Komax and Schleuniger celebrate 50-year anniversary

When 25-year-old Max Koch was flashed by a speed trap in his orange-and-black Opel Manta near Zurich in 1974, he swore to himself that this would never happen again. He - an eletrical engineer with a degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich and a passionate tinkerer since early childhood - decided to invent a device that would sound alarm if he was speeding. The Komax Speed Control. Six months later, the device is ready for the market and Max Koch receives 2000 orders for his invention after an appearance on Swiss radio, as he himself tells us. As he cannot produce all devices alone, he hires two employees and invents a machine to cut the large quantities of wires required quickly and automatically. Komax 20 is the name of his first wire processing machine, which he has patented because of its new technology, the stepper motor.

The Komax 20 generates various orders within a very short time. Koch decides to set up his own business and found the Komax engineering firm in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1975. Just one year after the success of his speed measuring device, the Komax 28 for processing flat ribbon cables followed, and soon after that the Komax 30, the world's first machine capable of cutting and stripping flat ribbon cables or processing three individual conductors at the same time in a single step, enabling high production volumes to be achieved.

Komax becomes world market leader
Komax grows, develops well and operates internationally. When the Komax 40 goes into series production in 1982, it is the world's first fully automatic crimping machine with microprocessor control. Its success spurs Komax on. With more and more sophisticated machines, which are sold in more and more countries, Komax becomes the world market leader in wire processing. Komax goes public on the Swiss stock exchange in 1997, enters the assembly automation market a year later and has 886 employees worldwide in 2005. Ten years later, CEO Matijas Meyer takes the helm and leads the Komax Group to this day - now with 3,400 employees worldwide.

The foundation stone for Schleuniger is laid in Thun
Almost at the same time as the Komax engineering office was established in Lucerne, Edwin Sutter founded Sutter Electronic AG 80 kilometers away in Thun. He too was a great inventor full of ideas, we are told by former employees of Sutter Electronics and Schleuniger. This is how the Sintec radar was created in the basement of his home. A radar device that is used to monitor and control road traffic and helps the small company achieve its breakthrough. In addition to small radar devices, Edwin Sutter concentrates on cutting and bending machines, which are mainly used in the electronics industry. His VARIOCUT cutting machine for radially taped components is a total success. The electronics company initially grew slowly but steadily and continuously expanded its product range for wire processing. Over the years, Edwin Sutter's visionary spirit has always prevailed. We are told that he left the implementation of his ideas to his employees, who worked in an area of his home and even had a key to the apartment.

In 1980, the sole proprietorship becomes a public limited company, one year later the first CCM-2000 stripping machine is launched and in 1986 Sutter Electronics enters the SMD technology business. The first SMD placement machines are produced, as well as various customer-specific devices. The small company's expertise in combining microelectronics, precision mechanics and process robotics set it apart, and in 1987 it moved into the new company building at Bierigut in Thun, where Schleuniger's principal site is still located today. In 1991, the company had 35 employees and achieved a turnover of around CHF 7 million with a worldwide export share of over 90 percent.

Schleuniger grows and grows
In 1991, Edwin Sutter searched for a succession plan and found it in Gerhard Jansen, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Martin Strehl, CEO. Two years later, the new owners take over the Schleuniger Productronic AG in Solothurn, Switzerland, which manufactures wire processing machines but also has access to the international market. Both companies are then merged into a group under the name Schleuniger. The Schleuniger Group is founded with activities in Switzerland, the USA and Japan. In 2008, Schleuniger has 400 employees worldwide and is sold to the Metall Zug Group. Jansen and Strehl leave the company. Schleuniger grows, acquires several companies, enters the testing business, among other things, and employs over 1000 people worldwide by the end of 2021.

Komax and Schleuniger are getting married
After decades of close observation and sometimes fierce competition between Komax and Schleuniger, the Schleuniger Group is sold to the Komax Holding AG in 2022. The aim of the merger is to secure long-term competitiveness and continue to consistently drive forward the automation of wire processing with technologically leading products and solutions. What was initially a bit of a shock for many employees has changed for the better over the past three years. For the much better, actually: Well-rehearsed teams of Komax and Schleuniger employees are now working together worldwide with combined forces and jointly celebrate successes that previously seemed unthinkable. The merger has not only brought the companies together, but above all the people.

The fact that Komax and Schleuniger have long been more than the sum of their parts was celebrated last week with a successful anniversary party on the Brünig Pass - halfway between Schleuniger in Thun and Komax in Dierikon. The celebration of the 50th anniversary of both companies was not only marked by an eventful past, but also symbolized a powerful, shared future. At the anniversary party, which was held under the motto “time travel 1975”, memories were shared, people laughed and danced. And it was the many small and big stories of collaboration that were told and celebrated on this day.

You can find an insight into the best moments of the anniversary celebrations here in the picture gallery.