Heiniger AG wins the Prix SVC Espace Mittelland 2017
The winner of the Prix SVC Espace Mittelland 2017 is Heiniger AG from Herzogenbuchsee, specialized in animal shearing products. Second place goes to Moser-Baer AG from Sumiswald, a specialist in watch systems and precision mechanics. Third prize goes to the timber construction company Kühni AG from Ramsei. A total of six award winners prevailed in a multi-stage nomination process against 200 companies in the region.
Thanks to numerous innovations and a consistent focus on customer needs, Heiniger AG is now the world market leader in the animal shearing business: millions of farm animals such as sheep, cows, horses or even dogs and camels are sheared and groomed every day worldwide with Heiniger equipment. There are 40 different knives for sheep shearing alone, as Daniel Heiniger explained to the audience. "Heiniger AG impressed the jury with its innovative business model. The family-owned company has succeeded in becoming the market leader in a highly competitive global market niche. One of the main reasons for this is the top quality of the SwissMade products as well as the understanding of the real customer needs worldwide," jury president Walter Steinlin finally emphasized in his laudation.
The family-owned company was founded in 1946 by Hermann Heiniger and is now managed in the third generation by CEO Daniel Heiniger. It employs over 100 people, 33 of them in the subsidiary in Australia and eight in New Zealand.
2nd & 3rd prize winner
Second place goes to Moser-Baer AG from Sumiswald, manufacturer of the legendary railroad clock. With its MOBATIME brand, the family-owned company, which is now headed by Managing Director Reto Reist, is an international leader in the development, production and sale of clock systems, time systems and time references. Worldwide, several tens of thousands of Moser-Baer systems are in operation at airports, railroad stations and hospitals. The company has established a second mainstay in the field of medical technology. "Swiss quality, information technology and a high understanding of service flow into product developments and services on a daily basis," said Walter Steinlin, explaining the company's success. And further "With strategic acquisitions, the company has grown continuously since 1938 and is now one of the most important employers in the Emmental with 140 employees."
Kühni AG from Ramsei was awarded third place. From an original carpentry workshop, a leading full-service provider in timber construction has emerged. With 160 employees, including 34 apprentices, the family-owned company offers an end-to-end market service from planning to turnkey house construction. The company uses state-of-the-art machinery - ultimately, Kühni AG is a fully digitalized craftsman's business in the Emmental.
Other prize winners
Other award winners of the evening are the watch manufacturer Armin Strom AG from Biel, Carrosserie HESS AG from Bellach, which specializes in vehicle construction, and Furrer + Frey AG from Bern, which specializes in overhead line construction. In the case of Armin Strohm, it is particularly worth mentioning that the still young company management has taken the risk of its own manufacture - something that many other well-known watch manufacturers deliberately keep their hands off... And the name HESS is also known worldwide: Over 3500 "Cobus" buses are in use at international airports to transfer passengers from terminals to planes. Finally, Furrer + Frey AG is one of the market leaders in China, where the company has a 50 percent share of the market for overhead contact line equipment for metros. For SVC President Hans-Ulrich Müller, it was clear that "all six companies are winners.
50th Prix SVC Award Ceremony
For the twelfth time, the Swiss Venture Club (SVC) is awarding the Prix SVC Espace Mittelland to exemplary small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region that impress with their products, their innovative business model and their sustainable track record. The event in the Kursaal Bern was hosted by Patrick Rohr. 1,400 guests from the worlds of politics, business and culture once again made the awards ceremony an important meeting place for business in the Espace Mittelland region.
At this award ceremony, the SVC itself also had something to celebrate - its 50th Prix SVC award ceremony. Since the first event in Bern in 2003, a total of 299 companies in seven economic and three language regions have been honored at 50 Prix SVC awards ceremonies throughout Switzerland. For once, Hans-Ulrich Müller was able to receive a trophy himself on this occasion.
