Swiss SME retains anti-doping products in portfolio
Actually, the Toggenburg-based company Berlinger AG wanted to remove the sample containers from its portfolio, which had come under fire after various doping scandals. But now things are different: The anti-doping products will continue to be produced.
The world's most widely used BEREG anti-doping control containers will remain Made in Switzerland: The Board of Directors of Berlinger Special AG announced today that it will not discontinue the production of containers for doping control samples and will continue to supply the market with the world's best-tested containers. Production, sales & marketing as well as the permanent further development of the products, will remain in Switzerland. Since the 1990s, Berlinger Special AG, a technology company based in eastern Switzerland, has been manufacturing containers and security solutions for doping samples, which are now regarded as the global standard and are used for doping controls at most international sporting events (e.g. Olympic Games, major football events, World Championships in Athletics, etc.). The World Anti-Doping Agency WADA, all international sports federations, national anti-doping agencies and customers have recently been informed about the continuation of production.
Great confidence and high international demand for Berlinger anti-doping products
The deciding factor for the reconsideration of the withdrawal from this business segment, announced in March 2018, was the very high demand worldwide for the BEREG anti-doping bottles for urine and blood. "An overwhelming majority of national anti-doping agencies worldwide, have asked us several times to continue production," says BoD President Andrea Berlinger. Berlinger Special AG had to struggle in 2018, due to the high demand for anti-doping containers sometimes with long delivery bottlenecks. In recent months, both the internal production processes and all anti-doping products were reviewed according to the latest findings. An update of the control container for blood doping samples will be delivered for the first time this month. BEREG's anti-doping control kits continue to meet the latest requirements of WADA and international sports federations and are appreciated by athletes worldwide for their easy and safe handling.
Strategic focus on two business areas
Following this decision, the Toggenburg-based company continues to focus on its two traditional business areas. In addition to the area of anti-doping, in which the company has built up a great deal of knowledge over the decades, this is the high-tech-based temperature monitoring of cold chains. The companies Berlinger & Co. AG (temperature monitoring) and Berlinger Special AG (anti-doping products) employ around 100 people in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. Both companies have been led by CEO Thomas Bechter since August 2018. The family business, which has been in existence since 1865, has been owned by the Berlinger Schwyter family for 11 years. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of both companies is Andrea Berlinger.
