The power of the unseen – 100 years of Datwyler
Number of pages: 244
Illustrations: 153
Size 22 x 28 cm
Book, Hardback
ISBN: 978-3-03810-032-4
Publication date 01.02.2015
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Anniversary
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100 Years Datwyler
It took courage and pioneering spirit to create the basis for an entrepreneurial success story. His sons Peter and Max Datwyler continued to very skillfully lead the growing company as of 1958 and expanded abroad. Today, the Datwyler Group is a global industrial supplier, which is still headquartered right in the Swiss Alps but now employs more than 8,000 people worldwide.
The Dätwyler Group is a global supplier employing a workforce of over 7500 and still directed from its headquarters in central Switzerland. This book is a fascinating corporate biography.
The only person to believe in the potential of a heavily indebted wire and rubber factory in the Canton of Uri on the northern side of the Swiss alps was Adolf Dätwyler. In 1915, with determination and the spirit of a pioneer, he laid the foundation for success.
In 1958, Dätwyler’s sons, Peter and Max, assumed responsibility for the growing company, expanding its reach far beyond the borders of Switzerland. Today, the Dätwyler Group is a global supplier employing a workforce of over 7500 and still directed from its headquarters in central Switzerland. Written by Karl Lüönd and Christoph Zurfluh, this fascinating corporate biography describes «The Power Of The Unseen».
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Datwyler
Milestones.
The only person to believe in the potential of a heavily indebted wire and rubber factory in the Canton of Uri on the northern side of the Swiss alps was Adolf Datwyler. With courage and pioneering spirit, he created the basis for an entrepreneurial success story. The following milestones are worth a mention.
2022
Second plant at the Indian site further expands the healthcare production capacity.
2021
Acquisition of Yantai Xinhui Packing opens up direct access to the Chinese health care market.
2020
Divestment of the distribution business and focus on system-critical elastomer components. New organization with the business areas Healthcare Solutions and Industrial Solutions.
2020
Support the fight against the pandemic by delivering components to the leading suppliers of COVID-19 vaccines.
2018
Opening of a new health care plant in the USA. Acquisition of Parco in the USA and Bins in Brazil in the Sealing Solutions division. Parco strengthens the O-ring business and Bins improves the access to South America.
2016
Acquisition of the German company Ott to expand materials competence in the Sealing Solutions division.
2015
Datwyler Group is celebrating its 100 years anniversary.
2014
Sale of specialist distribution business Maagtechnic.
2012
Acquisition of the Dutch Nedis Group to further strengthen the online/catalogue distribution. Acquisition of the Chinese Zhongding and the Korean Hankook to strategically expand the automotive business in the Sealing Technologies division. Sale of the Cabling Solutions division to the majority shareholder Pema Holding Inc. and consolidation of the Pharma Packaging and the Sealing Technologies divisions to form the Sealing Solutions division.
2010
Acquisition of the German Reichelt Elektronik and further expansion of the online/catalogue distribution of industrial electronics and automation.
2008
Acquisition of the Swedish ELFA Group and expansion of the online/catalogue distribution of industrial electronics and automation (Distrelec Group).
2007
The Datwyler Group sells the Precision Tubes Division, operating in the market as Rothrist.
2000
The Datwyler Group generated over one billion Swiss francs in revenue for the first time.
1999
Dr. Max Datwyler, the last representative of the founding family, stepped down from the Board and became an Honorary Director of Datwyler Holding Inc.
1993
The Technical Components Division started its systematic expansion and internationalisation to build the Daetwyler Teco distribution organisation.
1990
The Datwyler Group celebrated its 75th anniversary. Peter and Max Datwyler implemented a new shareholding structure to ensure continuity in the Group’s ownership and management. They handed over the management to the Executive Board team already in place. The Datwyler Foundation was established.
1986
Datwyler Holding Inc. successfully went public with an offering of bearer shares; the Datwyler family continued to hold a controlling interest.
1979
The acquisition of Aumann AG and its subsidiary Distrelec Inc. laid the foundation for specialist and mail order distribution of electronic components.
1976
Helvoet Pharma N.V. was established in Alken (BE), giving birth to a division that is now one of the world’s two leading manufacturers of rubber closures and aluminium/plastic caps for liquid pharmaceuticals.
1968
Datwyler embarked on selective international expansion with the aim of earning a reputation for niche market products.
1958
The subsidiaries and associates were grouped under a new holding company; at the same time the second generation, Peter and Max Datwyler, took over the operational management of the Group.
1949
Datwyler purchased an interest in Stahlrohr AG Rothrist (now Rothrist Tube (Switzerland) Inc.), later raised to 100%. Today, the company is the world’s largest manufacturer of high-precision gas spring cylinders for the automotive, machine and furniture industries.
1947
The acquisition of Gummi Maag AG Zurich (now Maagtechnic) launched the distribution of rubber components and work safety products.
1945
Datwyler pioneered the development, manufacture and practical application of the first plastic-insulated high-voltage cable.
1935
The first step to build the Group came with a factory set up in Pratteln to manufacture Firestone products. After many successful years, the controlling interest was sold to the licensor, Firestone USA (1973).
1920
Adolf Datwyler acquired the majority shareholding (management buyout).
1917
A financial consortium led by Adolf Datwyler purchased the company’s shares.
1915
Adolf Datwyler was appointed to manage Schweizerische Draht- und Gummiwerke, a financially troubled Swiss wire and rubber company and the forerunner of the present Datwyler Group based in Altdorf/Uri.
In 1915, Adolf Datwyler, a young farmer’s son, was the only person to believe in the potential of highly indebted Schweizerische Draht- und Gummiwerke, a cable and rubber factory located in Altdorf in Canton Uri. The company was founded in 1902 in Zurich by five German businessmen with doubtful reputations. In 1909 the company headquarters relocated to Altdorf.
Altdorf is where Adolf Datwyler took on executive management of the small company. Datwyler had industry experience and was infinitely competent. He reorganized the ailing company and, in the midst of World War I, laid down the foundation for its far-reaching business success.
Soon, the company reported positive financial results and gratifying earnings. In June 1917, Datwyler acquired the company with the help of a group of investors for the amount of 2.25 million Swiss francs in cash, a bold step that was soon to pay handsome dividends.
In 1920, the Datwyler family acquired majority shareholding and, in 1946, the company’s name was changed to Datwyler AG.
Adolf Datwyler soon recognized this as a way to support local staff and tie them to the company. As early as 1918 he established a company health insurance fund and from 1933 onward he constructed numerous affordable housing units. Starting in 1944, the company-owned training college offered interesting continuing education programs. In 1948 Datwyler AG created a pension fund – some 30 years before it became statutory in Switzerland.
In 1965 the charitable Adolf and Selina Datwyler-Gamma Foundation was established and subsequently integrated into the Datwyler Foundation.
As a passionate driver of automobiles, the young automotive industry aroused Adolph Datwyler’s interest. In 1935, despite a sense of general economic crisis, he signed a licensing agreement with Firestone, the American tire manufacturer. Much to the displeasure of the competition, he opened a factory dedicated to the production of automobile tires in Pratteln near Basel.
For almost 40 years, the Pratteln factory successfully contributed to the Datwyler organization’s financial results before it was sold to the U.S. parent company at a profit. And for many years it had served as a source of qualified staff for Datwyler’s main production facility in Altdorf.
For Datwyler, Firestone sparked growth through acquisitions in related industries. In 1947, for instance, Adolph Datwyler acquired a shareholding in Stahlrohr AG Rothrist, a manufacturer of steel pipes for running electric cables. Gummi Maag was acquired two years later; it represents the kick-off for the distribution of technical components which is today integrated into the Technical Components Division.
World War II brought about dramatic raw-material shortages. However, Datwyler made arrangements to sidestep the scarcity of crude rubber, and by 1940 Switzerland’s largest regeneration plant for waste rubber was running at full speed in Altdorf.
At the same time, the Altdorf rubber factory began production of bicycle tires, which were a big hit under the Bullcord brand name.
Other innovative products introduced during and after the war years testify to how well Datwyler recognized the signs of the times and launched successful products despite adverse conditions. In 1945, the Cable Division developed the world’s first plastic-insulated high-voltage cable, while newly developed flooring made of plastocork included advanced polymer technology.
When the company founder’s energy began to wane, his two sons advised him to establish a holding company, which was established shortly before his demise in the fall of 1958. Subsequently, Peter and Max Datwyler managed the company initiating a widely based management culture.
As a result, far-reaching freedom of scientific research prevailed in the company. Well beyond its 50th anniversary, the company prospered and continued to undergo change. In 1967, the three divisions – cable, rubber and flooring – began operation as independent units. This early organization by divisions caused quite a sensation in Switzerland, smoothing the way for bolder steps abroad.
In the 1970s it became increasingly clear that simple, mass-produced goods would lose their market appeal in the long term. Only products that could not be easily manufactured held a promise for success in the future. Datwyler enjoyed wide know-how especially in such areas as sealing and elastomer technology, where the company successfully identified and found market niches.
In 1975, Datwyler established the Helvoet Pharma subsidiary in Belgium, which specializes in closures for liquid drugs. In addition to the pharmaceutical industry, the automotive industry provided interesting niches for Datwyler’s high-quality components. While the Cable Division started production of fiber-optic cables in 1985, the acquisition of Distrelec AG kick-started Datwyler’s Europe-wide distribution of electronic components. Datwyler thereby laid the foundation for growth as a multi-niche player.
16
Acquisitions between 1947 – 2000
250%
Growth since 1960
50
Locations around the world
104
Years of excellence
Peter and Max Datwyler took one half of the Datwyler Group public in 1986 with the aim of securing and stabilizing the group in the long term and achieving higher liquidity. The public offering was successful and yielded considerable additional funds.
At the same time, the two brothers developed a unique succession plan in terms of which Datwyler AG’s Board of Directors controls the majority shareholding on a fiduciary basis. The Datwyler Foundation was established at the same time, and today it is one of Switzerland’s leading funding organizations with a focus on Canton Uri.
By means of this succession plan, Peter and Max Datwyler relinquished a significant share of their stake in the company in favor of creating a stable ownership structure.
Datwyler accepted the challenge and embarked on a global future. In 1998 the Cable Division expanded into China. Only a short time later, the Sealing Solutions Division constructed and acquired its own production facilities in the USA, Eastern Europe and Asia.
Datwyler’s global expansion boosted its competitiveness while securing the existence of its main production facilities in Canton Uri. Increasingly, new and existing customers considered Datwyler an esteemed development partner and solution provider. Datwyler arrived in the new millennium – as a global player.
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Planning the future.
Critical size is decisive for survival in the global marketplace. Following the year 2000, Datwyler continued to adjust its portfolio by expanding sealing technology (Sealing Solutions) and electronic distribution (Technical Components). Datwyler also continued to generate growth by means of corporate acquisitions.
In 2012, Datwyler transferred its cable business to the group’s majority shareholder, Pema Holding AG. Today, the new associated company, Datwyler Cabling Solutions AG, modernises the plant in Canton Uri while continuing to expand abroad.
In its 2015 anniversary year, the Datwyler Group is a leading international supplier to the pharmaceutical, automotive and construction industries and a global leader in the distribution of electronic components. Thanks to its strong roots, reliable values and a future-oriented ownership structure, the company has successfully accepted the challenges across time – and will continue to do so to the advantage of its customers, employees and shareholders.