chantier, le transport routier et ferroviaire, la
navigation, l’aéronautique ou, encore, l’aérospatiale. Sans oublier
la mobilité douce, bien sûr, emblème du développement durable
auquel nous aspirons.
Il est aussi primordial que ces domaines d’activité, parmi bien
d’autres, soient encadrés par des institutions de formation très
fortes, tournées elles-aussi vers l’extérieur. Le canton doit toutefois
pouvoir garder en son sein les forces vives issues de sa formidable
croissance démographique, en développant cette économie de
la valorisation des services et du savoir. Et en remettant toujours,
au centre de ses priorités, cette culture d’innovation dont le parc
technologique blueFACTORY deviendra bientôt le point d’ancrage
fondamental.
editorial
|
5
Fribourg, the Global Hub of
Richemont International SA
From its logistics center in Villars-sur-Glâne, the luxury goods group supplies
distribution platforms all over the world.
e_ Opened in 1990,
Richemont International’s
distribution center in
Villars-sur-Glâne is a
distinctive sight in the
region’s industrial
landscape.
f_ Inauguré en 1990, le
centre de distribution de
Richemont International,
à Villars-sur-Glâne, fait
partie des bâtiments
industriels emblématiques de la région.
d_ Das 1990 in Villars-
sur-Glâne eingeweihte
Verteilzentrum von
Richemont International
ist ein regionales
Wahrzeichen für die
Industrie.
Fribourg’s export sales revenue rose by 14.85% in 2012, reaching
a total of 9.57 billion Swiss francs. Two thirds of this amount was
generated by the precision instruments, watchmaking and jewelry
sector, according to figures provided by the Swiss Federal Customs
Administration. This strong performance is easily explained: some
international companies, including Richemont, export their products
from Fribourg. With a brand portfolio featuring prestigious names
such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin,
Jaeger-LeCoultre and Montblanc, this luxury group adds significant
weight to Fribourg’s trade balance.
“As well as being the site of a Cartier watchmaking operation, Villarssur-Glâne is also the location of Richemont International SA’s logistics
center. From here, the group’s products are sent out to our main
distribution platforms in Hong Kong, Japan, China, Dubai, the United
States and South America,” explains Michel Follonier, Finance Director of Richemont International SA. “However, Fribourg also serves as
a European hub, supplying all points of sale across the continent. The
proportion of exports carried out from Fribourg is therefore considerably higher than the proportion accounted for by local production.”
Half of Richemont’s 800 employees are active in the field of logistics,
a situation that can give rise to recruitment issues: “Managing and
6
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introduction
planning supply chains are important parts of our business. However, this is a very specialized area and there is a shortage of trained
professionals,” explains Michel Follonier, who is expecting the situation to improve in the near future. “At a meeting with the Fribourg
Development Agency in the spring of 2012, we spoke about the
difficulties caused by the lack of qualified personnel in Switzerland.
A few months later, Fribourg School of Management announced the
introduction of an advanced certificate in supply chain management
(editor’s note: 25 days of lessons distributed over a period of twelve
months), as part of a new logistics course. The canton of Fribourg
is taking a strong and distinctive stance in this area,” praises the
Finance Director.
In terms of global sales too, the luxury group has good reason to feel
optimistic about the future. For its third quarter of the 2012-2013
financial year, closed at the end of December 2012, it recorded a
9% increase in turnover, up to 2.86 billion euros (3.56 billion Swiss
francs), in comparison with the same period in 2011. Despite a slowdown in the Asia-Pacific area, all regions played a part in this growth.
With sales up by 18%, the Americas are performing particularly well.
www.richemont.com
UCB Farchim: Cimzia®, a Sales
Potential of 1.8 Billion Swiss Francs
AFTER le Zyrtec®, the flagship product of the group, Cimzia® will also be produced in Bulle,
in a new biotech unit estimated at 300 million francs.
e_ Currently under
construction, UCB
Farchim’s new biotech
unit is scheduled to
be fully operational
by 2015.
More than two billion tablets leave the Bulle factory of UCB Farchim
every year. This makes the Belgium biopharmaceutical group UCB
one of the main exporters of the Canton of Fribourg. “Solely produced
in Bulle, the anti-allergens Zyrtec® and Xyzal® are directly distributed
throughout the world. Except in the United States where, for license
reasons, they are exported through Belgium,” says Amer Jaber, General Manager of the Fribourg site and Vice President of UCB Farchim.
Trends do however vary according to the geographical area. “We are
finding an erosion of sales on the European market, where Zyrtec®
f_ La nouvelle unité
biotech d’UCB Farchim,
actuellement en chantier,
devrait être pleinement
opérationnelle à partir
de 2015.
d_ Die sich derzeit im
Bau befindende neue
Biotech-Anlage von
UCB Farchim wird
ab 2015 in Betrieb
genommen.
and Xyzal® are now in the public domain. However, this drop is
greatly compensated by growth in Asia, in particular in Japan. Russia
and China, as emerging markets, also offer good prospects,” notes
Dominique Bovet, Finance Manager.
That is the current situation. Since another landmark product, Cimzia®,
will soon fill UCB Farchim’s order books, a new biotechnology unit,
one of the largest in Europe, is already under construction on the site.
“If the validation phases take place as expected, the factory should be
fully operational in 2015,” predicts Amer Jaber. Estimated at some 300
million francs, it will generate between 120 and 140 jobs, half of them
highly skilled, which will be added to the 200 existing ones. The sales
potential of Cimzia®, used in the treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis
and Crohn’s disease, is estimated at 1.8 billion francs.
“After having studied numerous options, we arrived at the conclusion
that Switzerland, in particular the Canton of Fribourg, represented the
prime choice. With the performance of the site, political and economic
stability and biotechnological competences as the best arguments,”
concludes the General Manager.
www.ucb.com
The Differentiated Strategy
of Tourism in Fribourg
In order to better sell the Canton of Fribourg
abroad, the Fribourg Tourism Union (the UFT)
applies a differentiated strategy. “A majority
of foreign tourists visiting the Fribourg region
come from western Europe. These local visitors already know our regions, in the majority of cases, and we therefore present them
with diversity in what we offer. It is rather a
question of promotion involving reminders
and loyalty creation, by inviting day trippers
to pass the night in our region during their
next visit,” remarks Thomas Steiner, Director
of the UFT.
However, beyond Europe, it is preferable
to play on a few strong symbols. “For other
markets, such as the United States, Asia or
the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and
China) communication is clearly directed
to the town of Gruyères (see photograph),
Gruyère cheese and chocolate. On the
basis of these flagship products, which no
tourist will wish to miss when travelling between Paris and Milan, we obviously refer
to the other tourist pearls in the Fribourg region,” adds Thomas Steiner.
In 2011, in the Canton of Fribourg, foreign
visitors have totalled more than 153,000 hotel
nights, corresponding to 35.6% of the total.
Some of the countries best represented are,
unsurprisingly, the direct neighbors of Switzerland: Germany (26.5% of foreign tourists),
France (21.8%) and then, far behind, Italy
(5.9%). There then follow, in a pocket handkerchief, Great Britain, the United States,
Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.
www.fribourgregion.ch
introduction
|
7
e_ Fribourg’s rapidly growing foodtech sector
includes suppliers of industrial solutions used during
the production, packaging, storage and transportation
of food products – in this case, a mixing unit with
injector developed by JetSolutions SA in Rossens.
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food and foodtech around the world
f_ Le domaine du foodtech, en plein essor à Fribourg,
englobe les fabricants de solutions industrielles utilisées durant les processus de fabrication, de conditionnement, de stockage ou de transport des aliments –
ici une unité de mélange avec injecteur développée
par JetSolutions SA, à Rossens.
d_ Der Bereich Foodtech, der in Freiburg stark
vertreten ist, umfasst Hersteller industrieller
Lösungen, die in Prozessen zur Fertigung,
Aufbereitung, Lagerung oder zum Transport von
Nahrungsmitteln genutzt werden – hier eine von
JetSolutions SA in Rossens entwickelte Mischeinheit mit Einspritzdüse.
Food and Foodtech
Around the World
Faced with a situation of near saturation in its domestic
market, Fribourg’s food sector is relying on exports
to drive growth.
Supported by a strong and enduring agricultural tradition and a dynamic food sector, the canton of Fribourg is responsible for producing
and processing almost a third of the food consumed in Switzerland.
However, growth is being hampered by a domestic market that is
close to saturation point. The solution: International expansion.
Cheese and chocolate are typical examples of successful Swiss
exports. Villars (page 27) confectionary products have taken the
leap across national borders and are now being sold in 82 countries
around the world. Likewise, Milco (page 21) set its sights on neighboring France in 2010 as a way of overcoming the limitations of the
French-speaking Swiss market. Two years later, 5% of the company’s
turnover was generated in France, a percentage it is now aiming to
double.
The pharmaceutical confectionary specialist Dehly (page 23) has
clearly chosen the export path as its main growth vector: within the
space of eight years, the proportion of total production accounted for
by exports has climbed from 20% to 70%. And the company is now
pursuing opportunities in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
This is positive news, particularly in view of the strong growth potential in international markets. As demonstrated by Nestlé’s aim of
doubling, in 2013 alone, exports of its famous Cailler chocolate
brand (page 21), building on an already strong global presence.
While Gruyère AOC (page 15), another product closely associated
with the region, is working on its medium-term plan of increasing
exports from 12,000 to 20,000 tons.
Reflecting its distinctive and high-quality products, the food processing sector is pursuing ambitious objectives. To help it achieve them,
it can choose from a range of technologies developed in the rapidly
growing foodtech industry in Fribourg, with industrial solutions spanning the production, packaging, storage and transport processes.
JNJ Automation’s packaging machines (page 13), Sugnaux Electromécanique’s cheese curing robots (page 29), Visval’s automatic discharge
systems (page 12) as well as powder handling solutions from JetSolutions
(page 17) and Frewitt (page 13) are helping to boost the dynamism of
Fribourg’s foodtech sector, soon to be strengthened by the introduction of a dedicated cluster.
|
9
Translait: Logistics
Underpinning Export
Success
Thanks to its transport services, the company is generating a
quarter of its turnover outside Switzerland.
e_ Translait has a special
cleaning infrastructure
to ensure that its 60
tanker trucks meet the
most stringent hygiene
standards.
f_ Le matériel roulant
de Translait se compose
d’une soixantaine de
camions-citernes,
dont l’hygiène parfaite
est assurée par une
infrastructure de lavage
dédiée.
d_ Das Rollmaterial
von Translait besteht
aus rund sechzig
Tanklastwagen – deren
Hygiene wird durch
eine eigene Waschanlage
sichergestellt.
Founded 60 years ago, Translait is now reaping the benefits of a new
focus on logistics introduced by Vincent Stucky, a member of the
third generation of the founding family. Traditionally specializing in the
production and reprocessing of dairy co-products in Switzerland, the
company from Corminboeuf now handles bulk shipments of liquid
foodstuffs in the European market. “A quarter of our turnover is generated outside Switzerland,” explains Julien Guignard, Translait’s Administrative Director.
Before being transferred to the Fribourg company’s tankers, liquids
are reduced to a dry matter concentration of between 18% and 60%,
depending on their destination and ultimate use. Concentration levels
of about 30% are required by the drinks and chocolate industries, as
well as the powdered baby milk sector, Translait’s main export market.
“Every year, our factory in Bulle processes around 80 million liters of
dairy co-products from local cheese-makers and industries,” continues Julien Guignard.
How is it possible to export a product with no real added value? “In
this case, logistics quality becomes more important than the actual
product. Our end-to-end control of the transport chain ensures quality, traceability, efficiency and hygiene. On top of this, the long-term
contracts we conclude with dairies give our customers much-appreciated stability.”
This strategy is helping to make Translait a force to be reckoned with
in export markets, while providing suppliers with an outlet for excess
production of dairy co-products and attractive purchase prices all year
round. On the strength of this win-win concept, the company is now
planning to upgrade its production center in Bulle, opened in 2008.
www.translait.ch
10
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Bossy
Céréales Is
Banking on
Niche
Products
“We have no chance trying to sell plain
cornflakes abroad. However, there are
clearly niche opportunities for high-quality
products with something different to offer.”
Simon-Pierre Kerbage, manager of Bossy
Céréales SA in Cousset, in the Broye district,
has made diversification a priority.
After establishing a reputation for its oat flakes,
creams, soups and Bircher muesli, the company gradually expanded its range. Starting
with breakfast cereals in the 1980s and followed, more recently, by organic cereal preparations. “The vast majority of our exports,
which represent 14% of our turnover, come
from organic farming," explains the manager.
Bulgur wheat, quinoa flakes and buckwheat
flakes are among the favorite products of the
company’s largest foreign customer, based
in France. “We also export to Kuwait, Dubai,
Egypt, Lebanon and Thailand, but on a less
regular basis,” says Simon-Pierre Kerbage, a
man who is never short of ideas. “We even
brought out carrot cornflakes with petals of
Pain Paillasse bread. A unique creation!”
The next market targeted by the Lebaneseborn manager is China. “I plan to visit SIAL
(international food show) in Shanghai in May,
to investigate new opportunities.” As always,
promoting the company’s premium image
and specific approach. As well as a “very
strong” Swiss image.
www.bossycereales.ch
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Visval, Reaping the Benefits of
Its International Strategy
Full subcontracting, foreign sales partners and filing of patents:
the business model chosen by DÜDINGEN-based Visval is taking the company from strength to strength.
“The company was created back in 2005 and international development was a priority from the very start. The Swiss market is too small.”
Jean-Marie Cuennet, CEO of Visval, was proven right: the first orders
recorded by his company, a “big-bag” handling operation, were received from Germany and then Ireland.
What exactly are “big-bags”? They are large flexible and very resistant polypropylene recipients that are used mainly in the pharmaceutical, chemicals and food industries. “About 200 million are sold every
year,” adds Jean-Marie Cuennet.
Visval has developed a patented system to automate the filling and
discharge of big-bags. A passive valve attached to the recipient is
connected to a universal active docking station integrated in the installation, guaranteeing perfect sealing and a controlled flow.
The company, based in the town of Düdingen, also benefited from a
stroke of fortune, as its CEO explains: “A small French company with
which we had concluded a partnership was subsequently purchased
by Tetra Pak. The Swedish packaging giant, with operations all over
the world, decided to maintain the arrangement.”
Building on these initial successes, Visval quickly began rolling out its
technology to other types of recipient, including rigid stainless steel
vessels. Some installations of this type have already taken place, notably in Asia.
However, further developments are already in the pipeline: “We are
currently developing a new version that will allow the inner liner of
the big-bag to be exchanged and recovered, for obvious ecological reasons. Several international customers have already expressed
great interest,” continues Jean-Marie Cuennet. He also points out the
technical contribution made by the Fribourg College of Engineering
and Architecture to the design of a future product.
e_ When the upper
valve is connected to the
lower valve, the contents
are automatically
released.
f_ Lorsque la vanne
supérieure se connecte
à la vanne inférieure, le
contenu est automatiquement libéré.
d_ Wird das passive
Verschlussventil mit der
aktiven Andockeinheit
verbunden, wird der
Inhalt automatisch
freigegeben.
“As a small structure, we have decided to work with foreign partners
who handle sales for us, and to subcontract all our components to
local companies. We handle only the assembly aspect, to protect the
technology and guarantee quality,” says the CEO.
This business model appears to be a winning one: with its second
patent now confirmed, Visval is expecting to double its turnover in
2013.
www.visval.ch
Alma Extrusions AG, Growth
Driven by Coffee Capsules
All over the world, the coffee capsules market
is booming. Reflecting this growth, the plastic
packaging specialist Alma Extrusions AG has
recorded a 30% increase in orders in just one
year. “Coffee capsules now account for a
quarter of our total sales,” comments Philipp
Broch, Sales Manager.
While the industry’s leading player has opted for aluminum, “our company is already
producing plastic sheets for compatible
capsules. There are huge opportunities for
growth,” he adds.
Cormagens-based Alma Extrusions AG
works almost exclusively in the food sector.
“Our three machines are capable of producing about 1,400 kg of plastic film per hour.
The resulting rolls are then thermoformed
in our customers’ factories,” Philipp Broch
explains. From yoghurt pots to jam jars and
containers for meat or baby food: the applications cover a wide spectrum.
“We export around 60% of our production,
mainly to Germany, Austria, France and the
UK, but we also supply customers in the
Netherlands and Belgium,” comments the
manager. He goes on to add that the finished
products then travel far longer distances, to
stores in countries such as Australia and the
United States.
The company also aims to replace tins with
plastic packaging, a lighter and quieter alternative. “We specialize in shelf-stable packaging, a high-potential area. In addition, our
materials comply with the most stringent requirements in the food sector, i.e. the standards BRC/IOP and ISO 22000.”
www.almasa.ch
12
|
JNJ Automation, Conquering Canada
With support from OSEC, this Fribourg firm is making a name for itself in the Quebec market.
Further expansion into the Canadian market is on the horizon.
e_ Sébastien Jaquier,
Co-Director of JNJ
Automation SA:
“Over half of our
trading volume
comes from exports.”
JNJ Automation Ltd., which specializes in industrial engineering
and automation solutions, has successfully made the leap across
the Atlantic. “Everything started with an OSEC* briefing session on
Canada, which had been advertised by the Fribourg Chamber of Commerce,” recalls Sébastien Jaquier, the company’s Executive Director.
This meeting turned out well. “Given our interest, OSEC handled
our case bilaterally and provided us with a list of 15 potential partners. We whittled this down to five, of which four agreed to talk to us
directly,” continues Jaquier.
A trip to Canada in October 2011 sealed the deal, and the company
did not have to wait long to reap its initial rewards. “A few months
f_ Sébastien Jaquier,
co-directeur de JNJ
Automation SA:
«Actuellement, les exportations représentent
près de la moitié de nos
volumes.»
d_ Sébastien Jaquier,
Co-Direktor von JNJ
Automation SA:
«Derzeit exportieren
wir die Hälfte unserer
Produktion ins
Ausland.»
later, we received our first order. In 2012, we delivered two wrapping
machines with a unit value of 200,000 Swiss francs to our partner
in Quebec. We’re set to ship a third one this spring. Very soon, a
quarter of turnover will come from our sales in Canada,” says the
Director, who has been delighted with the support his company
received from OSEC.
Previously, the company, which is based in Prez-vers-Siviriez, exported exclusively to Europe. As Jaquier explains: “The primary market
for our two core products – wrapping machines and cheese-curing
robots – was France.” Today, he sees great new development prospects for the company in Northern Europe, as well as Canada.
But JNJ Automation Ltd. is setting its sights even higher. “We were
sub-contracted by an international firm based in Switzerland to
deliver more than one thousand ovens abroad. We are currently
developing a new model that will be compatible with our wrapping
machines. We hope to launch it on the market sometime this year. For
us, it is all about offering our customers the complete value chain.”
Booming business is not without its consequences. The company
has outgrown its existing facilities, so there are plans to relocate the
40-strong workforce to a new site in Romont as of next year.
www.jnjautomation.ch
*Swiss Office for Trade Promotion
Frewitt and the Food Industry:
“A Recipe for Further Success”
Although the food industry only accounts for
5% of its business, machine manufacturer
Frewitt Ltd., which exports 40% of its output, could see this portion of their business
go through the roof in the very near future.
“The expertise we have acquired through our
work with the pharmaceutical industry, which
generates the lion’s share of our revenue,
puts us at an advantage. Having customers like Roche and Novartis can open doors
for us both here in Switzerland and abroad,”
explains Antoine Virdis, CEO of the firm in
Granges-Paccot.
In terms of powder handling and volume reduction – Frewitt’s field of expertise – food
industry requirements increasingly dovetail
with those of the medical industry. As Virdis
freely admits: “We’ve not actively sought to
get into the food market. But we’ve seen
demand from this sector go from sporadic to
regular. And given current trends for nutrients
and functional foods, it could be a recipe for
further success.”
Frewitt has a number of well-known Swiss
customers like Nestlé, Cremo and Ricola.
But its handling, milling and sieving systems
can be found as far afield as the Netherlands, Poland, Ivory Coast, Singapore and
the United States. “Our equipment can be
fully adapted to customer specifications. We
deliver tailor-made turnkey solutions that perfectly match our customer’s needs. This is
where our main competitive advantage lies,
particularly when it comes to the food market where margins are squeezed,” explains
Virdis.
Although exports are rising, Frewitt still manufactures all of its machines in Switzerland.
“We outsource the manufacture of machined
components, and part of the welding and polishing work. Everything else, from feasibility
studies to assembly, engineering, and function checks, are carried out in-house. Our
subsidiary Frewitt China, which employs 23
people at our plant in Shanghai (compared
to 75 in Granges-Paccot), only services the
Chinese market,” clarifies the CEO.
www.frewitt.com
|
13
www.gruyere.com
www.gruyere.com
Les Fromages de Suisse.
Suisse. Naturellement.
www.switzerland-cheese.ch
AUDIT • FIDUcIAIre • conseIl
La fiduciaire privilégiée des PME, des administrations publiques et des institutions sans but lucratif.
BDO SA • Route des Arsenaux 9 • 1705 Fribourg
Tél. 026 435 33 33 • fribourg@bdo.ch
BDO est sponsor de la Chambre de commerce Fribourg.
www.bdo.ch
Exports Are Driving Growth
of Gruyère AOC
Around 12,000 tons, 40% of total production, of this famous cheese are consumed in foreign markets.
In the medium term, the Gruyère interprofessional body plans to increase this figure to 20,000 tons.
“The future of Gruyère AOC hinges on exports. Potential for further growth in Switzerland is actually low,” explains Philippe Bardet, director of the Gruyère interprofessional
body. Each year, around 12,000 tons of the
famous cheese – out of a total production
volume of 29,500 tons – are sold outside
Switzerland. At 2,600 tons, the Germans are
the biggest foreign buyers of Gruyère AOC,
just ahead of the Americans (2,500) and the
French (2,400).
“In the medium term, we would like to scale
up our total production to 40,000 tons a
year, at least half of which would be exported. We have identified significant potential in
the United States and northern Europe, in
particular” says Philippe Bardet. This is good
news for the canton of Fribourg, the site of
half of all Swiss production of Gruyère – with
2,000 jobs directly linked to this business. It
is also encouraging regional players to target
foreign markets.
Fromage Gruyère SA, the only refiner of Gruyère AOP in the Gruyère district, has been
pursuing export opportunities since 2010.
The Bulle-based company currently sells
around 15% of its production outside Swiss
borders. “Our export strategy focuses mainly
on Gruyère AOP 1655,” explains the manager Gérald Roux. The jewel in the company’s
crown, this cheese, which is matured for at
least twelve months in Alpine salt, is named
in tribute to the year of the first written traces
of "Gruyère". It goes through a stringent se-
e_ Top-quality milk
and traditional know-how
are two key ingredients
behind the global success
of Gruyère AOC.
f_ Qualité du lait et
savoir-faire traditionnel
sont deux clés du
succès mondial du
Gruyère AOC.
d_ Höchste Milchqualität und traditionelle
Herstellung sind zwei
der Schlüssel zum
weltweiten Erfolg des
Gruyère AOC.
lection process in partner cheese dairies.
“Choosing this premium Gruyère to sell in
foreign markets, through very high quality
stores, will avoid eroding the export sales of
other Swiss refiners.”
Nevertheless, the Fribourg-based company
does export other products, including Gruyère AOP in the classic and high mountain
varieties, Vacherin fribourgeois AOC, fondue moitié-moitié (half and half fondue), Tête
de moine AOC and Raclette AOC. Already
present in France, Spain, the UK, Germany,
the United States, Canada and Mexico, and
also Asia and Africa, in the long term Fromage Gruyère SA plans to generate a third
of its revenue abroad. An ambition driven,
according to Gérald Roux, by the “pride of
belonging to Fribourg and representing a
canton that reflects our image, a combination of tradition and innovation”.
www.gruyere.com
www.fromage-gruyere.ch
Romont, The New Capital
of Nespresso
Nespresso's planned new site in Romont
will bring a great boost to Fribourg’s already
very vibrant food sector. The coffee giant’s
third capsule production center – following
Orbe and Avenches – is scheduled to start
operation in the first half of 2015.
With an estimated cost of 300 million Swiss
francs, the complex will generate around
400 direct new jobs in the medium term.
“However, for each new job in the production center, we expect to see three indirect
jobs created within the logistics chain,” emphasizes Daniel Weston, General Counsel
for Nestlé Nespresso SA.
For competitive reasons, the company declines to reveal detailed figures. However, it
does say that in terms of design, size and
operation, the factory in the Glâne district
will be similar to the Avenches site, in the
neighboring canton of Vaud. According to
estimates, this operation produces around
five billion capsules each year.
Which export markets will the Fribourg factory serve? “Nespresso’s main markets
will continue to be the traditional European
markets,” comments Daniel Weston, before
going on to add: “In 2011, the proportion
of turnover generated outside Europe grew
by 15%. We are continuing to see strong
growth in these regions, in particular in the
United States and Asia.”
www.nespresso.com
|
15
Milco Sa
Route Principale 122 | Case postale | CH-1642 Sorens
Tel : +41 26 915 90 12 | Fax : +41 26 915 90 18
www.milco.ch
Fromagerie Moléson Sa
é
t
i
c
i
t
n
e
h
t
u
qualité et a ir-fribourg.ch
www.terro
Route de Villarsel 30 | CH-1694 Orsonnens
Tel : +41 26 653 91 91 | Fax : +41 26 653 91 99
www.moleson-sa.ch
Uninterrupted Growth
at JetSolutions SA
Specialist in powder and liquid handling, the company exceeds ten million francs turnover,
Half of this abroad.
e_ Dosing and weighing
equipment are among
the solutions exported
by JetSolutions for the
chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food sectors.
The history of JetSolutions SA is that of uninterrupted growth. Specializing in powder and liquid handling, the company in 2012 passed
the ten million francs annual turnover barrier. “The proportion varies
from one year to another, but since 2009, we have on average achieved more than half of our sales abroad,” calculates Patrick Mayor,
co-manager, with Daniel Lever, of the company based at Rossens.
Since 2002, the year of its establishment, JetSolutions SA has continually broadened its palette of products and customers. “Today,
f_ Les installations de
dosage et pesage font
partie des solutions exportées par JetSolutions
SA dans les domaines de
la chimie, de la pharma
et de l’alimentaire.
d_ Die Dosier- und
Wiegeanlagen gehören
zu den Lösungen, die
JetSolutions SA für die
Chemie-, Pharma- und
Nahrungsmittelindustrie
exportiert.
our solutions are used for various applications – transport, mixing,
metering, reduction or confinement – and in very different fields: food,
of course, but also biotech, pharma, chemicals and winter viability
installations,” said Patrick Mayor.
In fact, the list of consumption products handled, during their industrial process, by JetSolutions installations, is particularly long:
chocolate-coated bars, mushroom sauce, oils, flavorings, spices,
milk, sugar, energy drinks or cough mixture. Without forgetting, apart
from food, tobacco, pesticides, brake pads, fertilizers or medicines.
“Germany and Benelux are very strong export markets where we
have numerous partnerships with foreign companies. In the United
States, we can see a few good prospects, plus there are a few occasional contracts from Scandinavia, Italy and France,” summarizes
Patrick Mayor.
In a difficult economic environment, the boss is counting on
JetSolutions’ main assets: an ever fuller catalogue, the ability to respond to specific requirements of customers… and the brains of his
colleagues. “The most important thing is ideas.”
www.jetsolutions.ch
Le Vacherin Fribourgeois AOC, Much
More Than Just a Fondue Cheese
“Our export business, which has grown by
around 30% over the last ten years, tracks
the trend of our overall sales. In 2012, we
shipped 258 tons of Vacherin Fribourgeois
AOC to export markets – this represents 10%
of our total production of 2,650 tons.” However, Lionel Martin, Secretary of the Vacherin
Fribourgeois interprofessional body, feels it is
not yet time to seek out new markets. “There
is still great potential to be explored in our
current markets.”
Consuming 161 tons in 2012, the French
are still by far the biggest foreign buyers of
this semi-hard cheese from Fribourg. “The
remainder of our exports is divided between
Germany, Benelux, Spain, Italy, Canada and
the United States,” Lionel Martin explains.
His target for 2020 is to increase total production to 3,000 tons.
At Vacherin Fribourgeois SA, the main refiner – along with Cremo – of this delicious
cheese, products offering added value are
one of the keys to achieving growth targets.
“For example, our pasteurization process allows us to produce a 100% natural and preservative-free fondue moitié-moitié (half-andhalf fondue cheese) with a long shelf life. An
ideal export product!” comments Christian
Duc, Director of the company based in the
city of Bulle.
The manager agrees: “To encourage people
to eat Vacherin Fribourgeois AOC all year
round rather than just in winter, we need to
move beyond this reputation as a fondue
cheese.” Hence the launch of Rustic, a
premium Vacherin recognizable by its wrinkled, hand-rubbed rind. “It is sold mainly at
markets, in France, and in gourmet restaurants. Since the fall of 2012, we have also
been supplying it to about twenty premium
Parisian cheese stores.”
www.vacherin-fribourgeois-aoc.ch
www.vacherin.ch
|
17
Ensemble bâtissons l’avenir.
Mit Ihnen gestalten wir
die Zukunft.
universitas friburgensis
UNIVER SITÉ DE FRIBOU RG / U N I VER SI TÄT FREI BURG
Some of Fribourg’s finest exports...
Ces Fribourgeois qui s’exportent...
Freiburgerinnen erobern die Welt...
Peter Aerschmann,
44, Video Artist
He grew up on the family farm at Zumholz and remains “very
attached” to the Canton of Fribourg. However, it is beyond the
mountains and seas, in China, South Africa and the United
States, that the works of Peter Aerschmann are born.
With his camera and photographic apparatus always within reach, the artist travels the
world in order to take in people and objects, which he then retouches on his computer. Finally, he recreates, via his images, interactive videos and installations,
fictional realities. Now living and working in Berne, he does not travel merely to harvest raw
material. He is one of those rare Fribourg visual artists who exhibit abroad. In the past few
years, the imaginary worlds of Peter Aerschmann have been shown in Venice, Budapest,
Ljubljana and Stuttgart, but also in New York, Cape Town, Beijing and Calgary. The gallery
that represents him is based in Paris.
“My first true international experience, as an artist, was the six months residence in Berlin offered by the Canton of Fribourg. I realize the importance of achieving a network of contacts
going beyond Swiss borders.” An irony of fate, for a man from Singine, in the Germanspeaking part of the canton of Fribourg, trained between Basel and Berne, and then briefly
living in the German capital: it is rather in French-speaking Switzerland and then in Paris that
his career really took off. “Apparently, my visual language says more to French speakers,” he
smiles.
www.aerschmann.ch
Alain Riedo, 56, Operations
Director of Fribourgissima
“Fribourg’s position in Switzerland is unusual. Situated on
the border between two languages, we are sometimes
overlooked. Which makes it even more important to promote ourselves.” This is the logic behind the launch of Fribourgissima, a few years ago, by
the Economy and Employment Division of Fribourg Chamber of Commerce – of which Alain
Riedo is Managing Director.
The aim of this network is to connect people with links to Fribourg, whether “native or
adopted citizens, living in the area or elsewhere”. From its base at the Fribourg Chamber
of Commerce, the association pursues two main goals: helping Fribourg business people
make international contacts and promoting the canton’s assets abroad to encourage inward
investment. To support these efforts, Alain Riedo and his team organize a major biannual
conference in the cantonal capital, as well as seminars and meetings in Switzerland and
other countries.
Fribourgissima is also an online network. “We are trying to create an online map of all our
members," explains Alain Riedo, who is pleased to note that “our platform has almost 2,800
members, 45% in the canton of Fribourg, 30% in other areas of Switzerland and 25%
abroad.” Thanks to this tool “several people have already found work and we have managed
to attract some well-known speakers to Fribourg”.
Alain Riedo is convinced that his region’s authenticity and values deserve to be “sold” to
a wider audience. “Fribourgissima is helping to extend our reach!” To the extent that other
cantons may well follow this example.
www.fribourgissima.ch
focus
|
19
A 21st Century Tetra Pak
Alternative to Tin Cans
Packaging giant Tetra Pak has chosen to manufacture Tetra Recart containers at its Romont site.
The entire output is destined for the export market.
e_ Tetra Recart,
a new-generation
packaging solution,
is manufactured exclusively at the Swedish
giant’s Fribourg plant.
For two hundred years, the cylindrical tin can
has reigned supreme in cupboards throughout the world. A young contender to the food
packaging throne has emerged in the shape
of Tetra Recart, the latest innovation from the
Swedish packaging giant Tetra Pak. As Bernard Gendre, manager of the Romont site,
f_ L’emballage Tetra
Recart, de nouvelle
génération, est exclusivement fabriqué sur le site
fribourgeois du géant
suédois.
explains: “Unlike metal, 70% of our carton
is made from renewable materials. Also the
shape means that it takes up 40% less shelf
space.”
The Tetra Recart idea was launched about
ten years ago and is currently manufactured exclusively in the canton of Fribourg.
According to Gendre: “The fact that we were
entrusted with this contract is proof that
Switzerland is still synonymous with quality
and reliability”. Over half of the 140-strong
workforce in Romont is involved in printing,
cutting and sealing the containers. These are
then shipped “to our customers around the
globe for filling”.
Is Tetra Recart really exported worldwide?
“We currently have no customers in Switzerland.” This means that the entire output
of the Romont site is destined for export.
However, marketing and sales are man-
d_ Die neue Verpackung Tetra Recart
wird ausschliesslich am
Freiburger Standort des
schwedischen Konzerns
hergestellt.
aged from Sweden. In 2012, almost 400
million containers were shipped to countries
like Italy, Thailand and Chile. Annual export
volumes in 2013 are expected to exceed
455 million, and look set to rise further in
coming years.
However, the railway tracks that run alongside the Romont site transport more than
Tetra Recart containers. Blown film to reinforce some Tetra Pak barrier containers
is also manufactured at the Fribourg facility. Here polyethylene granules are heated,
then blown into a machine which turns these
fragments into giant rolls of transparent film.
Every year, the Romont site produces some
6,000 tons of film, which are shipped to
other Tetra Pak sites around the world. “Here
too, the entire output is exported, albeit within our group.”
www.tetrapak.com
Ladurée Macarons: Made in
Fribourg, Enjoyed Worldwide
In 2011, the French luxury confectioner,
Ladurée, decided to centralize the production of its famous double-decker macarons
and other treats to ensure their consistent
quality and taste. And the location of its new
state-of-the art production facility? The picturesque village of Bas-Intyamon in La Gruyère. As David Holder, CEO of this prestigious company, explains, these colorful
confections are shipped from Gruyère region to countries around the world, including the United States, Turkey, Lebanon, Qatar, Dubai, Australia, Hong Kong, Sweden,
Belgium and Luxembourg.
“Alongside our macarons, chocolate is
a major focus of our latest development
strategy, as we believe that it holds a great
deal of potential for us in the near future,”
adds Holder. The Fribourg facility will be the
epicenter of this expansion. The energetic
CEO is continually crisscrossing the globe,
opening ever more Ladurée boutiques. This
means more work for the 60-strong Swiss
workforce in Gruyère region, who currently
ships some 1,100 tons a year to the growing stable of Ladurée retailers, with the exception of their boutiques in France. Those
are supplied by Ladurée’s remaining production facility in Paris. The company is also
likely to create more jobs at its 4,500 m2
site in La Gruyère, as David Holder aims to
triple turnover by 2015.
www.laduree.ch
20
|
Nestlé Looks at
International Expansion
to Drive Growth
In a sign of the times, Nestlé is counting on new opportunities, notably
outside the euro zone, in a bid to increase its presence in relatively
untapped markets, such as the Middle East.
e_ By establishing a
presence in markets such
as the United Kingdom
and the United States,
the Cailler brand is
aiming to double its
exports in 2013.
f_ En s’implantant
notamment au
Royaume-Uni et aux
Etats-Unis, la marque
Cailler ambitionne de
doubler ses exportations
en 2013.
d_ Cailler will seine
Exporte 2013 verdoppeln,
insbesondere mit einer
stärkeren Marktpräsenz
in Grossbritannien und
in den USA.
Swiss multinational Nestlé Group is ramping
up its expansion drive. As ongoing turmoil
continues to put a dampener on consumer
spending in the euro zone, the Nestlé group
is looking at international expansion to drive
growth.
In 2012, the Swiss group – which in addition to chocolate, also manufactures
products such as coffee, ice cream and
baby products – entered the Middle Eastern market, spurred on “by strong interest”
by its partners in the region, according to
François Bianchi, Director of exports at
Nestlé in Vevey. “The move into the Middle
East region – into Saudi Arabia, Dubai and
Kuwait – is part of a recent initiative to grow
our Cailler chocolate brand there. We have
launched 16 products so far,” Bianchi said.
In addition, Nestlé launched its Cailler brand
in Germany in 2012.
“In 2013, we would like to double the sales
volume of Cailler abroad,” Bianchi added.
Cailler products are manufactured in Broc,
in Fribourg’s Gruyère region.
Subsequently, there is a push underway to
enter new markets as well, notably the U.K.
in March and the U.S. later in the first half
of 2013. “I hope we have chosen the right
route for Cailler exports!” Bianchi laughed.
Currently, France accounts for about 50% of
Nestle’s chocolate-based sales outside its
home market, followed by Nestlé’s International Travel Retail subsidiary, which supplies
duty free products, with 30%. The remaining
20% is generated in other countries, including Germany and the Middle East.
Turnover at the Nestlé Group was
81.8 billion francs in 2011, of which just
1.8 billion was generated in Switzerland.
“However, for a small country, we eat a lot
of chocolate: 11.9 kg a year per inhabitant,”
Bianchi pointed out, adding that total Nestlé
product consumption per head in Switzerland is about 200 francs per year. In France,
by comparison, people eat, on average,
6.3 kg of chocolate a year. The group employs almost 10,000 people in Switzerland
and 318,000 globally.
Nonetheless, the ongoing sovereign debt
crisis in the euro zone is having a negative
impact on consumer spending. “For example, coffee sales abroad were down this year
due to the strong Swiss franc, as were airport sales as consumer spending in airports
also fell. But in France, with the support of
Nestlé France, we actually grew the business,” Bianchi concluded.
Milco
Yoghurts,
Now
Available
in Russia
“French-speaking Switzerland is a small
market. After exploring all the potential here,
the logical progression was to look towards
France.” Milco SA’s CEO, Jacques Ropraz,
and his thirty employees took this step in
2010. Less than two years later, their decision was validated by the award of the
“Saveur de l’Année” (flavor of the year) title
by a French consumer panel to Le Poya,
a hard cheese produced by the Sorensbased company, followed by a silver medal
at the World Cheese Awards. “We started
out exporting our cheeses: Le Poya (a hard
cheese), Armailli de Gruyère (semi-hard) and
Le Corbier Raclette. Our main customers
were Parisian cheese stores,” explains Désiré Ropraz, son of the founder.
Jacques Ropraz’s team then decided to
expand the company’s export range to include yoghurts, resulting in a move into the
Russian market. “Our Spasseff yoghurts (a
brand of Bulgarian origin purchased by Milco
SA in 1990), sold in glass jars, are stocked
by a premium grocery chain in Moscow.”
Export trade currently accounts for less than
5% of the total revenue of this company,
known in French-speaking Switzerland as the
pioneer in organic milk. “In the medium term,
we would like to double this percentage.”
What markets are next on the CEO’s list?
Belgium, “where we have found a wholesaler”, and Germany. Countries in which Milco
SA plans to promote its “Swissness”.
www.milco.ch
www.cailler.ch
|
21
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FINAL_INSERAT_Networking-Fribourg_EN_quer_A5-200x138_PP.indd 1
14.12.2012 11:16:16
Cremo Passes the 100-Million
Swiss Francs Mark for Annual Exports
With milk protein responsible for half of all foreign sales, this has taken the lion’s share.
Sales of butter and cheese were not far behind, showing roughly equal figures.
e_ The state-of-the-art
Cremo factory, which
opened in 2008, focuses
on the high-protein
milk powders.
The last few years will come to be known as the period when Cremo
went international. While it has long been focused on the national
market, the dairy product manufacturer from Fribourg has recently
passed the 100-million Swiss francs mark for annual sales revenue
from exports – for 550 million francs in total.
The manufacture and fractionation of milk proteins represents more
than half of this result. “Cremo has been exporting powdered milk
for decades. But since 2003 when it took over some of the activities of Swiss Dairy Food, the sector has developed considerably”
comments Director Paul-Albert Nobs. This trend has been consolidated as a result of the inauguration of an impressive powder plant in
2008 at Villars-sur-Glâne, the company’s Head Office.The production
of dried-milk products has given Cremo the chance to gain a foothold
f_ Depuis l’inauguration,
en 2008, de son usine
dédiée ultramoderne,
Cremo mise beaucoup
sur les poudres de lait à
haute teneur en protéine.
d_ Seit der Einweihung
2008 seiner ultramodernen
Fabrik setzt das Unternehmen Cremo noch
stärker auf Milchpulver
mit hohem Proteingehalt.
across the globe – in Japan, the United States and even in Australia.
“Our partnership with the French group Ingredia has given us access
to a very well-developed sales network,” adds Paul-Albert Nobs.
As part of programs set up by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to combat malnourishment, Cremo’s
powdered milk has even made its way into developing countries,
such as North Korea and Sudan.
The takeover of Swiss Dairy Food also allowed the Fribourg-based
company to make headway in the butter market, which makes up
almost a quarter of its foreign sales. “As a result of higher customs
taxes that affect this type of product within the European Union the
main destination countries are located on the border with the EU.
Turkey is our best client,” explains Nobs.
The Europeans, however, are still the leading buyers for the product
that makes up the remaining quarter of Cremo’s exports: cheese,
with exports to countries such as France, Germany, the United
Kingdom, Belgium and Italy. Paul-Albert Nobs also sees great potential for development in this area, especially faced with a “tight” Swiss
market.
www.cremo.ch
Tablets with Qualities
that Cross Frontiers
“In our export process, we must take account both of the regulatory constraints
of the countries concerned and of cultural aspects,” notes Christian Binggeli.
The Managing Director of Dehly SA, a
company specializing in pharmaceutical
confectionery, cites the case of certain
countries in the Middle East, “where the
cross must be deleted from our labels”.
Such barriers have not discouraged the
family business, established in Marly, from
selling its main growth products abroad.
From 20% in 2003, the share of products
sold outside Swiss territory climbed to 70%
in 2011. Currently, some 150 tons of tablets
manufactured annually have sold, apart from
on the Swiss market, in France, Italy, Spain,
Benelux and Portugal. “We have just signed
a contract with an active distributor in eastern countries, including Russia,” enthuses
the Fribourg boss, who expects to continue
on this excellent path. A contract is being
negotiated with a distributor in the United
Kingdom and promising contacts have been
made in the Middle East and Asia, “where
Switzerland benefits from a high degree of
renown. Hence the importance of being
able to continue to display our Swissness.”
At Dehly SA, the fame stems mainly from
know-how in combining gum acacia (or gum
arabic) with plant extracts. Alongside the
PhytAlma house brand, which represents
approximately 10% of total production, the
Marly company manufactures tablets under
subcontracting for international pharmaceutical laboratories. Whether or not they
contain sugar, whether they be registered as
drugs, food supplements or food products,
the precious tablets have a common point:
they do not contain preservatives. A not insignificant asset, in the era of bio and natural.
www.dehly.ch
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23
EIA-FR-HEG-Annonce NETWORK-jan2013.pdf
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M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
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1
09.01.13
13:23
Infré Ltd, a Hit
with British Tea Lovers
Infré Ltd’s proven tea decaffeination method is a great export success, with almost 99%
of the company’s revenue generated outside Switzerland, particularly in the United Kingdom.
e_ The Infré plant, in
Semsales, which opened
in 2007 and extended
in 2012, can now decaffeinate up to 5,000 tons
of tea per year.
f_ Inaugurée en 2007,
puis agrandie en
2012, l’usine d’Infré, à
Semsales, est capable de
décaféiner 5000 tonnes
de thé par an.
d_ In der 2007 eingeweihten und 2012
vergrösserten Fabrikhalle
von Infré, in Semsales,
können 5000 Tonnen
Tee pro Jahr entkoffeiniert werden.
Although a familiar sight on the tea shelves of Swiss grocery stores
for more than sixty years, beyond Switzerland this yellow box with
its distinctive red diamond is virtually unknown. Yet Infré Ltd., the
producer of these legendary tea bags, is one of the world leaders
in tea decaffeination. “Our two own brands, Infré and Bonomelli,
are sold only in Switzerland and Italy, accounting for just 5% of
our production,” says Martin Hodler. The chairman of the company,
owned jointly by the Italian industrial group Bonomelli/Montenegro
and Thomas Zesiger, a Swiss national, explains that the remaining
95% consists of decaffeinated tea sold to other brands, including
some famous names.
About 99% of the 3,000 to 4,000 tons that leave the factory in
Semsales each year are destined for export markets. Hardly
surprisingly, the United Kingdom accounts for the lion’s share, with
approximately 80% of Infré Ltd.’s exports. Her Majesty’s subjects
“consume about 110,000 tons of tea each year, 5% of which is
decaffeinated,” says Gert ter Voorde, Infré Ltd.’s CEO. This percentage is far higher than the global average, currently at a
high of 1%.
Around the world, three techniques are used to decaffeinate tea:
supercritical CO2, ethyl acetate and methylene chloride (MC). The
company’s thirty or so employees have used the latter method
since 1946, when it was introduced by Infré Ltd.’s founder.
“Methylene chloride is far superior in terms of taste and cost,”
explains Martin Hodler.
Once the teas have been mixed, the leaves are humidified and
then rinsed in MC to remove the caffeine. This caffeine, found in
both tea and coffee, is then resold to the beverage and pharmaceutical industries. After evaporation, the MC is filtered off into a
closed circuit for reuse, while the tea leaves are dried and prepared
for dispatch.
In response to both legal requirements and its customers’
specifications, Infré Ltd. expanded its factory at the start of 2012.
Supported by these modern facilities, the company is now setting
its sights on new markets, including Asia, Russia and Australia.
www.infre.ch
Moléson SA: First Promising
Steps in Foreign Lands
Around ten thousand kilometers separate
Orsonnens from Mexico. A distance that a
cargo of cheeses produced at Moléson SA
travelled for the first time at the end of last
year. “With our new communication means,
people hear products spoken of more easily and demand abroad is increasing,” Michel
Grossrieder, the manager of the family company is delighted to say.
It was in 2010 that the Glâne cheese factor, which employs about sixty people, began
exporting. Currently, Moléson SA achieves
most of its international receipts in France
and Germany. “Since we manufacture products with a limited shelf life, we rather aim at
countries close by.”
The entrepreneur states that in 2012 he
opened an office in France in order to be able
to deal directly with retailers without passing
through an importer. Through this French address, the Fribourg company has ambitions
to access other members of the European
Union. “By 2014-2015, we would like to
achieve 10% of our turnover outside Switzerland,” emphasizes Michel Grossrieder.
Each year, the Orsonnens factory purchases
more than 7 million kilograms of milk – cow,
goat and sheep – from around seventy producers in the region. White gold that is transformed into hard, semi-hard and soft cheese
and fromage frais, but also yoghurt. “Abroad,
we especially sell niche products, such as
18-22 month Gruyère or Vacherin Rustic.”
Overall, Michel Grossrieder’s troops play
on the “Swissness” effect, emphasizing the
house slogan “Quality allied with tradition”.
www.moleson-sa.ch
|
25
2013_ESPORTSTER_AD_200x138_EN_V2.pdf
1
1/16/13
10:26 AM
INNOVATION
TECHNOLOGIE
DESIGN
E-SPORTSTER 10
The E-Sportster series emphasizes comfort and convenience for touring
and transportation. These bikes offer the rider an extra push via a rechargable, electric assist motor to get you there a little faster and with a lot more
fun. SCOTT collaborates with Bosch to create an innovative E-bike line.
Villars Chocolates Enter Ten New
Markets in Just One Year
Driven by a strong international strategy, half of the Fribourg company’s production is now exported to
82 countries around the world.
e_ Alexandre Sacerdoti,
Managing Director of
Villars Maître Chocolatier
SA, is using the company’s
Swiss roots to promote his
brand.
f_ Alexandre Sacerdoti,
directeur général de
SA, joue sur l’atout de
la croix suisse pour
promouvoir sa marque.
d_ Alexandre Sacerdoti,
Generaldirektor von
SA, setzt auf das Schweizer Kreuz, um seine
Marke zu bewerben.
“We began exporting ten years ago when we realized it was more
difficult to sell in German-speaking Switzerland than in the United
States!” This bold move by Alexandre Sacerdoti, Managing Director of
Villars Maître Chocolatier, has more than paid off - the company now
exports more than half of its production to 82 countries around the
world. “Within the last year alone, we have entered ten new markets,”
comments the company’s emblematic manager.
The chocolate company’s first export successes date back to its very
early years. At the start of the 20th century, it was even selected
as an exclusive chocolate supplier to several Royal households – including the British one. However, the growth of mass retailing from the
1960s onwards heralded the end of the brand’s direct sales model –
around 60 stores located all over Switzerland – confining it to Frenchspeaking Switzerland.
“When the company was purchased by the Bongrain group in
1995, Villars was suffering from a general lack of awareness
in the Swiss market as a whole. Its absence in retail competition made this difficult to overcome. Our only option for further
growth was to look beyond Swiss borders,” adds Alexandre Sacerdoti. In search of new distributors, he visited international food industry fairs in Paris, Cologne and the United States.
The company's strategy was clearly defined: “Promoting our Swiss
roots, while avoiding clichés, and conveying a sophisticated and premium image”. Promotional materials depicting chalets and the famous
metal tins with their retro designs soon began to appear, first in France,
Villars’ main export market, and then all over Europe. “The tin featuring all
the coats of arms of the Swiss cantons, representing the domed ceiling
of the Swiss Federal Palace parliament building, has almost become
the official gift for ambassadors,” says a delighted Alexandre Sacerdoti.
Coffee crisp, edelweiss liqueur chocolates, old-fashioned drinking
chocolate and even chocolate bars containing the natural sweetener stevia: together with its more traditional products, Villars’ many
innovations are spreading the Fribourg brand’s reputation all over the
world. “With huge potential still remaining on the Asian continent.”
www.chocolat-villars.com
Delley: Seeds from Fribourg
in Ukraine and Russia
“Farming businesses are tired of being completely dependent on one or two international seed giants. For a small structure like
ours, this opens up great international potential," comments Evelyne Thomet, President
of Delley Semences et Plantes SA. From its
headquarters at Delley Castle, supported
by 17 permanent employees, the company
acts as a link between the development and
the production of varieties of seeds. One
of its key activities involves providing seed
growers – in Switzerland and other countries – with varieties of cereals, forage plants,
corn and soya selected by the company or
developed by the Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil and Reckenholz-Tänikon research
stations.
“Our income is based on license fees charged when our varieties are planted,” explains the agronomy engineer. Around 40%
of these fees are levied outside Switzerland.
Among the exported species, cereals generate the most revenue: “We sell 40 varieties
in 19 countries.” Switzerland has a particularly strong reputation for its excellent baking
quality products which “can be used to make
good bread with no need for additives”.
Other very popular species internationally are
Swiss forage plants, wich are distinguished
“by their agronomic quality”, in other words
their high yield and resistance to disease.
Currently trading primarily with its European
neighbors, Delley Semences et Plantes SA
is investigating opportunities in more distant
markets. For example, Swiss soya varieties
are being tested in Russia and Ukraine
www.dsp-delley.ch
|
27
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International Success
for a Traditional Product
Roland Morat SA first began exporting almost 40 years ago. Today, the company’s products are enjoyed in fifteen countries. Its best-seller is the “Bretzli”, or pretzel, still featuring the same distinctive knot as in the 1950s.
e_ First produced in
Morat in 1951, pretzels
remain the flagship
product of the Roland
brand, both in Switzerland and abroad.
“We are the only company still producing authentic knotted pretzels,”
says Marc-André Cornu, Manager of Roland Morat SA, explaining the
international success of the company’s famous savory snacks. In the
large hall, machines tirelessly reproduce the movements originally carried out by hand in the early 1950s, creating the pretzel’s distinctive
shape.
Pretzels currently account for 70% of the bakery company’s exports, ahead of flûtes feuilletées (pastry sticks). In addition to these
two products, a third export niche is becoming increasingly important for this company of 100 employees, created in 1939 by Leopold
Schöffler and purchased in 2008 by the Vaud-based family group
f_ Confectionné pour la
première fois à Morat en
1951, le bretzel noué de
Roland reste le produit
phare de la marque, tant
en Suisse qu’à l’étranger.
d_ Das seit 1951 in
Murten hergestellte
Bretzeli bleibt das Erfolgsprodukt von Roland –
sowohl in der Schweiz
als auch im Ausland.
Cornu SA: gluten-free crusty bread, which it produces for several large
European companies. Overall, “we export about half of our production,
80% of which under our Roland brand,” explains Marc-André Cornu.
Roland Morat SA can already look back on forty years of export activities. The king of savory sticks, crusty bread and “zwieback” crispbreads is now present in fifteen countries, including Singapore, China
and Japan – “one of our historic markets”. In 2012, it shipped around
9.5 million packets to export markets. “Swiss quality and tradition” is
the slogan of this Morat-based company and, according to its owner,
these two factors go a long way to explaining this high demand.
Marc-André Cornu feels that Roland’s arrival in Fribourg has also
played a role in the company’s rapid expansion. “Businesses in the
Fribourg area are linked by a strong network. And the authorities are
very helpful and efficient.” The bakery products company plans to
build on its international reputation to consolidate its position in its
main markets of Germany and Austria. It also plans to continue its
development in Asia, where sales doubled between 2011 and 2012.
“The Cornu SA group has just set up a base in Malaysia to facilitate
exports to South East Asia,” says Marc-André Cornu with a smile,
outlining his plans for the future.
www.roland.ch
Sugnaux Electromécanique SA:
40 Years of Exporting
Sugnaux Electromécanique SA's export activities are by no means a recent development. Back in the 1970s, this specialist in
handling machines for the cheese industry
was already exporting to France, Austria and
Italy. “The cheese-making world is a small
one, everyone knows each other. After selling
our first semi-automatic machines in 1968,
we very soon began receiving enquiries from
other countries. However, the volumes were
still low at the time,” explains Alain Sugnaux,
son of the company's founder Michel and
joint manager, together with his brother Marc.
Forty years later, exporting has become a
way of life for this company from the Glâne
district. However, the scale has grown considerably. “Most of our production is divided
equally between the Swiss and French markets. The remainder is shipped to customers
in Austria, Italy and Germany,” explains the
owner, adding with a smile: “We have even
exported to Kyrgyzstan and Australia.”
From cheese curing robots to semi-automatic machines, cheese-board washing machines, lifting tables and rinding machines,
Sugnaux Electromécanique SA produces a
comprehensive and regularly updated range
of equipment. Quality is a constant concern.
Alain Sugnaux emphasizes: “Around 85% of
the 800 or so machines sold since 1965 –
including 180 robots – are still in operation.
This demonstrates their durability and scalability.”
In response to increasingly fierce competition in its niche market, the company has
recently begun to diversify its activities. For
example, into the area of retrofit, in other
words, updating the control and automation
components of existing machines.
www.sugnaux.ch
|
29
e_ From gear box housing to actuators, rotating parts
and adhesive films: all over the world, the automotive
industry subcontracts components or technologies
based on Fribourg expertise to the region’s companies.
30
|
from bicycle to aircraft
f_ Carters de boîte de vitesse, actionneurs, pièces tournantes ou encore films adhésifs: l’industrie automobile
du monde entier sous-traite, dans les entreprises du
canton, des composants ou technologies issus du
savoir-faire fribourgeois.
d_ Getriebegehäuse, Aktuatoren, Drehteile oder auch
Klebefolien: Die Automobilindustrie der ganzen Welt
deckt sich bei den Unternehmen des Kantons mit
Bauteilen oder Technologien ein, die auf Freiburger
Know-how basieren.
From Bicycle
to Aircraft
Whether involving cars, sailing or aeronautics, transport stands out as one of the most buoyant export
sectors in Fribourg industry.
In the globalized world of today, the transport industry occupies increasing importance. Many Fribourg companies are in fact linked,
with regard to all or some of their business, to land, sea or air travel for
persons and goods. And this well beyond the borders of the country!
The vigor of the Swiss automobile sector remains, in this regard,
widely unrecognized in the population. Unlike our German, French
and Italian neighbors, who have numerous famous constructors, our
country has no brand of its own. The majority of vehicles on the planet do however contain components or technologies resulting from
Swiss and in particular Fribourg know-how.
Thus one American car out of three uses the adhesive films produced by Collano Services Extrusion (page 45) in Schmitten, in order
to absorb the noise generated inside the vehicle. Does your vehicle
have multidirectional Xenon headlights? It is therefore probable that
Jesa (page 43) made the rotating part that makes up its mechanism.
The company in Villars-sur-Glâne, winner of the Fribourg Innovation
Award 2012-2013, has also developed a new plastic injection process that is already opening wide the doors of the German automobile market.
Johnson Electric International (page 42) does not want to be outdone: by improving, by means of an actuator of its own invention,
the energy efficiency of car thermal engines, the Fribourg firm has
attracted the favors of numerous car manufacturers.
In a quite different field, Enraf Tanksystem (page 42), a company specializing in the manufacture of gauges and samplers for oil tankers,
now holds more than half the international market.
As for Meggitt (page 47), whose vibration measurement instruments
equip a large part of civil aviation throughout the world, it is one of the
jewels of aeronautics. A sector in which Extramet (page 45), in Plaffeien, is also growing; they supply in particular Airbus with extruded
hard metal parts.
Companies such as Scott Sports (page 35), specializing in mountain
bikes, and Bcomp (page 39), a start-up active in natural fiber, finally
remind us of the importance of environmentally friendly transport and
environmental preoccupations.
|
31
Liebherr Machines Bulle Is Broadening
the Spectrum of its Possibilities
By opening up to external customers, in order to achieve profits from its research and development
expenditure, Liebherr Machines Bulle SA is giving itself new prospects.
e_ The Liebherr plant
in Bulle manufactures
high-performance diesel
engines.
For Liebherr Machines Bulle SA, exporting is not an empty word.
“98% of our production leaves the country, essentially to the European
Union. Our main markets are Germany, France and Austria, but we
also supply the United States, Canada, Brazil and China,” said Claude
Ambrosini, one of the three directors of Liebherr Machines Bulle SA.
With one special feature: the Fribourg company supplies most of its
diesel engines, its hydraulic pumps and motors and its injection systems to the other subsidiaries of the Liebherr groupage For the past
few years, Liebherr Machines Bulle SA has also been exporting gas
engines to many countries.
“The strategy of the Liebherr group has always consisted of its developing components with high technological value itself, for reasons of
f_ Sur son site de Bulle,
la société Liebherr
produit notamment des
moteurs diesel hautes
performances.
d_ An seinem Standort in Bulle stellt das
Unternehmen Liebherr
vor allem leistungsfähige
Dieselmotoren her.
quality and independence,” explains Claude Ambrosini. To this end,
about 100 million Swiss francs are invested each year in research
and development, merely on the Bulle site. However, since 2012,
an important change has been that the production of components is
no longer destined solely for internal subsidiaries. “A new company
Liebherr-Components AG, at Nussbaumen, is now responsible for
selling Liebherr components outside the group,” indicates the director.
Several customers have not been slow in manifesting their interest.
“The Liebherr group is recognized for the quality of its equipment
and its aftersales service. The first orders, coming from Russia and
China, could therefore soon come in,” Claude Ambrosini is delighted
to say.
As a reminder, the Liebherr group decided to set up its world headquarters in Bulle. The company now has some 38,000 employees
and 130 companies throughout the world, with a turnover exceeding
nine billion euros. Its very extensive catalogue ranges from site machinery to dock cranes, through products intended for aeronautics,
machine tools and domestic electrical equipment.
www.liebherr.com
Bayer: Emerging Markets Are
Enjoying Enormous Growth
Present in Fribourg for fifty years, Bayer MaterialScience’s headquarters for Eastern Europe,
the Middle East and Africa appears immune to the financial crisis.
“From our point of view, Fribourg represents
economic and political stability, as well as
an excellent relationship with the cantonal
government,” comments Rainer Schorr. This
favorable context persuaded the German
giant Bayer to choose Fribourg, the city of
the Dukes of Zaehringen, as the site of its
MaterialScience regional headquarters for
Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Under the management of Rainer Schorr, the
site’s 100 or so employees manage the marketing and sale of polymers, polycarbonates,
polyurethanes, raw materials for coatings,
adhesives and sealant materials.
The products are exported to 110 countries,
to manufacturers in the automotive, construction, furnishing, domestic appliances, electronics and cosmetics sectors. Business is
booming in Fribourg for Bayer International
SA, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary
in 2012, emphasizes Rainer Schorr. “We
work mainly with emerging markets, which
are enjoying enormous growth.”
In its jubilee year, the Fribourg operation generated a turnover of “between one and two
billion euros,” states its manager. The company’s biggest export markets are currently
Poland, Russia, Turkey, South Africa and Dubai. “Eastern Europe is experiencing a huge
surge in demand for televisions and fridges,
both of which contain a wide range of materials produced by Bayer MaterialScience.”
However, exporting to Eastern Europe, the
Middle East and Africa can be problematic
at times, comments Rainer Schorr. “Conflicts
frequently break out in the regions we trade
with. In some countries, the financial guarantees are too weak and we are forced to
simply stop selling our products there.”
Nevertheless, the manager remains “very
optimistic” about the future. In particular, with
new markets on the horizon, including Africa.
www.bayer.ch
|
33
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Scott Sports Eyeing China in
Bid to Drive International Growth
The sports manufacturer is keen to grow its business in new, rapidly expanding markets
in a bid to tap into growing demand for its products outside its home market.
e_ Cross-country cyclist
Nino Schurter, who
took silver at the 2012
London Olympics, races
for the Scott-Swisspower
team.
f_ Nino Schurter,
médaillé d’argent de
cross-country aux Jeux
olympiques de Londres,
en 2012, roule pour
l’équipe ScottSwisspower.
d_ Nino Schurter,
Silbermedaillengewinner im Cross-Country
an den Olympischen
Spielen in London 2012,
fährt für das Team ScottSwisspower.
At Scott Sports SA, exercise is practically part of their genetic make
up, such is their devotion to sport and the great outdoors. But in a bid
to take the company to greater heights, the heat is now on to expand
into additional international markets.
Scott Sports, which is best known for its bikes, ski gear, running
shoes and outdoor sports products, is now eyeing China with a view
to expansion, according to Beat Zaugg, General Manager of Scott
Sports in Givisiez. “We are looking to do business there. We already
have a Scott Northern Asia division, based in Seoul, Korea, which
handles the Korean market, as well as Japan. The next step would
be China,” he said.
Currently, Germany and the U.S. are the firm’s biggest markets outside
Switzerland. Each accounts for 14% of annual turnover, said Zaugg,
more than Switzerland or France, with 8% and 9% respectively. This
year, Scott Sports is hoping to do 460 million Swiss francs in turnover globally, up from 407 million last year. The company employs
about 650 people worldwide, of whom 170 are based in Givisiez:
an increase of more than 50% since 2010, following investment in
or acquisitions of companies in Italy, South Africa, India and Korea.
Despite the ongoing turmoil in the euro zone, the bike market is proving to be remarkably resilient – so far, said Zaugg. “Our best-selling
product is our 650b mountain bike that we launched last year. It is
innovative and offers consumers a new level of performance.” The
carbon hardtail model got a huge boost in July, 2012, when it was
used by Nino Schurter to win the World Cup. The bike, which boasts
27.5 inch wheels, is also incredibly light, at just under 8 kg. It retails
for between 3,400 and 9,200 francs, depending on the model. “This
bike has great growth potential going forward,” said Zaugg.
In a further sign that the bike world is holding up well during the financial crisis, Scott Sports is actually selling more bikes now in troubled
markets such as Spain, Portugal and even Greece. “Perhaps cars
are too expensive, given the financial situation in these countries, and
people are opting for cheaper forms of transportation, such as bikes,
instead,” Zaugg added.
www.scott-sports.com
Düdal: Light Metal as Much
in Demand as Ever
Aluminum’s future as a raw material appears secure, thanks to qualities such as its
light weight and conductivity, useful for heat
transfer applications, for example. “Its high
conductivity makes it impossible to replace
aluminum with synthetic materials across
the board," says Raphael Burger, Manager of Leichtmetall-Giesserei AG Düdal, in
Düdingen.
This family company with 175 employees
boasts extensive experience in chilled casting and die casting. Every year, its three
plants process around 800 tons of aluminum. Its finished and coated cast parts in
different alloys are used as components in
a wide range of products. The automotive
industry is a loyal customer. “We produce
the housing for the Porsche GT series gearbox,” says Raphael Burger, by way of an
example.
However, Düdal's components are also used
in machines and instruments, including medical devices. About half of its production is
exported directly, and most of the cast parts
delivered to Swiss manufacturers are also
destined for export markets. In total, more
than 95 percent of Düdal’s production ultimately ends up in foreign manufacturing
operations, mainly in Europe, but also in the
USA and Asia.
Germany is an important market for the company, with sales boosted by a representative
in the field. Although the high Swiss franc is
not making life easy for the light metal foundry,
thanks to increasing automation and tailored
solutions developed in consultation with customers, the company is optimistic about the
future and committed to its Düdingen site.
www.duedal.ch
|
35
Thierry Jobin, 44, Artistic
Director of the Fribourg
International Film Festival
“For many years, my only travels were through the films
I watched. Today, my business trips are giving me a
deeper insight into the context of these films.” A former film critic with “Le Temps” daily newspaper, in 2011
Thierry Jobin took on the role of Artistic Director of the Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF).
In search of cinematic jewels for the 2013 edition, he toured foreign film festivals – including Cannes, Toronto, San Sebastian and Pusan – meeting, along the way, directors whose
careers were launched by the FIFF. The Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, winner
of the Palme d’Or in Cannes in 2010, is one example of the talent that has passed through
Fribourg. “It’s quite impressive. The further you travel from Europe, the greater the recognition of our festival. The FIFF has established a strong reputation, thanks to a thirty-year track
record and its pioneering status.”
To create the 2013 FIFF, Thierry Jobin watched no fewer than 2,000 international productions - films collected during his international travels, found on specialist websites or submitted by filmmakers. “Of course, I don’t watch all the films to the very end. But overall these
cinematic portrayals give me a very good idea of trends and vibes all over the world.” A
virtual world tour that the Festival’s Artistic Director takes great pleasure in presenting to
Fribourg audiences each year
www.fiff.ch
Roland Fasel, 52, General Manager
of The Dorchester, London
From a family-run hostelry in the Fribourg
village of Tafers to one of the most prestigious hotels in the world may sound like a
fairy tale. But it is, in fact, the true story of Roland Fasel, who in 2012 was named by Gault
Millau as star suisse de l’étranger (loosely translated: “Switzerland’s best export”). Born in
Tafers in 1961, Fasel began his career in the family-run business. As the adopted Londoner
wryly recalls: “When I went to Lausanne to study, my parents were convinced that the best
thing for me was to go back to the family hotel.” However, young Roland had set his sights
much further afield.
With two suitcases and “600 Swiss francs in my pocket”, the newly minted graduate of the
Lausanne School of Hospitality Management headed to Boston in pursuit of the American
Dream. His journey would take him to California, where he worked at the exclusive Hotel
Bel-Air in Los Angeles. Then in 1991, at the age of 30, Fasel embarked on a brand-new chapter in his career. He spent eight exciting years in Asia, taking on Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore
and Malaysia along the way. In 1999, Fasel made a foray into Helvetian territory, where he managed one of the most exclusive hotels in Switzerland. “The owners were looking for a Swiss
national with international experience. I jumped on the chance to reconnect with my roots.”
For almost a decade now, Roland Fasel has called the UK capital home. Although he has
the daunting, yet distinguished task of managing the Dorchester and its 1,100 employees,
he still finds time to return to Switzerland to see his family, go skiing and cheer on the
Fribourg-Gottéron ice-hockey club.
www.dorchestercollection.com
36
|
focus
Gaëlle Thalmann, 27, Goalkeeper
at ASD Torres Calcio
“One day, I shall have to do a proper job.
I may therefore return to finish my football career in a Swiss club,” jokes Gaëlle
Thalmann. The goalkeeper for the women’s national team, who is currently moving to the
Sardinian first division club ASD Torres Calcio, does not exclude choosing the Canton of
Fribourg. “It’s there that I feel at home!”
It is there too that everything began when little Gaëlle, aged 9, began to hit leather in the
company of boys at FC Bulle. Five years later, the Swiss-Italian entered her first female team,
in the nearby village of Riaz. Over the years, she made her career in the national world of the
round ball, keeping goal in particular for Thoune (Berne), Zuchwil (Solothurn) and Lucerne. In
January 2008, the girl from Gruyère region put some gloves and crampons in her suitcase
and crossed the frontier, to Potsdam, near Berlin. “I had heard it said that the goalkeeper
was leaving and I made a spontaneous offer. I was taken on.”
Once part of the German circuit, the footballer – who also has a university master’s degree in
history and Germanic studies – had no difficulty in landing two other contracts, in Hamburg
(2009-2010 season) and then Leipzig (2011-2012 season). Rich experiences “that enabled
me to progress” but that were not free from difficulties, including injuries. Since the summer
of 2012, the young 27 year old was taking advantage of the gentle Italian climate. Which
does not prevent her from eyeing “England, Sweden, or even Spain”.
www.torrescalciofemminile.it
Chantal Robin, 53, President of the
Groupement Industriel du Canton de
Fribourg (GIF)
“The exporting companies among our association’s members have a different culture. They
bring the other members the benefit of a wider
view of the world, as well as the international
experience of their managers.” Many of the 110 companies in the Groupement industriel du
canton de Fribourg (GIF), of which Chantal Robin is President, sell their goods abroad, in
particular those from the watchmaking, machinery and equipment sectors.
The aim of the GIF, (representing around 13,000 jobs), promoted through its monthly meetings, is to provide Fribourg business people with networking opportunities. Chantal Robin,
herself an Executive Director of Sofraver, hears a lot of discussions about exports. “One
problem raised regularly by members is the high price of Swiss labor. On the other hand, we
all agree on the incredible know-how available at a regional and national level.”
Another difficulty frequently analyzed over a glass of wine is the shortage of engineers.
“There are a lot of specialist schools in Fribourg. So rather than training, the challenge is to
encourage graduates to stay in the region after their studies. To do this, “we need to convince young engineers of the advantages of the local area - the quality of life, social harmony
and vibrant business sector. As well as reassuring them of other benefits, such as innovation, flexible working hours, etc."
www.gif-vfi.ch
focus
|
37
*
LA quALité, L’innovAtion Et LA préciSion nouS tiEnnEnt à cœur.
JESA, spécialiste des solutions de roulements à billes en combinaison avec des polymères techniques,
connaît un succès mondial grâce à des valeurs classiques suisses. Pour nos produits et nos services nous
offrons qualité et précision. En respectant avec intransigeance les différents souhaits et besoins de nos clients
lors de la réalisation de projets, nous atteignons notre objectif: une innovation permanente. www.jesa.com
spinning solutions
*Unité avec roulements à billes assemblée par injection. Vainqueur du Prix à l‘innovation du Canton de Fribourg 2012-2013
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Votre source d’énergies
Bcomp: Riding the Global
Green Wave
The international natural fibers market is booming. The Fribourg start-up Bcomp, which made its name
with ski core material made from flax fibers, is on the look-out for new markets.
e_ Cyrille Boinay (left)
and Christian Fischer,
Managing Directors of
Bcomp, are committed
to high-performance
products made from
natural materials.
f_ Cyrille Boinay
(à gauche) et Christian
Fischer, directeurs
généraux de Bcomp,
entendent conjuguer
performances et matériaux
naturels.
d_ Cyrille Boinay (links)
und Christian Fischer,
Geschäftsführer von
Bcomp, stellen leistungsstarke Produkte aus
natürlichen Materialien
her.
“In 2011, the global natural fibers market generated revenue in the
region of 2.8 billion Euros. And it keeps getting bigger!” Buoyed by
this success and keen to make his contribution to the emergence
of a green economy, Cyrille Boinay and three fellow ski enthusiasts
created the start-up Bcomp, in February 2011. The company, which
moved in summer 2012 to its new premises on the blueFACTORY
site, is making a name for itself internationally thanks to its patented
“power ribs technology” and “Bcomp core technology”.
“80% of our turnover comes from exports. Our main markets are
Taiwan, China, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and the United
States,” explains the Bcomp Managing Director who also has the
Scandinavian market firmly in his sights. Has Bcomp found its golden
goose? Its ski cores made from flax fibers and structural foam are superior to conventional cores on many points: they are cheaper, lighter
and have better shock absorption properties. In many ways this
product is the concrete manifestation of the Bcomp creed, namely to
develop and patent technologies that pave the way for eco-superior
products, but “without compromising on performance”.
To satisfy both requirements the start-up, which had received support from Fri Up, Venture Capital Fribourg and Seed Capital Fribourg,
is currently concentrating on the development of an assortment
of natural solutions (flax fibers) and synthetics (resins and foams).
“We’re also working flat out to develop entirely recyclable components,” adds Cyrille Boinay. “Demand for such products is huge,
particularly from the automotive industry.” Although Bcomp is a wellestablished name in the sport and leisure industry thanks to its ski
cores, ski poles and bike saddles, the company wants to conquer
new markets like interior design, robotics and mobility.
The young Managing Director, aiming for a turnover of 2 million Swiss
francs in 2013, is also very optimistic about the future: “New orders
are starting to come in. For example, a musical instrument maker in
California has expressed an interest in our technologies. We are also
currently liaising with a major firm in Asia that manufactures computer
casings.” A growing order book will require changes to the production chain. “To remain true to our green credentials, we will need to
find local partners rather than shipping European-made components
over thousands of miles.”
www.bcomp.ch
|
39
Vivre le progrès.
Compétence pour système d’entraînement
Liebherr Machines Bulle SA appartient à la division composant du groupe
Liebherr. En tant que filiale de Liebherr-Component Technologies AG,
celle-ci exploite une usine de production très moderne où sont développés
et fabriqués des composants d’entraînement et de commande pour les
engins de construction Liebherr. La société dispose d’une surface totale
de plus de 118’000 m2 et emploie actuellement plus de 900 personnes.
A Bulle, dans le canton de Fribourg, sont développés et produits des moteurs Diesel couvrant une plage de puissance entre 130 kW et 750 kW ainsi
Liebherr Machines Bulle SA
45, rue de I’Industrie
CH-1630 Bulle
Tel : +41 26 913 31 11
E-mail : info.lmb@liebherr.com
www.liebherr.com
2006-001_13 LMB SammelAZ_3_FR_200x280.indd 1
que des moteurs à gaz de 100 kW à 516 kW. Les moteurs Diesel sont
équipés de notre propre système de traitement des gaz d’échappement
d’injection et management électronique. Depuis près de 30 ans, Liebherr
développe et fabrique également des pompes et des moteurs hydrauliques
à pistons axiaux ainsi que des soupapes et éléments de commande hydraulique. Une gamme de réducteurs complète l’offre. Ces systèmes complets à circuits hydrauliques multiples équipent différentes machines d’un
entraînement moderne et performant.
Le Groupe
13.02.13 15:06
Protecting the Environment
with Digital Measuring
Murten-based Digi Sens has mastered the art of using vibrations to create highly innovative measuring
systems. Its products are taking the world market by storm.
e_ Designed for garbage
collection trucks, the onboard calculator is one
of the many measuring
systems developed by
Digi Sens.
f_ Destiné aux camions
de ramassage d’ordures,
le calculateur de bord
fait partie des nombreux
systèmes de mesure développés par Digi Sens.
d_ Der Bordrechner
für Abfallentsorgungsfahrzeuge gehört zu
den zahlreichen, von
Digi Sens entwickelten
Messsystemen.
Sensors can be used to measure weight digitally based on vibrations.
This finding underpins the work of Digi Sens AG in Murten, founded
in 1993 by the engineer Martin Lustenberger. Since its creation, the
company’s products have been creating a great stir in professional
circles. Digi Sens has also joined the list of winners of the Fribourg
Innovation Award, thanks to a weighing system capable of calculating a truck's weight without the vehicle having to stop.
The company’s measuring systems are also used to weigh waste
in garbage trucks. “The party responsible for generating the waste
then pays by weight, which provides an incentive to compost organic waste,” explains Martin Lustenberger. His company’s system
is therefore helping to protect the environment, in particular in view of
the very high energy costs incurred by burning organic waste.
Another invention with a positive effect on the environment is the
company’s “e-nventory” weighing system, which reinvents the stock
management process. “Why not weigh inventory? The computer
records any decrease in weight and can even generate automatic
replenishment orders,” says Martin Lustenberger. He continues: It
allows suppliers to monitor their customers’ needs and streamline
shipments. “This is also environmentally friendly,” he adds. Besides
the actual weighing, it is the ability to analyze and use this data for
customers, accounting, planning, and other areas that makes this
technology so valuable and unique.
Around 95% of the company’s products are sold outside Switzerland, including in overseas markets and Asia. Martin Lustenberger
admits that the strong Swiss franc and euro crisis are making life
difficult for the company. However, its 32 employees have been
investigating ways of overcoming these adverse conditions: actions
such as purchasing in the EU, relocating simple work abroad and
streamlining operations have all helped. However, he remains committed to the Murten site. “The canton of Fribourg realizes that the
economy does not just make noise, it is also essential for ensuring prosperity within the region,” he says, praising the authorities’
attitude. “You feel welcome here.”
www.digisens.ch
Cantin Group Is Carving Out a Position
in the International Mobility Market
From automation to medical, construction,
watchmaking and energy: Cantin Group’s
customers span a wide spectrum of industries. The Domdidier-based specialist in
industrial sheet metalwork, mechanics, assembly and thermo-lacquering has now set
its sights on expansion into the mobility market. “This niche offers very attractive growth
prospects,” explains Fritz Winkelmann, Business Development Manager. “We are even
training some of our employees in this area,
to deal with specific international standards."
The company’s efforts are already bearing
fruit. “A large international group with an extensive worldwide network has just placed
an order for some railway equipment. These
items are designed to withstand tough op-
erating conditions in the transport sector.
We are handling all aspects of development across our four areas of activity,” explains Frédéric Vernier, Managing Director of
Cantin Group. What value does this transaction represent? Several hundreds of thousands of Swiss francs, compared with an
annual turnover of fifteen million.
However, the Fribourg company is already
planning its next step. “We have a versatile
and cutting-edge facility, and are able to centralize all our production at a single site. In the
long term, we aim to produce and assemble more substantial items and expand the
group's activities," adds Fritz Winkelmann.
www.cantin.ch
|
41
A Responsive Global Leader
Enraf Tanksystem, based in Bulle, dominates the global market for oil tanker gauging
and sampling systems. Its location is a key factor behind its success.
e_ Holding a market
share over 50%, Enraf
Tanksystem is the world
leader in gauges and
sampling equipment for
oil tankers
“We’re often asked why we don’t relocate to China or India. We did
try to establish a working relationship with firms, particularly on new
developments, but it proved to be nine months’ hard work down the
drain.” Olivier Ney has no doubt that Enraf Tanksystem’s location in
the heart of the canton of Fribourg benefits the company immensely,
not least thanks to the dense local network of sub-contractors at its
doorstep. “Nearly 80% of these sub-contractors, many of which are
in the precision-engineering sector, are within 30 kilometers of our
production site. This proximity affords us greater flexibility and allows
us to be more responsive,” explains the Manager of the Bulle-based
firm, which was bought by the American multinational Honeywell
in 2007.
f_ Avec une part de
marché excédant 50%,
Enraf Tanksystem
s’affirme comme le
leader mondial des
jauges et échantillonneurs pour pétroliers.
d_ Mit einem Marktanteil
von über 50% behauptet
sich Enraf Tanksystem als
führender Anbieter von
Präzisionsinstrumenten
für Öltanker.
Specializing in the manufacture of gauging and sampling systems
for oil tankers, the company needs to be hyper-responsive to their
customers. “Tankers are our core market. However, volatile oil prices
mean that they are only given 24 to 48 hours’ advance notice of the
final destination for their precious cargo,” explains Ney.
Its short shipment times have allowed Enraf Tanksystem, which has
been based in Bulle since 1985, to become the global leader in its
field, capturing over 50% of the market. “Three-quarters of our shipments are by plane or by express. On some occasions we have
even personally transported products to the airport in a taxi,” explains
Ney. Another advantage of being based in Switzerland is that the
country does not suffer from transport strikes.
The company, which employs 27 people and generates an annual
turnover of between 15 and 20 million Swiss francs, currently has
close to 6,000 vessels on its books. According to Ney: “Exports
account for 99.9% of our revenue”, with the lion’s share of the company’s gauges and samplers heading to the Netherlands, a major
logistics center. Other important markets include Korea, Singapore,
China and the United States. Enraf Tanksystem has also seen a
steady rise in orders from the emerging market of Brazil, home to the
energy behemoth Petrobras.
www.tanksystem.com
Johnson Electric: Supplying the World
Leaders in Vehicle Climate Control
Since 2007, Murten has been home to the
European headquarters of Johnson Electric,
the Hong Kong electromechanical components giant. The Fribourg site, naturally, has
a strong international focus. 250 employees manage sales, finance, IT and human
resources across Europe; the site also handles the global cutting edge development of
several of the group’s products.
In parallel, some 150 employees work in the
Johnson Electric Switzerland entity, which
produces automotive components and actuators used mainly in climate control systems.
“These are small gear motors, including control electronics, used to distribute and mix hot
42
|
and cold air in the car,” explains Stefan Krebs,
“Saia-Burgess” Actuator Business Manager.
“Up to fifteen of these actuators can be
required for a standard car, and we produce
around twenty million a year in Murten.” The
components are then shipped to the world
leaders in vehicle climate control, supplying
plants located mainly in Germany, France
and Spain.
“Our sales are driven by demand in the
automotive sector. In 2012, European vehicle production fell by 5.8%,” points out
Stefan Krebs. However, he remains confident about the future of the Fribourg entity, honored with the 2012-2013 Cleantech
Award by the canton of Fribourg. “Vertical integration is very strong here. We handle the
production of components, injection of plastic parts, stamping and even manufacture
our own tools.” The manager also highlights
the canton of Fribourg’s favorable framework
conditions for companies, as well as a pool of
student engineers ready to work on development projects.
www.johnsonelectric.com
A New Assembly Process to
Conquer the Automotive Market
The innovative solution developed by the ball bearing and plastic injection specialist Jesa is consolidating
the company’s position in the export market.
e_ Plastic injection
molding with multiple
inserts allows several
components to be
assembled in a single
operation, resulting in
a significant time saving.
f_ Le moule d’injection
plastique à inserts multiples permet d’assembler
plusieurs composants
en une seule opération,
pour un gain de temps
considérable.
d_ Die Kunststoffspritzform ermöglicht es,
mehrere Bestandteile in
einem einzigen Schritt
zusammenzubauen –
derart kann viel Zeit
eingespart werden.
“Ambitious targets call for tailored solutions.”
At Jesa, this slogan is almost a trademark.
Operating from its headquarters and main
production site in Villars-sur-Glâne, this Fribourg company develops, industrializes and
produces dynamic mechanical units based
on ball bearing and plastic injection technologies. Jesa’s products are used in numerous
applications across a wide range of industry
sectors, from automotive to manufacturing,
medical, construction and consumer goods.
“For example, in the high-growth automotive
sector, Jesa components can be found in
most of the mechanisms for Xenon multidirectional headlights. We worked with the
customer to develop an actuator with an
integrated ball bearing, based on an ideal
combination of plastic and metallic parts,
and resulting in a patent,” explains Marcel
Dubey, Sales and Marketing Director. With
two units required per car, Jesa has already
produced more than eight million of these
mechanisms on its fully automated line.
The company is planning to maintain the momentum. Building on this experience, it has
developed a new production process allowing several components to be assembled
in a single plastic injection operation (see
graphic). “This process has cut the assembly
operation for certain components from five or
six to steps to just one. As well as providing
optimal precision and repeatability, the resulting time savings are giving us a distinct competitive advantage,” says Marcel Dubey. This
strong performance earned Jesa the canton
of Fribourg’s 2012-2013 Innovation Award
for the SME category.
“The new assembly process is intended primarily for the textiles and automotive markets,
due to their particularly high targets in terms
of quality, volume and price," adds the Sales
Director. Moreover, some large contracts
signed in 2012 confirm Germany’s continued
status as the Fribourg company’s number
one export market, currently accounting for
35% of its turnover. “This success can be
explained by Germany’s geographical proximity and tradition of innovation. Our two
main markets, automotive and textiles, are
also strongly represented there,” notes Marcel Dubey. Followed by Switzerland (25% of
turnover), China (20%) and the United States
(10%).
Jesa’s very innovative and competitive assembly process – also present in the UK, Italy
and France - could open the door to more
new markets, representing a 20% increase in
turnover for the company from 2016.
www.jesa.com
|
43
«Mon fils prend la barre.
Et moi je pars faire le tour du monde.»
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21970_235x150_FribourgNetwork_nac_f.indd 1
10.01.13 09:59
EXPERTISES ET RÉVISION - CONSEILS JURIDIQUES ET FISCAUX
PARTENAIRE D'ENTREPRISES RÉGIONALES
FRIBOURG - BULLE - GENÈVE - LAUSANNE - YVERDON - NEUCHÂTEL - LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS - SAIGNELÉGIER
Fribourg, rue des Pilettes 3, 026 422 72 00
Bulle, rue Lécheretta 11, 026 913 00 40
EXPERTS-RÉVISEURS AGRÉÉS
www.fiduconsult.ch
Conquering the Global
Adhesives Market
Collano has become a global leader thanks to its specialized multilayer adhesive films
and its extensive knowledge base.
e_ Collano Services
Extrusion AG, in
Schmitten, exports
90% of its high-tech
adhesive films to
North America.
f_ Collano Services
Extrusion AG, à
Schmitten, exporte
90% de ses films adhésifs
high-tech vers les
marchés nord-américains.
d_ Collano Services
Extrusion AG, in
Schmitten, verkauft 90%
ihrer Hightech-Klebefilme auf dem nordamerikanischen Markt.
As you walk across the factory floor at
Collano Services Extrusion Ltd., in Schmitten, you cannot fail to be impressed by the
sheer size and complexity of this production
facility. As Guido Schnarrenberger, head
of start-up development, explains: “This
is where we make our multilayer adhesive
films”. The work of this product development department ensures that the Collano
Group continues to launch exciting and
innovative adhesive solutions that keep it one
step ahead of the competition. In 2007, the
company won the Fribourg Innovation Award
for the adhesive tape it developed for airbag
applications. Wide-ranging expertise and use
of cutting-edge technologies is enabling the
group, and specifically its subsidiary Nolax
Ltd., to capture an ever larger market share
of the US automotive industry.
However, the automotive industry is not unchartered territory for Collano. “The internal
ceiling in every third US car contains our
adhesive tapes,” declares Guido Schnarrenberger proudly. “These multilayer films absorb
the noise generated inside the car. If it
weren’t for this sound-proofing film, travelling
by car would be unbearable.” The Schmitten-based firm has also started manufacturing film for use in photovoltaic systems, and
supplies the medical technology industry
with special adhesive film to treat chronic
wounds.
The Group constantly recycles its knowledge of existing products and their specific
properties to develop entirely new products
for other applications. Collano Services Extrusion Ltd., which employs 50 people at its
plant in Schmitten, is the main manufacturing
group. Schmitten is also home to the development teams of the Collano subsidiaries,
Nolax and Collano Adhesives. However,
the companies themselves are based in
Sempach (canton of Lucerne) and oversee
the launch and marketing of new Collano
products.
Basing the development teams in Schmitten is a wise move because they are able
to use the production facilities to make trial
runs of their latest innovations. If, after a certain lead time, a product proves to be hit,
Collano Services Extrusion Ltd. in Schmitten
is entrusted with its manufacture. Over 90
percent of the high-tech adhesive film manufactured here is exported, primarily to the EU
and North American markets.
www.collano.com
Customer Focus Paving
the Way to Success
Extramet AG in Plaffeien is a shining example of how Fribourg exporters can overcome the strong Swiss franc to achieve success
in international markets. “We have always aimed to offer tailored
solutions,” says Hans-Jörg Mihm, CEO and son of the company’s
founder, explaining the secret behind the success of a business
employing 186 people in Plaffeien and 250 around the world.
The Plaffeien site produces high-quality carbide components used
mainly in tools such as drills, milling cutters, etc. The company’s
main customers are tool manufacturers in Europe and the USA. It
also supplies some well-known names, including Airbus and Bosch.
“We are partners in a complete supply chain,” continues Hans-Jörg
Mihm, outlining Extramet AG’s approach of working with tool manufacturers, coaters and end customers to develop tailored solutions.
“Rather than mass-produced goods, our survival depends on higher
value products and top performance."
To continuously satisfy its customers – with almost 80 percent
of production destined for export markets – the company operates its own in-house research department. It produces a fleet of
machines based on cutting-edge technologies. Hans-Jörg Mihm is
also pleased with the strong support Extramet AG enjoys among the
local population, no doubt partly due to the company’s reputation
as a good employer and its exemplary approach to environmental
issues and sustainability. “Yes, we are very competitive here in Plaffeien,” emphasizes the CEO.
www.extramet.ch
|
45
Transforming Lives Through Better Vision
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© 2011 Novartis
© 2011 Novartis
Contrinex: Growing with the Market
This manufacturer of high-tech sensors is banking on globalized industrial automation
to bolster its export performance.
e_ Contrinex continues
to build on its impressive range of inductive,
photoelectric, capacitive
and ultrasonic sensors.
f_ La large gamme
de capteurs industriels
développée par Contrinex
englobe des modèles inductifs, photoélectriques,
capacitifs et ultrasoniques.
d_ Contrinex entwickelt eine grosse Palette
an Sensoren – u.a.
induktive, photoelektrische, kapazitive und
Ultraschall-Sensoren.
Contrinex is no stranger to the export market. Markets outside
Switzerland account for 98% of its sales. This figure is hardly surprising given that many car manufacturers have equipped their assembly lines with the company’s high-precision position sensors.
As Annette Heimlicher, CEO and daughter of the company’s founder, Peter Heimlicher, explains: “Our flagship product – a highly robust
inductive sensor – is aimed at discerning and exacting customers. Germany, a country that leads the way in terms of innovation, is therefore still our most important market. Japan, France,
Italy and the United States are also major markets but they tend to
play catch-up.”
This indefatigable and multilingual CEO now has her eye on emerging markets like Brazil, China and India, which may explain why she
has recently started Portuguese and Mandarin classes. “It’s only a
matter of time. The cost of semi-skilled labor in these countries is
rising steeply. Industrial automation will be commonplace in 15 to
20 years. By positioning ourselves well, we will be able to grow
with the market.” Good news for the Fribourg company and its
500-strong workforce (140 of whom are based at company headquarters in Givisiez), who generate an annual consolidated turnover
of 70 million Swiss francs.
However, future growth will also depend on the readiness and ability
of Contrinex to innovate. “To sell to foreign markets, you constantly
need to bring new ideas to the table. For example, at the end of
2012, which was also our 40th anniversary, we launched the smallest
inductive sensor in the world (3mm in diameter), which is primarily
aimed at the pharmaceutical industry and robotics,” continues
Annette Heimlicher.
This captain of industry has a clear long-term target for her company: “to successfully merge our niche markets by developing a
product that combines robustness, miniaturization and chemical
resistance. This will allow us to set ourselves apart from the rest of
our competitors”.
www.contrinex.com
Meggitt Homing in on BRIC Region
International sensor manufacturer Meggitt
Sensing Systems (MSS) is targeting new
pastures. As a result, next year it will deepen its footprint in the BRIC region (Brazil,
Russia, India and China) as part of an international expansion program.
“The BRIC region is becoming more and
more important to us,” said Peter Huber,
President of MSS in Villars-sur-Glâne,
Fribourg. “After opening offices in China
and India in recent years, we have similar
plans for Brazil in 2013; we are also looking at opportunities in Russia and the Gulf
region,” he added.
Meggitt Sensing Systems manufactures
sensors, electronics and software to monitor rotating machinery on land, at sea and
in the air. Such sensors can be found on
most commercial and military aircraft and
on the largest power generation turbines
worldwide. Our success is built on efficient
performance in even the most extreme environments, from the low temperature of an
aircraft in flight to the highest temperatures
of a gas turbine combustion chamber. MSS
employs about 600 people in Fribourg out of
a total of 1,600 employees across all sites
worldwide. Its global turnover in 2012 was
350 million Swiss francs, of which about
60% was generated in Switzerland, 20% in
the U.S. and 10% both in France and the
U.K. From the Swiss site, approximately
95% of products are exported. Meggitt is
also “on track” to launch several products
worldwide next year, including TPMS, its
new tire pressure monitoring system for
the Bombardier C-Series regional jet. This
product marks the first of a new generation
of tire pressure monitoring systems from
Meggitt, designed for use on a variety of
aircraft. The system is expected to have its
first flight in June. Meggitt has also developed a new engineering monitoring unit for
the Boeing 787.
In addition, after spending millions on research over the last several years, Meggitt
will introduce several new products aimed
at the energy sector this year, including
a new range of electronics and sensing
equipment.
www.meggitt.com
|
47
e_ The performance of the knowledge economy is
inherently linked to the quality of teaching in higher
education – in this case, industrial chemistry at the
Fribourg College of Engineering and Architecture.
48
|
knowledge without frontiers
f_ Les performances de l’économie du savoir sont intimement liées à la qualité de l’enseignement dispensé
dans les hautes écoles – ici des étudiants en chimie
industrielle de l’Ecole d’ingénieurs et d’architectes de
Fribourg.
d_ Die Leistungsfähigkeit der wissensbasierten
Wirtschaft ist eng mit der Qualität der Lehre
an den Hochschulen verbunden - hier sind
Studierende des Bereichs industrielle Chemie der
Hochschule für Technik und Architektur Freiburg
zu sehen.
Knowledge
Without Frontiers
The knowledge economy, which includes services
with a high knowledge coefficient, information
skills and highly technological companies, is experiencing continuous economic development based
on innovation.
We have entered the knowledge economy. In our quest for innovation, the new driver of development, knowledge is gradually gaining
the ascendant over the production of material goods. This new knowledge scene, where worldwide competition is raging, is seeing numerous Fribourg companies emerging or growing.
Services with a high knowledge coefficient occupy a privileged place
in all exports in the tertiary sector. Among others are the consultancy
of CSD Ingénieurs (page 59), a company active in environmental protection, or the financial services of the bank Lombard Odier & Cie
(page 64).
With Cisel (page 59), a company specializing in the outsourcing of
data processing systems, or Morphean (page 61), designers of an
intelligent software platform, information skills are to the forefront. The
multimedia technologies deployed by Dartfish, with a view to optimizing TV retransmissions of sporting events or facilitating the training of
athletes, also find their place.
Michelin Recherche & Technique SA (page 60), situated at the heart
of innovation in tire manufacturing, enjoys the fruits of its know-how
by means of licenses. As for the high-technology products of Selfrag
(page 55) and Riedo Networks (page 65), which rely on the focused
knowledge of highly skilled engineers, they enable them to profit from
commercial assets on the international market.
The innovative quality of Fribourg companies, it goes without saying,
is intimately linked to the performance of colleges and research institutes in the canton, among the leaders of which are the University of
Fribourg (pages 53 and 65), the College of Engineering and Architecture (page 60) and the Adolphe Merkle Institute (page 63).
Establishments such as the Institute of Higher Studies of Glion (page
53), specializing in hotel training, or the Théâtre des Osses (page 63),
a Fribourg drama center, also help to make the Canton of Fribourg
radiate beyond the borders of the country.
|
49
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Dartfish Sets Sights on Amateur
Sportspeople Across the World
A specialist in multimedia technology, this Fribourg-based company is turning to social networking and
new digital aids.
e_ The StroMotion
application enables
athletes to break down
a movement in detail to
identify corrections and
adjustments.
f_ L’application
StroMotion permet aux
athlètes de décomposer un
mouvement de manière
détaillée, afin d’en faciliter
les corrections et les
ajustements.
d_ Mit der Anwendung
StroMotion können
Sportler Bewegungsabläufe in Einzelschritte
zerlegen, um leichter
Korrekturen oder Anpassungen vornehmen zu
können.
“Since we export more than 90% of our output, half of our operation
costs are in Francs. In other words, the strength of the Swiss currency poses real challenges for us.” Victor Bergonzoli, CEO of Dartfish,
is nevertheless confident about the future. “We aim to quadruple our
turnover in a couple of years by capitalizing on our achievements.”
The first on that list is the global reputation that the ex-start-up –
formed at the EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
– has carved for itself thanks to sales of its software SimulCam,
which has been on the market since 1998 and allows the performances of two sportspeople to be viewed at the same time.
Three years later, the Fribourg-based company launched StroMotion, a video system that breaks down movements, for example during a figure skating competition. Since this time the company has
continued to expand its range of products that are intended not only
to optimize the broadcasting of sports events on TV, but also as an
aid for training athletes. Besides sport, Dartfish is also involved in the
fields of education, health and human resources.
Currently the company has more than 100,000 regular users across
the world. While the development of its products continues to be
conducted from its Fribourg headquarters (see photo opposite),
where there are 28 employees, there are another 20 or so employees distributed in the American, French, Japanese, Korean and
Australian Dartfish branches. “Around 40% of our sales come from
the United States and 10% from Asia,” explains Victor Bergonzoli,
himself based in the Atlanta office.
Among the Fribourg-based company’s clients, there are such
organizations as UEFA, FIFA and the World Taekwondo Federation,
as well as companies such as Boeing or General Motors. A host
of top names, yet this doesn’t stop Victor Bergonzoli from wanting
more. “We believe that the true growth potential lies at the base of
the pyramid, where it is widest”, in other words they are setting their
sights on amateur sportspeople.
In 2008, the top brains at the company were putting the final touches to Dartfish TV, a platform that would enable any content created
using the company’s tools to be managed and shared. Three years
later Dartfish Express was born, an application for smartphones and
tablets that gives everyone the chance to create and upload videos.
“And this is just the beginning,” explains the CEO enthusiastically.
“We want to extend our range to also cater for the members of our
clients’ associations, regardless of their level.”
www.dartfish.com
|
51
026 425 45 00
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www.fribourgregion.ch
Glion Confirms its International
Stature with a New Campus in London
The hospitality management school, attended by students from 90 countries,
is opening a third campus in the UK capital.
e_ Students at the
Glion Institute of
Higher Education hone
their professional skills
with hands-on practical
training.
Every year, the Glion Institute of Higher Education (GIHE), an international hospitality management school, attracts students from all over
the world. “At the moment, a total of 1,400 students of 90 different
nationalities are studying at the campuses in Glion and Bulle,” explains Alexia Robinet, the school’s Communication Manager. “Representing 21% of the student body, France is in top position, followed
by China (8%), Russia (7%), Switzerland (6%) and South Korea (5%).
The strong Russian and Asian presence reflects the growth of the
hospitality and service sectors in these regions. More than a third of
internships are organized in Asia, and this proportion is constantly
increasing.”
f_ Les compétences
professionnelles des
étudiants de Glion
sont notamment
développées à travers
des cours pratiques.
d_ Die Studierenden
der Hotelfachschule in
Glion eignen sich ihre
beruflichen Kompetenzen vor allem in praktischen Kursen an.
The Fribourg campus is attended by students from the fourth to
the seventh – and final – semester of a course of study divided into
two main programs: hospitality management and management of
events, sports and leisure activities. “On average, 86% of our graduates have already secured a job or received an offer by the time
they graduate,” explains the Communication Manager. They take
up positions with major sports organizations, French wine estates,
luxury or multinational hotel groups. “Our most regular recruiters
include Marriott International, Starwood Hotels, Hyatt, Fairmont,
Mandarin Oriental, JP Morgan, Four Seasons and Accor. However,
many graduates also go on to open their own restaurant, luxury store
or set up some other kind of business venture,” adds Alexia Robinet.
The opening of a new campus in London is further confirmation of
Glion’s international stature. “The first intake of new students is scheduled for July 2013 and exchange opportunities will follow shortly. The
UK capital is a major tourist hub, and is also a key business center
in Europe,” she continues. An ideal opportunity for Glion, which is
currently developing a financial specialist option.
www.glion.edu
Student in Mobility:
an Ambassador for the University
Erasmus, Conventions, ISEP or CREPUQ:
at the University of Fribourg, there are
numerous mobility programs offering academic experience beyond the Swiss borders. However, whether going to Europe,
the United States or elsewhere, the student
keeps personal responsibility with regard to
his original establishment.
“We expect him to fulfill the role of ambassador for the university and the Canton of
Fribourg in general,” emphasizes Marielle
de Dardel, Head of the International Relations Department of the Alma Mater. “Since
the number of places available is limited, we
ensure that we select profiles that correspond to the image that we wish to give of our
institution.”
Among the criteria adopted, there are academic results, linguistic knowledge, maturity
and, of course, motivation. “After an examination of the applications, we send a preliminary notice to the members of the professorial body of the various faculties. The final
decision is their responsibility,” says Marielle
de Dardel.
Some 500 students, in all the programs,
are thus simultaneously managed by the
International Relations Department. “With, a
Fribourg characteristic, a balance between
incoming and outgoing mobilities.”
For the specialist, the advantages of an international exchange – one or two terms – are
numerous. “There is all the rubbing along-
side daily life, contact with the language,
teaching, and different mentality and culture.
An understanding of others that helps in
decision making and problem resolution.”
The destinations are divided into three
main areas: Germany, France and Englishspeaking countries. “However, destinations
such as the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
or Denmark also enjoy a certain amount
of success. Just as Eastern Europe, with
Poland at the head, which has been able to
develop programs in English, is making itself
more attractive.”
www.unifr.ch/international
|
53
Frewitt SA
Frewitt Printing SA
Excellence in Milling and Handling of Powders
Professional Track and Trace
Innovation et créativité, les facteurs clés de notre succès.
Broyer, calibrer, doser, peser, conditionner les poudres
est au cœur de notre savoir.
Apporter des solutions fiables et performantes aux
processus de fabrication des industries pharmaceutiques,
chimiques et alimentaires est notre mission.
L’innovation, la créativité sont des facteurs clés de notre
succès; ils font partie de la culture de notre entreprise. Ils
sont renforcés par nos partenariats avec des instituts de
recherche et des hautes écoles.
Frewitt Printing SA est votre seul partenaire
dans le monde pour le marquage de sécurité pour
la prévention de la contrefaçon (Track and Trace).
www.frewitt.com
Frewitt Chine, nos principales compétences sont
le broyage, le calibrage, le dosage, le pesage
et le conditionnement des poudres. Notre mission
est de fabriquer des équipements fiables de haute
performance.
www.frewitt-china.com
Frewitt SA, Rte du Coteau 7, 1763 Granges-Paccot/Switzerland
www.frewitt.com/printing
FreNuc SA
Nuclear QA Services, Machines,
Machining and Fabrication
FreNuc SA, nos services d’ingénierie nucléaire
s’appuient sur des décennies d’expérience industrielle
et une connaissance approfondie des exigences AQ.
www.frenuc.com
Selfrag: Technology with
High Commercial Potential
The selective fragmentation systems of this Fribourg company interest
various types of industry, on all continents.
e_ Recycling electronic
waste is one of the many
possible applications of
selective fragmentation.
f_ Le recyclage de
déchets électroniques
est l’une des nombreuses
applications de la fragmentation sélective.
d_ Das Recycling von
elektronischen Abfällen
ist eine der zahlreichen
Applikationen der selektiven Fragmentierung.
The extraction of precious stones, the exploitation of ore and the recycling of electronic waste have a common factor: selective fragmentation. Developed by the Soviets
for military purposes, this technology is now
the exclusive property of the Selfrag company, in Chiètres, a spin-off of the Swiss
industrial group Ammann.
“Through the use of patented knowledge,
the very high voltage electrical pulse, our
selective fragmentation systems perfectly
separate the various components or materials of the same block,” says Frederic von der
Weid, director. The applications are numerous. “Whether they are used in silicon, highpurity glass, foundry, recycling building factories, our solutions have very high potential
for industrial and commercial development.”
A silicon factory in the United States and a
glass tube factory in Germany have already
acquired a machine developed by Selfrag.
They are added to around twenty laboratory
installations, used in the fields of geology
and climatology, which have found takers in
Switzerland, Germany, Finland, China, Australia, the United States and Canada.
Mining companies are also closely interested
in the technology of this Fribourg company.
“We are going to supply two prototypes,
capable of processing ten tons an hour, to
Australian gold and copper mines,” says a
pleased Frederic von der Weid. Before adding: “Putting our machines into production
requires their extraction capacity to be greatly
increased. An objective fixed for 2014.”
www.selfrag.com
Swiss Skills Supporting
Developing Countries
On January 1, 2013, the E-Changer, Mission Bethléem Immensee
and Inter-Agire non-governmental associations came together to
form the largest Swiss alliance for development cooperation through
exchanges of individuals.
At the moment, the alliance (which still needs to decide on a name)
has around 120 volunteers working in thirteen countries in Africa,
Latin America and Asia: Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ecuador, El Salvador, Kenya, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Taiwan. “Volunteers commit to spend a three-year period
working on projects initiated by local partner organizations, with the
ultimate aim of helping civil society take action to defend its rights
and protect the environment. In areas of conflict, volunteers also contribute to peace processes," explains Sergio Ferrari, Communication
Manager of Fribourg-based E-Changer.
From teachers to doctors, nurses, communications specialists, journalists, geographers, technicians and even sociologists, most aspiring volunteers are higher education graduates. At least three years’
professional experience is required to be considered. “The principle is based on using the organizational and human skills acquired
by volunteers in Switzerland to benefit our local partners,” adds
Sergio Ferrari. Each volunteer receives a training before taking up his
or her assignment, to raise awareness of issues ranging from conflict
management to intercultural communication and public education.
“As part of a mutual learning approach, we also expect volunteers to
get involved in our information work in Switzerland, in order to foster a
fairer vision of the relationship between North and South.”
www.e-changer.ch
|
55
Martial Pasquier, 50,
Director of the Institute for Higher
Studies in Public Administration
(IDHEAP)
For ten years, he has been working in Lausanne, but his home has remained in Fribourg.
“Because Fribourg is my town, I feel good here
and, if I have to go abroad, I have the choice
between three airports.” Professor of Public Management, Communication and Marketing at the IDHEAP (Institute for Higher Studies in Public
Administration), Martial Pasquier in 2012 took over direction of the institution situated on the
shores of Lake Geneva. “The majority of our students are preparing to occupy management
posts in public administration. Our focus is therefore Switzerland.”
His functions nevertheless offer residents of Fribourg regular breaths of international air. He
has thus had the good fortune on several occasions of being invited as Professor in French
Universities (Strasbourg, Paris, Nancy, Aix-Marseille, etc.). “These experiences are extremely
important. They make it possible to get out of our routine, to understand other systems, to
broaden our knowledge.” In Africa, where he has given lectures, Martial Pasquier discovered
that he was capable of transmitting knowledge under less comfortable conditions than those
offered in Switzerland. “For our students also, it is essential to confront other realities. They
have the possibility of this thanks to the professors invited to the IDHEAP, but also through
university exchanges, in the context of the Erasmus program or agreements made with
foreign colleges.”
www.idheap.ch
Nicolas Meier, 39,
Professional Guitarist
Nicolas Meier has lived nearly half of his 39 years abroad.
However, this professional musician has always tapped into
his Fribourg roots throughout his career. “From the age of
12 when I joined the Fribourg conservatory, I began to hone my technical and arranging
skills with tutors like Francis Coletta, Max Jendly and Francis Boland. Indeed, it was Francis
Colleta who inspired my profound love of jazz, rock and world music.”
From that point on, there was only one thing that Nicolas Meier wanted in life: to make music
his career. At the age of 20 he moved to Boston where he enrolled at the Berklee College
of Music, the largest private music school in the United States. Three years and dozens of
concerts later, he returned to Switzerland. However, his stay would be brief. “For a professional musician, Switzerland does not have the critical size. I wanted to find somewhere that
had the high-octane energy of Boston but was culturally European.”
The city that fit this bill was London, where Meier, very quickly, felt at home. Here, he would
record most of his 17 albums, all of which draw on multiple musical influences, including flamenco, tango, Middle Eastern music, and his beloved jazz of course. Alongside his 150 live
performances throughout the year, principally in England but also in Spain, France, Germany
and Turkey, the Fribourg guitarist runs his own record label – five artists and counting – and
works as a tutor at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford.
www.meiergroup.com
www.mgprecords.com
56
|
focus
Nicolas Porchet, 38,
Head of EikonEMF
“We are a local player and we plan to stay that way. But this
doesn’t stop us encouraging and helping our students to build
international networks. This is essential in our sector.” Nicolas
Porchet is Head of Eikon, the visual communication department of the EMF (Vocational
School | Technology and Art | Fribourg).
As part of this approach, Eikon’s budding multimedia designers can sign up for an international internship through Swiss Occidental Leonardo (SOL) and Eurodyssée. “At the
moment, we have students working in Berlin, Paris and London, as well as Las Vegas and
Los Angeles,” explains Nicolas Porchet. He highlights the positive image enjoyed by Eikon,
formerly the emaf, and the Swiss design sector as a whole, forged on the basis of quality
and a multi-disciplinary approach.
But just how does a Fribourg higher education establishment to promote its image outside
Switzerland? “We attend major events to raise our profile in the international arena, including
the Montreux Jazz Festival, Art Basel and the Fribourg International Film Festival.”
Eikon is gradually extending its reach beyond national borders. “We already have a strong
network in Berlin, Cologne, Paris and Oslo, an important center in the design world,” says
Eikon’s young Head. In 2012, the school also had a noteworthy success in Italy, concluding
a partnership with Fabrica, the laboratory responsible for designing the famous Benetton ads.
www.eikon.emf.ch
René Fasel, 63, President of the
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
“I’m a Dzodzet* through and through: I
was an altar boy at St-Pierre, I attended
the Collège St-Michel, and I played
hockey for Fribourg-Gottéron.” He may have lived in Zurich for the last 15 years, following his
appointment as President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), but René Fasel’s
heart still belongs to Fribourg. When he finishes his term of office, there is only one thing that
the 63-year-old wants to do: “get back home to Fribourg!” However, the city will have to wait
for the return of its prodigal son, as this former dentist has just been re-elected as head of
the sport’s governing body until 2016.
Currently the former ice-hockey referee divides his time between Switzerland’s financial capital, which is also home to IIHF headquarters, and travelling the world. “There is not a week
that goes by without me taking a plane.” Many of these business trips take him to Russia:
“Given that we’re now in the final leg of preparations for the Winter Olympics, I travel there
10 to 15 times a year.” Naturally, other ice-hockey nations like Sweden, Finland and Canada
also feature heavily on the IIHF President’s travel itinerary.
“At the moment we’re trying to promote ice-hockey in China, a nation that does not have a
deep-rooted tradition of team sports. Another country with potential is the United Arab
Emirates.” When asked about his ability to switch effortlessly from one culture to another,
this International Olympic Committee member and Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur does
not miss a beat: “That’s the main advantage of being from Fribourg. You’re accus-tomed to
living in a place where two distinct language communities and cultures co-exist.”
www.iihf.com
*Fribourg slang for “Joseph”, now used as an affectionate term for a man from Fribourg.
focus
|
57
EnvironnEmEnt,
construction Et Eau
Un seul partenaire pour toute l’ingénierie
CSD INGENIEURS offre toutes les compétences
d’ingénierie pour l’environnement, la construction et l’eau.
Le groupe CSD compte 500 collaborateurs dans 30 succursales en Suisse et en Europe.
www.csd.ch
Miiche
chelin
l Su
uiss
isse
e S.A.
S.A.,, Rout
Rout
o e Jo
Jo Sif
ifffert 36
36,
6, 1762
1762 Giivis
v iez
e ,
ez
01//201
2013
MIEUX AVANCER,
C’EST ÊTRE PLUS INNOVANT.
Avancer ensemble vers un monde où la mobilité est plus intelligente, cela implique de développer des technologies
responsables. Michelin innove jour après jour pour diviser par deux d’ici à 2050 la quantité de matières premières
utilisées dans la fabrication des pneus, ainsi que leur bruit sur la chaussée et leur résistance au roulement, source de
consommation de carburant et d’émissions de CO2. Parce que, comme vous, Michelin s’engage pour le développement
d’une mobilité durable.
www.michelin.ch
Innovation825900_TECHNO.indd 5
13.01.12 10:54
A Varied Employee Profile, Just One
Sign of Success in Foreign Markets
With a strong presence in the fields of natural resources and the environment,
CSD Engineers now has 11 foreign branches.
e_ In 2012, CSD’s
technical and environmental expertise helped
to install a wind farm on
the outskirts of Namur
(Belgium).
The story of CSD Engineers goes back to 1970 when its first office
in Fribourg was opened, specializing in geology and hydrogeology.
Offices in Bern and Lausanne followed, and since the development
of environmental legislation in the 1980’s, the company has seen a
real diversification of its activities. Today CSD is not only one of the
leaders in engineering consultancy in Switzerland, but it is also very
strongly represented abroad with branches in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Lithuania.
In total, the company, whose Head Office is located in GrangesPaccot, next to the city of Fribourg, has some 500 employees in
30 branches. In 2011, it reported sales revenue of 60 million Swiss
francs. “The protection of the environment remains our main activity,
f_ En 2012, l’implantation d’un parc éolien
dans les environs de
Namur, en Belgique, a
bénéficié de l’expertise
technique et environnementale de CSD
Ingénieurs.
d_ 2012 hat CSD beim
Bau eines Windparks im
belgischen Namur die
technische Expertise und
den Umweltverträglichkeitsbericht beigesteuert.
ahead of construction and energy, and then water in the broader
sense,” explains Olga Darazs, President of CSD Engineers.
However, the main thing driving domestic and international success
for the Fribourg-based company “is the extremely varied employee
profile, which allows us to integrate a number of issues during the
management of a project”. The CSD team is not only made up of civil
engineers, but also environmental specialists, geologists, hydrogeologists, chemists, biologists and forestry experts.
The first of the 11 European branches of CSD Engineers opened in
1990 in Lyon. However, the company’s international activities also
involve development mandates for organizations such as the SDC
(Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), the SECO (State
Secretariat for Economic Affairs) or the World Bank. “Currently we
are involved in projects in Albania, Moldova, Morocco and Peru,”
explains Ms Darazs.
Overall, 10% to 15% of this Fribourg-based company’s revenue
comes from abroad. “We are contemplating opening new branches
in other areas of Europe. If this happens, we will make sure we focus
on complementary skills, which will provide real added value to those
already available.”
www.csd.ch
Turnkey Solutions
to Open Doors in Asia
“In four out of five cases, the SAP (systems,
applications and products in data processing) solutions we offer SMEs feature an international element. In two out of five cases we
are obliged to travel abroad”, notes Nicolas
Roch-Neirey, CEO of Matran-based CISEL
Informatique Ltd. Most of the company’s 120
customers in French-speaking Switzerland
are in the export business.
It therefore seemed logical for the company,
which specializes in the outsourcing of IT
systems, printing services as well as SAP
consulting and integration services, to make
the leap from overseas service provider to
selling its services directly on the international market, in this case France. “We already have several [French] customers on
our books who have signed up for our SAP
services.”
Admittedly, the prices that CISEL charge are
higher than those of its French competitors,
but what customers get in return for their
investment is “Swiss reliability, quality and
specialization”, explains the CEO. The IT
company currently employs about 80 people at its sites in Matran and Morges. It has
also developed integrated turnkey solutions
for customers in industries such as watchmaking and jewelry, high-tech as well as
machine and component manufacturing.
Roch-Neirey hopes that these solutions
could open doors to far-flung markets in one
to two years’ time: “We are currently looking into the possibility. The Asian market particularly given that trade between China and
the canton of Fribourg is already extremely
brisk.”
www.cisel.ch
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59
Scientific Leave Is Accelerating
Internationalization in Further Education
Pascal Bovet, a lecturer at Fribourg College of Engineering and Architecture,
completed a three-month placement at Siemens PLM Software in Cincinnati.
e_ Every seven years,
professors at the EIA-FR
– here Pascal Bovet (left)
and Reto Aebischer –
have the option of taking
a sabbatical abroad.
f_ Chaque sept ans, les
professeurs de l’EIA-FR –
ici Pascal Bovet, à gauche,
accompagné de Reto
Aebischer – peuvent
effectuer un congé
scientifique à l’étranger.
d_ Alle sieben Jahre
haben die ProfessorInnen der HTA-FR – links
Pascal Bovet mit Reto
Aebischer – Anrecht auf
einen Studienurlaub im
Ausland.
With the aim of keeping his knowledge up
to date, in terms of both training and applied
research, Pascal Bovet, head of the Industrial Technology Institute at Fribourg College
of Engineering and Architecture (EIA-FR),
decided to embark upon a scientific leave
placement.
Accompanied by bachelor student Reto
Aebischer, the mechanical engineering lecturer arrived at Siemens PLM Software in
Cincinnati on June 11, 2012. “Siemens is
one of the world’s biggest producers of digital engineering and product lifecycle management solutions. Its PLM Software subsidiary played a key role in developing the
Curiosity robot used in the Mars exploration
program,” explains Pascal Bovet, whose
project was supported by the commercial
arm of Siemens Industry Software Zürich.
After three months working on definitions
of digital simulation processes applied by
companies, he feels that this experience
was a positive one, both for himself and for
his hosts. “It gave me an opportunity to learn
specific skills and practices used within Siemens, while their engineers were able to
learn from my experience in teaching their
software. This placement also contributed
towards strengthening links between our
college and Siemens PLM. It is helping us to
enhance our engineering practices and keep
up with companies’ changing needs.”
By encouraging mobility among teaching
staff, scientific leave is making a valuable contribution to a key objective of the University of
Applied Sciences and Arts, Western Switzerland, of which the College of Engineering and
Architecture is part: the internationalization of
its teaching and research work.
www.eia-fr.ch
www.plm.automation.siemens.com
Michelin: Licensing of Expertise
“Michelin maintains a robust industrial property policy. Patents are systematically taken
out at different stages of new developments
to protect the technology as far as possible.” According to Pierre Varenne, Director of
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA, the
Givisiez research center’s key activities include the motorized wheel and the fuel cell.
“We’re working on other projects, but no
patents have been filed at this stage. So we
can’t talk about these just yet.”
60
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Developing innovations that will, in the medium or longer term, establish themselves
in the market: this is the commercial objective of the Fribourg-based subsidiary, the
Michelin Group’s only non-tire unit. “Our main
niche of vehicle mobility is logically close to
Michelin’s natural environment. There are no
vehicle manufacturers in Switzerland so all
our expertise is exported,” explains Pierre
Varenne.
Michelin can also sell this expertise in the
form of licenses covering defined periods.
“We've even granted licenses to competitors
occasionally, to give customers an alternative source of supply,” adds the Director. He
goes on to sum up: “Innovation is, of course,
essential for the survival of a group like ours,
but our ultimate and guiding aim is to do
business.”
www.michelin.com
Aiming for International Success
with VideoProtector
The start-up company Morphean SA, based in Granges-Paccot, has developed an intelligent software
platform that allows action to be taken before an incident actually occurs.
e_ Founders Rodrigue
Zbinden (left) and
Benoît Rouiller provide
innovative and intelligent software solutions.
f_ Rodrigue Zbinden
(à gauche) et Benoît
Rouiller, fondateurs de
Morphean, misent sur
des solutions logicielles
innovantes et intelligentes
d_ Rodrigue Zbinden
(links) und Benoît
Rouiller, Gründer von
Morphean, setzen auf
innovative und intelligente Softwarelösungen.
“We plan to market our intelligent software
platform in Europe and the United States in
2013.” Rodrigue Zbinden, CEO of Morphean
SA, has good reasons to feel optimistic.
Results from a test phase of his flagship product, VideoProtector, over the last few months,
have been convincing. And the company he
founded, in 2009, has already secured two
leading international partners. “Thanks to Tyca
International and Securitas AB, two key players in electronic security, we have access to
an efficient network to take our product into
many new markets.”
But what exactly is VideoProtector? “It is
an innovative video protection solution that
combines artificial intelligence with prediction
models. By anticipating abnormal situations,
VideoProtector allows action to be taken
before an incident occurs, and this is what
sets it apart from other video surveillance
products,” explains Rodrigue Zbinden, winner
of the canton of Fribourg’s 2012-2013 Innovation Award for the Start-up category.
There is no shortage of potential applications for this technology. “In a nursing home,
for example, the system can automatically
detect a fall suffered by an individual in a
low-traffic area, such as a corridor or outside
yard. Based on analyses of human behavior,
VideoProtector is also capable of preventing
card skimming attempts, by detecting manipulations of payment terminals,” explains the
CEO. The self-learning technology also uses
its experience to add new characteristics for
the benefit of all users.
From security companies to property management operators, the medical sector, public
bodies, transport networks, banks and luxury
stores: “There is a huge spectrum of needs,”
says Rodrigue Zbinden, while acknowledging
the great importance of protecting privacy.
“We no longer need the actual image. Only
the metadata is extracted, with the camera
acting simply as a sensor. In addition, the service is hosted in a secure Swiss data center
to guarantee data confidentiality.”
Morphean’s intellectual property will soon
be protected by the filing of several patents.
Rodrigue Zbinden concludes: “Within the next
three to five years, our aim is to become the
benchmark in the area of video protection.”
www.morphean.ch
|
61
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rz_ins-networkfr_200x138.indd 1
11.12.12 20:25
Connecting
with patients
UCB has a passionate, long-term commitment
to finding more effective treatments for several
specific diseases in the central nervous system
and immunology disorders. Our challenge is
to help patients and families living with the
physical and social burden of severe diseases.
It holds out the promise of a new generation
of therapies that will enable them to enjoy
more normal, everyday lives.
www.ucb.com
UCB has a passionate, long-term commitment to finding more effective treatments for several specific
diseases in the central nervous system and immunology disorders. Our challenge is to help patients and
families living with the physical and social burden of severe diseases. It holds out the promise of a new
generation of therapies that will enable them to enjoy more normal, everyday lives.
www.ucb.com
Aspiring to be the patient-centric biopharma leader
Théâtre des Osses: Tours Are Bringing
an Extra Dimension to Artistic Quality
e_ After touring
Switzerland and France
with Mother Courage and
Her Children, the actors
enjoyed a five-week
residency at the Théâtre
de la Tempête in Paris.
f_ Après une grande
tournée suisse et française, Mère Courage et
ses enfants fut présentée
durant cinq semaines au
Théâtre de la Tempête,
à Paris.
d_ Nach der grossen
Tournee durch die
Schweiz und Frankreich
wurde Mutter Courage
und ihre Kinder fünf
Wochen lang am Théâtre
de la Tempête, in Paris,
gespielt.
“From the very beginning, back in 1979, our company has been
committed to touring, both within Switzerland and internationally,”
explains Gisèle Sallin, Manager and Co-Founder of Théâtre des
Osses. She believes that performing in front of international audiences helps to raise the theater's profile and bring it into contact with
different audiences. “In a very subtle way, tours also help to increase
our artistic quality.”
The Fribourg theater company logically decided to concentrate most
of its tours in French-speaking countries – France, Belgium and Canada. “But we’ve also performed in Slovenia, at a Molière festival, and
in Romania.” The Director regards their experience in Romania, in
2004, as one of the highlights of her career. “I created two identical
versions of Emile Zola’s “Thérèse Raquin”, one in French, the other in
Romanian. We performed them on alternate nights. It’s amazing the
difference that language and intonations can make!”
How does a small Fribourg theater company – with 20 to 25 people
on average – manages to secure foreign contracts? “Our actors have
built up an international reputation. Additionally, outside Switzerland
people associate Théâtre des Osses with quality. But it’s taken us
years to achieve all this,” says Gisèle Sallin.
Exporting a production is not always a straightforward business, she
reveals. “You need to complete reams of paperwork to perform in the
European Union. The economic situation also means that theaters
are giving priority to their national companies.” Nevertheless, after a
threshold of eight performances, a tour represents a significant financial boost, comments Gisèle Sallin. The Givisiez-based theater can
also rely on close links forged with around forty other groups under
the European Theatre Convention, which it joined in 2005.
www.theatreosses.ch
“Our Professors are World-Renowned”
“Our benefactor wanted the University of
Fribourg to benefit from our international
renown.” According to Marc Pauchard, Associate Director of the Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI), it looks very likely that this goal
will be achieved in the not-to-distant future.
Sadly, its eponymous founder did not live to
see his dream fulfilled. “The AMI has made a
name for itself nationally, but its research output and professors enjoy global recognition.”
The AMI, which is attached to Fribourg
University, was founded in 2008 thanks to
a donation of CHF 100 million by Adolphe
Merkle, the famous Fribourg industrialist. The
Institute’s core activity is interdisciplin-ary research on nanotechnology with soft materials. “It is this focus coupled with our interdisciplinary approach that constitutes our core
strength and makes us essentially the only
institute of its kind in the world”, declares
Pauchard proudly. Indeed, only 30% of the
60 people working there are Swiss. “The AMI
team boasts 22 nationalities!”
International ties are anything but a foreign
concept to the research staff at the Marly
-based AMI. As the associate director explains: “Many of our doctoral and postdoctoral students come from international
universities such as MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and a sizeable number
of our researchers are also associate professors in highly-respected establishments
like Case Western Reserve University”. Also,
house policy dictates that all doctoral students regularly have the opportunity to
present their results at international conferences. “We attend about 50 conferences
a year. We always make sure to talk up
Fribourg!” Marc Pauchard is convinced that
in a few years’ time the city of Fribourg will be
known well beyond Switzerland, “in the nanotechnology sector, at least”, and perhaps
across numerous industrial sectors. In the
last two years the AMI, which has always nurtured close ties with industrial partners, has
successfully collaborated with international firms working in the automotive, perfume,
biomed-ical and packaging fields. If it continues along this trajectory, AMI management is
likely to accomplish its mission of doubling
the size of the institute in the medium-term.
www.am-institute.ch
|
63
Lombard Odier: a Long-Established
International Focus
Lombard Odier, present in the canton of Fribourg since 2008, was the first private bank to extend its
network beyond national borders. Europe is now its main market.
e_ Opened in 2008,
the Fribourg office is
the sixth and most recent
Lombard Odier location
in Switzerland.
f_ Créé en novembre
2008, le bureau de
Fribourg est la sixième
et dernière implantation
de Lombard Odier sur le
territoire helvétique.
d_ Die im November
2008 in Freiburg eröffnete
Geschäftsstelle ist die
sechste und bisher
letzte Niederlassung
von Lombard Odier in
der Schweiz.
“Wealth management has evolved considerably over the last twenty years, and the
international market is becoming increasingly important. We now operate 24 branches
around the world, compared with just ten
or so in the early 1990s.” Bernard Droux,
Managing Partner of Lombard Odier, one of
Europe’s largest private banks, spent part of
his career working in both London and New
York before returning to Switzerland.
Since the very beginning, the Geneva-based
family business with six Swiss branches, the
most recent having opened in Fribourg in
2008, has been distinguished by its international outlook. It has played a pioneering
role since 1950, when it began creating and
distributing investment funds in Europe. A
year later, it became the first private bank
to establish a presence abroad, with the
opening of an office in Montreal. “Montreal, a
city with a French-speaking culture, had the
64
|
advantage of being located in the same time
zone as New York. After the Second World
War, our aim was to offer alternatives to potential new clients,” explains Bernard Droux.
Once highly sought after by Swiss banks,
the US private market has never been one
of Lombard Odier’s priorities. “We have just
one institutional operation remaining in New
York. So we’re not affected by the tax dispute between Switzerland and the United
States,” explains the Managing Partner.
The situation in Europe is rather different.
Accounting for more than a third of its customer base (excluding Switzerland), this
is clearly the bank’s main market. “We are
present in all the major capitals, including
London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and
Madrid. We also have loyal clients in some
regions of Asia, such as Japan, Singapore
and Hong Kong. The Middle East has had
strong ties to the Swiss financial sector since
the explosion of oil prices in the 1970s,”
continues Bernard Droux. Not forgetting new
markets, in particular Russia.
With more than 1,900 employees (1,400 in
Switzerland) and 164 billion Swiss francs in
assets under management, Lombard Odier
is confident about the future. “In its 217 year
history, the bank has survived more than
40 crises, of varying degrees of severity. Of
course, the bursting of the Internet bubble,
September 11, global recession and the latest financial crisis have made the years after
2000 particularly turbulent ones. But we’re
staying firmly on track.”
International Contract Experts
Made in Fribourg
The Master of Laws in Cross-Cultural Business Practice from Fribourg University Law School
opens doors to an international career.
Legal professions, like many others, have had to adapt to changes
wrought by the globalization of business and trade relations. Today,
corporate lawyers are expected not only to assess international legal
risks, but also to bridge legal and cultural divides that exist between
business partners from different countries. The Master of Laws Program in Cross-Cultural Business Practice, devised by the Fribourg
University Law School in partnership with the Universities of Berne
and Neuchâtel, seeks to address this problem.
“Nowadays, many firms need to call on professionals whose expertise
is not limited to either national or international legislation. Because our
program addresses specific areas of contract law, dispute resolution
and company law from a transnational and multicultural perspective,
graduates leave with precisely the range of skills that these employers are looking for,” explains Aladar Sedeni, the program’s Academic
Director. “The knowledge acquired by our graduates places them at
a major advantage when applying for jobs as corporate lawyers or in
international organizations.”
Over two semesters students attend courses given by seasoned
practitioners as well as professors from a number of prestigious Universities, including Georgetown, Trinity College Cambridge, Rome,
Paris, Louvain and Hamburg. The program is taught entirely in English and is aimed primarily at students from abroad. As Béatrice Hurni, program coordinator, explains: “Most of our students are aged
between 23 and 40, and are already working as legal advisors or
lawyers. Students from across the globe have followed the program
since it began four years ago, with participation especially high from
Russia and Eastern Europe.”
e_ Master of Laws
students experience
the moot court, simulated court proceedings
designed to give them
practical insight
f_ Les étudiants
du Master of Laws
n’échappent pas au
moot court, un procès
fictif jouant le rôle
d’exercice pratique.
d_ Die Studierenden
des Studiengangs Master
of Laws messen sich
im Moot Court, einem
fiktiven Gericht.
As of the new academic year (September 2013), students in this
post-grad program will have the option of also taking an introductory
economics course with Fribourg University’s International Institute of
Management in Technology (iimt).
www.unifr.ch/ius/llm
Riedo Networks on
the International Scene
For Riedo Networks, in Düdingen, 2013 will
always be the year of the conquest of its first
foreign markets. Specializing in energy monitoring network solutions, this small company
offers services in improving monitoring and
security in computing centers or large data
processing installations, while reducing their
maintenance and electricity costs.
The E3METER®, the flagship product of the
company, combines several major advantages: extreme miniaturization, high precision
and wireless network communication – via
the electric cable. This intelligent meter, on
the market since December 2009, has already proved itself in Switzerland. In three years,
some 2,000 units have been purchased.
However, the recent arrival of a German
partner has stimulated the sales figures: “In
the single year of 2013, we have already
received orders for several thousand items,”
said Adrian Riedo, Director of the company,
delightedly. With one difference: “We supply only pure electronics (see photograph),
the brain of the product, and its dedicated
software. Our partner then deals with assembly, marketing and sales in various European countries.”
By concentrating on its know-how as
a developer, the main ingredient of its
success, Riedo Networks has made a
strategic choice. “As an OEM supplier, our
margins are divided by four,” remarks Adrian
Riedo. “But what we lose on the selling
price, we gain in volumes and logistic simplicity. Without closing off for ourselves the
direct sales market.”
www.riedonetworks.com
|
65
Switzerland’s first “zero carbon” innovation park
Fribourgnetwork.indd 1
18.02.2013 16:17:37
From surveillance to protection !
www.videoprotector.com
Feel safe thanks to our smart video surveillance service.
Adresses utiles
Wichtige Adressen
Useful Addresses
CRÉATION ET CONSEIL D’ENTREPRISE
UNTERNEHMENSGRÜNDUNG UND BERATUNG
BUSINESS START UPS AND CONSULTING
Promotion économique du canton de Fribourg
Wirtschaftsförderung Kanton Freiburg
bd de Pérolles 25, CP 1350, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 304 14 00, www.promfr.ch
blueFACTORY – Technology Park
Passage Cardinal 1, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 422 37 09, www.bluefactory.ch
Fri Up - Support PME KMU Start-up
Passage Cardinal 1, CP 235, 1705 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 425 45 00, www.friup.ch
platinn - plateforme innovation
rue de Romont 33, CP 1205, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 347 48 48, www.platinn.ch
FINANCEMENT ET CAPITAL-RISQUE
FINANZIERUNG UND RISIKOKAPITAL
FINANCE AND VENTURE CAPITAL
Capital Risque Fribourg SA
Risiko Kapital Freiburg AG
Venture Capital Fribourg LTD
p.a. Promotion économique, bd de Pérolles 25,
CP 1350, 1701 Fribourg, t. +41 26 304 14 00,
www.capitalrisque-fr.ch
Fondation Seed Capital Fribourg
Stiftung Seed Capital Freiburg
CP 1350, 1701 Fribourg, t. +41 26 304 14 14,
www.seedcapital-fr.ch
Fonds de soutien à l’innovation
du canton de Fribourg
Innovationsfonds des Kantons Freiburg
p.a. NET Nowak Energie & Technologie SA,
Waldweg 8, 1717 St. Ursen,
t. +41 26 494 00 30, innofri@netenergy.ch
Effort Fribourg SA
rue de l’Hôpital 2, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 351 72 02
Cautionnement romand
Bürgschaft Westschweiz
Cautionnement Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 323 10 20, www.crcpme.ch
Nouvelle Politique Régionale - NPR
Neue Regionalpolitik – NRP
p.a. Promotion économique, bd de Pérolles 25,
CP 1350, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 304 14 00, www.innovationregionale.ch
RECHERCHE ET TRANSFERT TECHNOLOGIQUE
FORSCHUNG UND TECHNOLOGIETRANSFER
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Technology and Knowledge Transfer Office Fribourg
www.tt-fr.ch
Adolphe Merkle Institute and
Fribourg Center for Nanomaterials
rte de l’Ancienne Papeterie, CP 209, 1723 Marly 1,
t. +41 26 300 92 54, www.am-institute.ch
Pôle scientifique et technologique
Wissenschafts- und Technologiezentrum
des Kantons Freiburg
EIA-FR, bd de Pérolles 80, CP 32, 1705 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 429 66 52, www.pst-fr.ch
Fribourg International
Association de sociétés internationales
Vereinigung Internationaler Gesellschaften
Association of International Companies
p.a. CCIF, rte du Jura 37, CP 304, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 347 12 38, www.fribourg-international.ch
FORMATION
AUSBILDUNG
EDUCATION
Fribourgissima
p.a. CCIF, CP 304, rte du Jura 37, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 347 12 20, www.fribourgissima.ch
Université de Fribourg
Universität Freiburg
University of Fribourg
av. de l’Europe 20, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 300 71 11, www.unifr.ch
EXPOSITIONS ET CONGRÈS
AUSSTELLUNGEN UND KONGRESSE
CONVENTION CENTERS
ElA-FR, Ecole d’ingénieurs
et d’architectes de Fribourg
HTA-FR, Hochschule für Technik
und Architektur Freiburg
bd de Pérolles 80, CP 32, 1705 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 429 66 11, www.eia-fr.ch
HEG-HSW, Haute école de gestion
Hochschule für Wirtschaft
ch. du Musée 4, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 429 63 70, www.heg-fr.ch
HEdS-FR, Haute école de santé Fribourg
Hochschule für Gesundheit Freiburg
rte des CIiniques 15, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 429 60 00, www.heds-fr.ch
HEP-FR, PH-FR, Haute école pédagogique
Pädagogische Hochschule
rue de Morat 36, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 305 71 11, www.hepfr.ch
international institute
of management in technology (iimt)
bd de Pérolles 90, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 300 84 30, www.iimt.ch
eikonEMF - art et communication
rte Wilhelm-Kaiser 13, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 305 26 27, www.emf.ch/eikon
Ecole des Métiers | technique et art | Fribourg
Berufsfachschule | Technik und Kunst | Freiburg
ch. du Musée 2, CP 41, 1705 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 305 26 27, www.emf.ch
Les Roches Gruyère
University of Applied Sciences
rue de l’Ondine 20, 1630 Bulle,
t. +41 26 919 78 78, www.lrguas.ch, www.glion.edu
ASSOCIATIONS ÉCONOMIQUES
WIRTSCHAFTSVERBÄNDE
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
CCIF, Chambre de commerce
et d’industrie Fribourg
HIKF, Handels- und Industriekammer Freiburg
Fribourg Chamber of Commerce and Industry
rte du Jura 37, CP 304, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 347 12 20, www.ccif.ch
Union patronale du canton de Fribourg
Freiburgischer Arbeitgeberverband
rue de l’Hôpital 15, CP 1552, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 350 33 00, www.unionpatronale.ch
GIF-VFI, Groupement industriel
Vereinigung der Freiburger Industrie
rte du Jura 37, CP 304, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 347 12 34, www.gif-vfi.ch
Forum Fribourg Expo Centre SA
rte du Lac 12, CP 48, 1763 Granges-Paccot,
t. +41 26 467 20 00, www.forum-fribourg.ch
Espace Gruyère
rue de Vevey 136-144, 1630 Bulle,
t. +41 26 919 86 50, www.espace-gruyere.ch
AUTRES
ANDERE
OTHER
Site officiel de l’Etat de Fribourg
Offizielle Website des Staates Freiburg
www.fr.ch
Websites for expatriates living
in the canton of Fribourg
www.expats-fribourg.ch
www.fewgroup.org
Service de la statistique du canton
de Fribourg
Amt für Statistik des Kantons Freiburg
bd Pérolles 25, CP 1350, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 305 28 23, www.stat-fr.ch
Union fribourgeoise du tourisme
Freiburger Tourismusverband
rte de la Glâne 107, CP 1560, 1701 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 407 70 20, www.fribourgregion.ch
ASSOCIATIONS RÉGIONALES
REGIONALVERBÄNDE
INNOREG FR
CP 76, 1680 Romont,
t. +41 26 651 90 57, Alain.Lunghi@innoregfr.ch
Agglomération de Fribourg
Agglomeration Freiburg
bd de Pérolles 2, 1700 Fribourg,
t. +41 26 347 21 00, www.agglo-fr.ch
ARG, Association régionale la Gruyère
rue de la Condémine 56, 1630 Bulle 2,
t. +41 26 919 87 47, www.regiongruyere.ch
ARL-RVS, Association régionale du Lac
Regionalverband See
Pestalozzistrasse 12, 3280 Murten,
t. +41 26 670 39 39, www.rvs-arl.ch
COREB, Communauté régionale de la Broye
rue de Savoie 1, 1530 Payerne,
t. +41 26 663 90 80, www.coreb.ch
Gemeindeverband Region Sense
Schwarzseestrasse 5, 1712 Tafers,
t. +41 26 494 27 57, www.regionsense.ch
RGV-Région Glâne-Veveyse
Rue du Château 112, CP 76, 1680 Romont,
t. +41 26 651 90 50, www.rgv.ch
t. +41 26 670 39 39, www.rvs-arl.ch
useful information
|
67
DONNEZ DE L’ÉCLAT
À VOS COULEURS
Bd de Pérolles 38
Case postale 256
1705 Fribourg
026 426 45 55
imprimerie@saint-paul.ch
VERLEIHEN SIE
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TraDoc_Fribourg_2013_fr_TraDoc_Fribourg_2013_fr 09.01.13 13:31 Page1
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Traduzioni di qualità
TRADOC SA - 1095 Lutry - Tél. 021 791 59 11
tradoc@span.ch - www.tradoc.ch
Index of Quoted Companies
Index des entreprises citées
Index der aufgeführten Unternehmen
Alma Extrusions AG
Cormagenswww.almasa.ch
Bayer International SA
Fribourgwww.bayerinternational.com
page 33
Bcomp GmbH
Fribourg
Bossy Céréales SA
Coussetwww.bossycereales.ch
page 10
Cantin Holding SA
Domdidierwww.cantin.ch
Cisel Informatique SA
Matran
www.cisel.ch
page 49, page 59
Collano Services Extrusion AG
Schmitten
www.collano.com
page 31, page 45
Contrinex SA
Givisiezwww.contrinex.com
page 47
Cremo SA
Villars-sur-Glânewww.cremo.ch
CSD ingénieurs conseils SA
Granges-Paccot
www.csd.ch
page 49, page 59
Dartfish SA Fribourg
www.dartfish.com
page 49, page 51
Dehly SA
Marly
www.dehly.ch
Delley semences et plantes SADelley
Digi Sens AG
page 12
page 31, page 39
www.bcompagech
page 41
page 23
page 9, page 23
www.dsp-delley.ch
page 27
Murtenwww.digisens.ch page 41
Düdal Leichtmetall-Giesserei AGDüdingen
page 35
www.duedal.ch
E-Changer
Fribourgwww.echanger.ch page 55
Enraf Tanksystem SA
Bulle
www.tanksystem.com
page 31, page 42
Extramet AG
Plaffeien
www.extramet.ch
page 31, page 45
Frewitt fabrique de machines SA Granges-Paccotwww.frewitt.com
Fromage Gruyère SA
Bulle
page 13
page 9, page 15
www.fromage-gruyere.ch
Fromagerie Moléson SA
Orsonnenswww.moleson-sa.ch page 25
Infré SA
Semsaleswww.infre.ch
Institut de hautes études de Glion Glion-sur-Montreuxwww.glion.edu
Jesa SA
Villars-sur-Glâne
www.jesa.com
page 25
page 53
page 31, page 43
JetSolutions SA
Rossenswww.jetsolutions.chpage 17
JNJ automation SA
Prez-vers-Siviriezwww.jnjautomation.ch
Johnson Electric International AG
Murten
Ladurée International SA
Bas-Intyamonwww.laduree.ch
www.johnsonelectric.com
page 13
page 31, page 42
page 20
Liebherr Machines Bulle SABulle
www.liebherr.com
Lombard, Odier, Darier et Hentsch & Cie
Genève
page 49, page 64
Meggitt SA
Villars-sur-Glâne
www.meggitt.com
page 31, page 47
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA
Granges-Paccot
www.michelin.com
page 49, page 60
Milco SA
Sorens
www.milco.ch
Morphean SA
Granges-Paccot
www.morphean.ch
Nespresso
Romont
www.nespresso.com
Nestlé Suisse SA/Cailler
Vevey
www.cailler.ch
Richemont International SA
Villars-sur-Glânewww.richemont.com
Riedo Networks GmbH
Düdingen
Roland Murten AG
Murtenwww.roland.ch
Scott Sports SA
Givisiez
www.scott-sports.com
page 31, page 35
Selfrag AG
Kerzers
www.selfrag.com
page 49, page 55
Sofraver SA
Avrywww.sofraver.ch
page 37
Sugnaux Electromécanique SARomont
www.riedo.com
page 33
page 9, page 21
page 49, page 61
page 4-5, page 15
page 9, page 21
page 6
page 49, page 65
www.sugnaux.ch
page 29
page 29
Tetra Pak (Suisse) SA
Romontwww.tetrapak.compage 20
The Dorchester
Londonwww.thedorchester.com
page 36
Théâtre des Osses
Givisiezwww.theatreosses.ch
page 63
Translait SA
Givisiezwww.translait.ch page 10
UCB Farchim SA
Bullewww.ucb.com
page 7
Vacherin Fribourgeois SABulle
www.vacherin.ch page 17
Villars Maître Chocolatier SA
Fribourg
www.chocolat-villars.com
Visval AG
Düdingenwww.visval.ch
page 9, page 27
page 12
useful information
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69
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Index des annonceurs
Index der Inserenten
Exports from
Fribourg
leave visible
marks…
page 72, 4 piliers de l’économie fribourgeoise: BCF – ECAB – Groupe E SA – TPF, Fribourg; page 46, Alcon Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Fribourg;
page 22 et 34, Amag Retail, Fribourg; page 71, Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild, Fribourg; page 32, Bayer International SA, Fribourg;
page 14, BDO SA, Fribourg; page 66, bluefactory, Technology and Innovation Park, Fribourg; page 50, Cisel Informatique SA, Matran;
page 44, Credit Suisse, Fribourg; page 58, CSD Ingénieurs SA, Granges-Paccot; page 50, Espace Gruyère, Bulle; page 44, Fiduconsult SA,
Fribourg; page 50, Forum Fribourg, Fribourg; page 54, Frewitt SA, Granges-Paccot; page 52, Fribourg Region, Fribourg; page 38, Frigaz SA,
Givisiez; page 52, Fri Up, Fribourg; page 24, HES-SO, Fribourg; page 68, Imprimerie Saint-Paul SA, Fribourg; page 34, Infoteam SA, Villarssur-Glâne; page 14, Interprofession du Gruyère AOC, Pringy-Gruyères; page 16 Interprofession du Vacherin Fribourgeois AOC, Bulle; page
38, Jesa SA, Villars-sur-Glâne; page 22, KPMG SA, Fribourg; page 40, Liebherr Machines Bulle SA, Bulle; page 11, Lombard Odier & Cie,
Fribourg; page 62, Meggitt Sensing Systems, Villars-sur-Glâne; page 58, Michelin Suisse SA, Givisiez; page 66, Morphean SA, GrangesPaccot; page 16, Produits du Terroir du Pays de Fribourg, Fribourg; page 2, Fribourg Development Agency, Fribourg; page 28, Saia-Burgess
Controls AG, Murten; page 26, Scott Sports SA, Givisiez; page 68, Tra&Doc SA, Lutry; page 62, UCB Farchim SA, Bulle; page18, Université
de Fribourg; page 26, Wago Contact SA, Domdidier.
Photo Credits
Crédits photographiques
Bildnachweis
Charly Rappo, arkive.ch: page 8-9, page 13, page 15, page 43 (above), page 48-49, page 51 (below)
Nicolas Repond: page 6
Alain Wicht: page 21 (above), page 25, page 45
Page 6 Richemont International; page 7 (below) © Fribourg Region; page 10 (above) Translait; page 10 (below) Bossy; page 12 Visval; page
17 JetSolutions; page 20 (above) Tetra Pak; page 20 (below) Ladurée; page 21 (below) Milco; page 23 (above) Cremo; page 23 (below)
Dehly © Keren Bisaz; page 27 (above) Villars; page 27 (below) Fotolia; page 29 Roland; ppage 30-31 Fotolia; page 33 Liebherr; page 35
Scott Sports; page 39 Bcomp; page 41 (above) Digi Sens; page 41 (below) Cantin Group; page 42 Enraf Tanksystem; page 43 (below)
Jesa; page 47 Contrinex; page 51 (above) Dartfish; page 53 Institut
de hautes études
de Glion; page
55 Selfrag;
(above) © Mathieu
Fribourg
companies
export
topage
17357countries.
Visentin; page 59 CSD Ingénieurs; page 60 EIA-FR; page 61 Morphean; page 63 (above) Théâtre des Osses © Isabelle Daccord; page 63
(below) Institut Adolphe Merkle © Aldo Ellena; page 64 Lombard Odier; page 65 (above) Fribourg University Law School; page 65 (below)
Riedo Networks.
Switzerland
─
Bd de Pérolles 25, P.O. Box 1350
CH - 1701 Fribourg
T +41 26 304 14 00
www.promfr.ch
70
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useful information
Pub 23
Chêne rouvre, quercus robur, planté par Julie de Rothschild au Château de Pregny. Témoin d’une collection familiale
développée au fil du temps.
Protéger et faire fructifier votre PATRIMOINE,
une affaire de famille depuis sept générations.
Perpétuant un savoir-faire qui a fait le succès familial depuis 250 ans,
le Groupe Edmond de Rothschild propose de donner de l’envergure à
la gestion de vos patrimoines.
Gestion discrétionnaire, ingénierie patrimoniale, asset management,
family office.
Cette expérience du patrimoine, venez la partager avec nous.
BANQUE PRIVÉE
Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild S.A.
11, rue de Morat - CP 144 - 1701 Fribourg
T. +41 26 347 24 24
edmond-de-rothschild.ch
Tobias Regell

www.tradoc.ch - Fribourg Network Freiburg

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