PRESIDENT’S EDITORIAL

Helping customers succeed in the post-COVID industry

Dear readers,

Welcome to the first digital edition of our customer magazine Results Today. I hope you enjoy the look and feel of this magazine, which is published simultaneously with EMO Milano 2021, one of the most important and anticipated events in our industry. The topics are a reflection of our presence at the tradeshow.

According to our EMO motto "Your Experience – our Solutions", GF Machining Solutions' approach is more customer-centric than ever. You as our customer are at the center of everything we do. In addition, we take our corporate responsibility seriously and have set ourselves the goal of using our planet's resources sparingly, keeping in mind that they are not available indefinitely. One small example of this is to offer this magazine only in the digital format. This sustainability objective is in line with our new Strategy 2025, which consists of three focus areas: grow in attractive and resilient segments with dedicated solutions, improve performance through operational and functional excellence and enhance customer experience by stepping up quality and service.

Given the fact that the coronavirus crisis has affected our business and the way we work significantly, our aim is to support you as best as possible in the post-COVID industry. This means offering you complete, unique and innovative solutions, whichever segment you are working in, with advanced technologies and a team of experts who are available to advise you regarding services, training and digital tools that provide you with a competitive advantage.

In Results Today, enjoy an insight into our market regions, expert knowledge and inspiration on how our customers are overcoming their challenges together with us. 

Key figures 2021

With its new EDM and laser machines as well as new digital services, GF Machining Solutions continues to be one of the technology leaders in the machine tool business. This is also underscored by the successful opening of a new center of competence in Schorndorf (Germany), exclusively focused on servicing the growing medical segment. The integration of a machine service provider in France and the development of new service offerings are driving the division’s ambition to strengthen this business segment. Order intake for the division grew significantly in 2021 (+33.3%), especially in segments such as MedTech, ICT, and high-precision solutions for e-mobility applications. Despite supply chain disruptions and a still subdued aerospace sector, GF Machining Solutions increased its sales by 20.3% to CHF 873 million (2020: CHF 725 million) with automation, laser, and EDM technologies as strong drivers of the business. The operating result (EBIT) reached CHF 47 million (2020: CHF 20 million), corresponding to a doubled EBIT margin of 5.4% compared with last year. Due to supply contracts with long duration, the increase in raw materials prices had a minor effect on 2021 sales. 

ROIC

EBIT

EBITDA

EBIT margin

Sales

Employees

Find out more about our 2021 key figures in our Annual Report.

 

GF Machining Solutions inaugurates new plants worldwide

GF Machining Solutions has inaugurated new plants and started work on facilities in different regions of the world. In September 2019, the Division inaugurated its new headquarters, production and innovation center in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, in October and November, GF Machining Solutions and GF Piping Systems broke ground for a new joint headquarters in Canada, and finally, in December of the same year, the new Division's plant in Changzhou was opened. In the meantime, employees in Biel and Changzhou have settled into their new buildings, and the facility in Canada has started operation.

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Losone, Switzerland:

At the Losone site in Switzerland, activities to expand and modernize the current facility in Zandone, the industrial area of the town, after the sale of the facility in Saleggi, another area of Losone, have begun. The construction has started in October 2020 and is foreseen to be finished in July 2022. The aim of the expansion of the Zandone facility, next to the modernization, is to consolidate two locations into one to guarantee a smoother cooperation among the employees.

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Losone, Switzerland:

270 employees will be transferred to the Zandone site. In the facility, there will be a showroom for customer testing and training. A new administration floor of 3,800 square meters on top of today's plant will be built. The existing part of the building is being insulated to decrease the heat dissipation and improve the energy efficiency of the site. The heating will be converted from oil to gas to reduce CO2

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Biel, Switzerland:

In 2019, the new Division's headquarters were established in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.

Contact our Headquarter

Biel, Switzerland:

In the Center of Competence in Biel, visitors can get an insight into GF Machining Solutions' machine portfolio.

Contact our Sales Company

Changzhou, China:

In 2020, the Changzhou plant has reached a historical record in order intakes and a major milestone: the delivery of the 3,000th milling machine.

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Changzhou, China:

The facility has a production area of 12,000 square meters, a showroom of 1,300 square meters and a main office area of 7,300 square meters.

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Toronto, Canada:

The new common facility of GF Machining Solutions and GF Piping Systems in Canada is located 20 minutes from the Toronto international airport.

Highlighted articles

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Customer story: Europe

Read the article on how German tool manufacturer Stepper has reached success "step by step" with the most modern technologies – and the newest machines from GF Machining Solutions. The company's latest acquisition is the AgieCharmilles CUT X 350, presented for the first time at EMO Milano 2021. 

News: Wire-cutting EDM

The new generation of wire-cutting EDM machines takes flexibility, productivity, speed and quality to the next level. Discover the benefits of the Intelligent Spark Protection System (ISPS), iWire, Uniqua and TurboTech in our article on wire-cutting EDM.

News: Milling

The innovative machine for which manufacturers wanting to expand into automation have been waiting: Automation-ready and space saving, the new Mikron MILL P 800 U S takes the advantages of the Mikron MILL P 800 U to the next level, enabling easy, direct loading access in the back and offering additional automation potential, which ultimately generates an increase in productivity. 

 

 

 

World Map Outline Contour Silhouette - Asia in Center World Map Outline Contour Silhouette - Asia in Center

Customer story: Americas

US-based company Sunlight-Tech has increased its capacity and expanded its area of business thanks to GF Machining Solutions' Microlution machines.

#america #usa #microlution#sunlight-tech

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Ask our expert

GF Machining Solutions' Head of Software Business Marketing Pascal Friche explains how, in a world where digital information is the new gold, OPC UA ensures customers get the most value out of their data.

#digital #opcua #data

Expert insights: Packaging

In a world of increasing choices for consumers, the importance of packaging is increasing. The challenges of the mold makers consist in machining new materials and dealing with changed customer behavior.

#moldmaking #sustainability #design

News: Medical

The key technologies needed for the production of medical devices are now united in a single place – good news for GF Machining Solutions' customers working in the medical industry, who are welcome to visit the Medical Solutions Center in Schorndorf. 

#germany #medical #centerofcompetence

News: Micromachining

With the FORM X 600, application success is programmable at the touch of a finger, making it the perfect machine for microelectronics, telecommunications, medical devices, connectors and optical systems. 

#medical #ict #accuracy

News: Laser

GF Machining Solutions sets a new milestone for the automotive segment: an advanced state-of-the-art Laser technology adopting the "Design Thinking" approach and developed together with industrial experts such as Reichle, Europe's largest service provider in the area of laser texturing. 

#designthinking #automotive #reichletechnologiezentrum 

News: System 3R

GF Machining Solutions presents the latest developments in the System 3R Automation range with the launch of the robot WorkPartner 1+.

#automation #tooling #robot

Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team A521.
Formula One Testing, Saturday 13th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain. Formula One World Championship

News: Additive Manufacturing

At the highest levels of motorsports competition, speed is king, both on the track and behind the scenes. This is how Additive Manufacturing (AM) can revolutionize the process.

#motorsports #formulaone #turbochargers

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News: Services

Whether it is Milling, EDM, Laser Texturing or Additive Manufacturing, Service + Success guides customers' ascent throughout the entire lifecycle.

#support #training #success