This impressive building, covering almost 2,000 m², also serves as the headquarters of Star Micronics AG, the Swiss subsidiary responsible for sales and after-sales service across large parts of Europe. Karl Huber, former CEO and current member of the executive board of Star Micronics AG, reflects on the company’s history.
The company was founded in 1991 following the takeover of Brown & Sharp, based in Brüttisellen, which had been distributing Star machines in Switzerland for around ten years. This enabled the company to build on its already well-established market presence and strong customer relationships. As the business continued to grow steadily, space eventually became limited. At the end of 2001, the company therefore relocated to Otelfingen in order to meet increasing demands and create ideal conditions for further expansion.
When did the company’s international expansion begin, and how did it come about?
Karl Huber: The move in 2001 also marked the establishment of the Star Machine Tool France subsidiary in Haute-Savoie. This was a strategically important step aimed at strengthening our presence in Europe and bringing us closer to our European customers.
Since then, the company has continued to grow, serving customers in more than 20 countries and reinforcing Switzerland’s importance as a European hub. Service plays a central role in the company’s strategy. Could you tell us more about this?
Close customer relationships and high-quality service are key factors behind the success of Star Micronics AG. To ensure faster and more efficient support for our customers, we opened an additional service center in Gerlafingen in spring 2016. Thanks to its excellent transport connections, this location has significantly improved our responsiveness.
The showroom located within the centre allows for the permanent display of around seven machines. Star Micronics is therefore able to provide pre-sales services, such as cutting trials and hands-on training in the use of the machines, more quickly and to a higher standard. Furthermore, the creation of a workshop space capable of hosting training sessions for distributors and customers enables the company to provide opportunities for dialogue and to strengthen relationships between partners.
What is the secret behind Star Micronics AG’ success?
Our success is largely thanks to our employees. Many of them have been with us for 20 or even 30 years. Their dedication, expertise and commitment have played a decisive role in our development – ultimately leading the parent company to make this major investment.
Remo Kneringer, Managing Director (interim) of Star Micronics AG, shared his vision for the company’s future.
What does this new European Solution Center mean for the future of the company?
Remo Kneringer: It enables us to strengthen our customer support and engagement even further, while also giving us the opportunity to familiarise customers with our technologies, develop solutions together and implement new applications more quickly. In doing so, we are creating a foundation that helps drive our own growth while, above all, enhancing the competitiveness of our customers.
An impressive stock:Five automated storage systems, each 13.5 metres high, enable Star Micronics to stock 50,000 different items. This is the company’s largest spare parts warehouse in Europe, from which it supplies the French and Italian markets, as well as Eastern and Southern Europe.
What influence will the European Solution Center have on the future technological development of Star Micronics AG?
Technological progress is a key driver of our operational development. Topics such as automation, digitalisation and connected manufacturing will continue to gain importance. Our aim is to provide our customers with these technologies and help them make their processes even more efficient and flexible, enabling them to be better prepared for future challenges.
What message would you like to convey to your employees, customers and business partners for the future?
Our success is built on collaboration and trust. We will continue to invest
in people, technologies and partnerships so that, together, we can
shape the future of precision manufacturing. The European Solution Center stands as a clear symbol of our commitment to innovation and quality.
A relaxing atmosphere: the office layout has been designed to provide a very pleasant working environment, with bright and airy spaces.
