Recently, the TV program "Dangerous germs in streams, rivers and lakes" was broadcast in the political magazine "Panorama - die Reporter". Produced by Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), the February 6, 2018 broadcast is causing controversy in Germany. Otto Schaaf, president of the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA), in which German wastewater disposal companies are also organized, advocated for a more differentiated view of the reportag.

Antibiotic resistant germs

Wastewater treatment plants serve to protect people and the environment from diseases that would otherwise be caused by wastewater. Antibiotic-resistant germs have not yet been specifically removed. However, sewage treatment plants are by no means the only pathway through which antibiotic-resistant germs are introduced into water bodies. Important for the cases considered here are runoff from agricultural land and point sources such as hospitals.

"Particularly to be questioned is the excessive, preventive use of antibiotics, in part also of reserve antibiotics, in intensive animal husbandry," emphasizes "Dangerous germs in streams, rivers and lakes," which the Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) produced and broadcast on February 6, 2018 in its political magazine "Panorama - die Reporter." "There is no patent remedy. However, avoiding resistant germs can best be achieved at the source, that is, for example, in hospitals and intensive animal husbandry," says Otto Schaaf.

NDR rightly points out possible dangers from microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics. As a solution, Panorama calls for the retrofitting of at least all larger sewage treatment plants, citing the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Environment Agency. This is because sewage treatment plants in Germany are not designed to remove multi-resistant pathogens from wastewater.

Retrofitting wastewater treatment plants alone is not a solution

The DWA considers this requirement - despite all the concern about antibiotic-resistant pathogens - to be critical because it is not suitable for solving the problem. Wastewater treatment plants are not the source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but are at the end of a chain of many development and spreading paths. The water experts are convinced that the solution must be found closer to the causes: the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are used in human and veterinary medicine and in the agricultural industry.

Use antibiotics judiciously

Antibiotics should be used judiciously in human infections. This is a matter for doctors and patients alike. Antibiotics must be taken in accordance with the doctor's prescription and must not be discontinued prematurely by the patient without authorization. Residual medication that is no longer needed should be disposed of in the residual waste garbage can and under no circumstances in the toilet or sink.

Do away with the use of antibiotics in agriculture

In agriculture, especially intensive livestock farming, but also aquaculture, the mass, often preventive use of antibiotics is to be abandoned. In particular, the use of reserve antibiotics, which are intended to serve as an "iron reserve" in the event of serious illness, should be restricted. "The overuse of antibiotics in factory farming facilities is a major cause of the development of resistance to antibiotics. In the interest of their own health as well, the agricultural industry should exercise restraint here. Once antibiotic-resistant bacteria have reached the water cycle, it is too late. However, the blame for this cannot be placed on the sewage treatment plants," says Otto Schaaf.

Given the multiple pathways of antibiotics and microorganisms from large-scale stables into the environment, retrofitting wastewater treatment plants, for example with UV irradiation equipment, would be far from sufficient to solve the problem. Schaaf: "Instead of downstream measures, end of the pipe, we have to start at the point of use. It would also be positive if it were possible to develop active pharmaceutical ingredients that degrade themselves in the environment through natural processes after passing through the organism. This is not a dream of the future. Promising approaches exist, for example, at the Institute for Sustainable Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry at the University of Lüneburg, headed by Professor Klaus Kümmerer."

Further research is necessary

As part of the project "Characterization, communication and minimization of risks from new pollutants and pathogens in the water cycle - TransRisk", funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), research was conducted into the formation of resistance and it was established, among other things, that everyone can do something to help prevent it (www.transrisk-projekt.de). The DWA considers that further research is urgently needed both in the field of developing environmentally compatible antibiotics and in the field of process engineering for eliminating these substances. Source: www.dwa.de

"The most positive aspect of the time change to daylight saving time is the more attractive leisure time in the evening due to more daylight hours," says Robert Tichler from the Energy Institute Linz. Similar to Austria, Switzerland is estimated to save around 50 million euros in energy costs over the six months of summer time.

Whereby the expert speaks of savings in fuel and electricity costs. If we were to extend summer time to the entire year, the gain in prosperity would be over 500 million euros. However, this figure is relative.

Energetic effects

Last year, the Energy Institute of the University of Linz calculated the cost savings for the first time for energy and non-energy effects together. The result: Compared with permanent winter time, the switch to summer time brings a slight cost saving for households and for the national economy.

"Additional daylight hours in summer save each household 0.45 percent in electricity costs," says Robert Tichler of the Energy Institute. But that gain is muted because people use more fuel or electricity for fans during additional daylight hours. "The non-energy effects are much larger than those of electricity and energy costs," Tichler says.

In the right biorhythm

Many studies on the effects of the time changeover on biorhythms and sleep disorders show that in the weeks following the changeover, work performance drops and the risk of traffic accidents increases: The Linz researchers put the resulting costs at 40 million euros per year for Upper Austria; extrapolated to Austria, that's 240 million euros.

Keeping daylight saving time would therefore multiply the good effects of the changeover - also because the negative effects caused by the time changeover twice a year would be eliminated. Finally, the quality of life would also be increased.

www.energieinstitut-linz.at

SVUT was founded in 1989 and is thus not only the oldest, but also the most important trade association of the environmental technology industry in Switzerland. The association is politically and economically independent. Its members include companies, experts and service providers from all areas of environmental, energy, waste and water management.

The General Assembly is the supreme and determining body of SVUT. It elects the board, the auditors and substitutes, approves the activity report of the board, the annual accounts and the respective budget for the coming business year. The unofficial part takes place in the power plants Oberhasli as well as in the Grimselwelt.

The official part with statutory ordinary General Assembly thematizes for example:

The agenda and election of tellers and the minutes 28th AGM of March 15, 2017 at AGRO Energie Schwyz.

The SVUT Board

The Board of SVUT is elected by the General Assembly for a term of 4 years. It consists of at least the president and 3 members. Currently the following persons form the board:

President and 3 members. Currently, the following people make up the board:

President: Beat Huber, Polytechnik Swiss AG, Immensee (2014 - 2018)

Vice Chairman: Dr. Peter Heusser, I.C.E. AG, Wil (2014 - 2018)

Prof. Maurice Jutz, Efficiency Agency, Muttenz (2015 - 2019)

Dr. Viktor Haefeli (2015 - 2019)

Dr. Gaudenz Furler (2015 - 2019)

Dr. Urs Rhyener, Agro Energie (new)

Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG, KWO

KWO is one of the leading hydropower companies in Switzerland. It produces electricity in abundant quantities. Thanks to the large reservoirs, which provide plenty of "fuel" even in winter, the KWO can respond instantaneously to the constant fluctuations in electricity demand throughout the year and align its production with demand at all times.

Nevertheless, the Swiss glacier world is receding. The retreat of the Trift glacier opens up the potential for a hydropower project of national importance. The exposed terrain depression and the topographical conditions are ideal. Over the past four years, the KWO has developed a project that envisages a reservoir and a power plant in the "underen Trift".

Grimselstrom makes an important and nature-friendly contribution to Switzerland's electricity supply. The SVUT General Assembly promises to be an exciting excursion that not only opens up a diverse contact forum, but also includes a tour of the Grimsel 2 power plants and a visit to the Crystal Gap. (Source: Environment Perspectives, No. 1_2/2018)

For more information, please visit: www.grimselstrom.ch or www.grimselwelt.ch

For more information on SVUT's 29th Annual General Meeting, on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, visit:

Secretariat SVUT

Center for New Technologies, Hohle Gasse/Calendariaweg 2, 6405 Immensee

sekretariat@svut.ch

www.svut.ch

Because the number of participants for the guided tour after the General Assembly is limited, registration is requested by February 16, 2018 at. www.svut.ch/register.html asked.

The Survey  by Schneider Electric, 85 percent of respondents are taking action over the next three years to remain competitive with industry leaders in terms of their CO2 reduction plans. However, the projects that have been initiated or are in development are heavily focused on energy, water and waste savings. Outside of renewable energy, few of the companies surveyed are focusing on more mature strategies and technologies for energy and emissions management.

Key findings:

• 81 percent of respondents have implemented measures to improve energy efficiency or plan to do so within the next two years; 75 percent are working to reduce water consumption and waste.
• 51 percent have already completed or are planning renewable energy projects.
• Only 30 percent have implemented or are actively planning to implement energy storage, microgrids or cogeneration - or a mix of these technologies.
• Only 23 percent of respondents have demand response strategies in place or plan to do so in the near future.

"Companies must actively prepare"
"The way we consume and produce energy is undergoing a massive transformation"said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chairman and CEO at Schneider Electric. "The near-universal focus on energy conservation is positive. However, being adept at consumption is not enough to survive and grow. Companies must prepare for their role as an active participant in the energy market by creating the conditions to generate energy and interact with the grid, utilities, partners and other new entrants. Those that don't act now will lose out."

Two challenges: Collaboration and data management
Internal coordination often blocks progress. Sixty-one percent of respondents said that their company's energy and sustainability decisions are poorly aligned between the relevant teams and departments. This is particularly true for consumer goods and industrial companies. According to the same number of respondents, the lack of collaboration is also a challenge.
Data management was cited as another obstacle to integrated energy and carbon management. Forty-five percent of respondents said that corporate data is highly decentralized and processed at the local or regional level. And of those who cited "inadequate tools/metrics for data sharing and project evaluation" as a challenge to working across departments, 65 percent manage data at the local, regional or national level rather than globally.

Integrated, data-driven approach as a solution
A Example for a company that takes an integrated, data-centric approach is iomart, a leading provider of managed cloud solutions. It coordinates energy efficiency and environmental management across a network of data centers it owns and operates in the UK.

"Data and actionable information are critical"said Neil Johnston, Group Technical Operations Director at iomart. "What happens to the information once it's there, however, is just as important. Our purchasing, energy and sustainability teams compare data and develop joint strategies to manage consumption and emissions and reduce costs. This collaboration has resulted in significant savings for the company and helped us become certified to the ISO 50001 standard and meet the requirements of the Carbon Reduction Commitment."

Study shows progress in several areas
More than 50 percent of the companies surveyed have initiated renewable energy projects or plan to do so within the next two years, led by healthcare (64 percent) and consumer goods (58 percent). In addition, senior management and corporate functions are highly involved in these and other sustainability-focused programs. Seventy-four percent said executives are reviewing or approving initiatives in areas such as renewable energy and sustainability, and that this work is a strategic priority.

While return on investment appears to be the benchmark for energy and sustainability initiatives, companies increasingly understand investments to be longer-term and more holistic. For example, more than half of respondents said that environmental impact is included in the assessment process. Another important aspect is business risk (39 percent).

The study was conducted by GreenBiz Research to identify how companies develop energy and environmental strategies, collect and share data, and coordinate across departments. This practice is also referred to as Active Energy Management Designated. Participants were individuals, executives, board members, and professionals responsible for energy and sustainability management. Respondents represent 11 primary segments, including consumer products, energy/utilities, financial, industrial, healthcare, and technology. Results from samples are subject to variance.

The Research Report contains a detailed summary of the survey (of 236 large companies, at least $100 million in revenue) and results.

You can find news and trends on energy and sustainability topics at Perspectives or follow @SchneiderESS.

Zürcher Kantonalbank has awarded the ZKB SME Prize for sustainable companies for the ninth time, with a total prize money of CHF 150,000. The five winners were honored at the award ceremony on February 1, 2018 in the Umwelt Arena Schweiz in Spreitenbach in front of more than 500 invited guests from business, science and politics.

The top prize in 2018 was won by Hector Egger Holzbau AG from Langenthal (BE). Acryline AG from Oberglatt (ZH) came in second, and third place went to Strüby Holding AG from Seewen (SZ). The special prize for exemplary small companies was won by Lindauer AG from Steinen (SZ). The special prize for exceptional performance was awarded to Äss-Bar GmbH from Zurich.

Exemplary SME

Around 80 applications were received. From these, eight finalists were then awarded prizes. Five of them were honored as award winners. The jury assessed current and forward-looking aspects from the fields of business, society, management and the environment.

The following eight finalists have been nominated for the ZKB SME Award 2018 (in alphabetical order):

• Acryline AG, Oberglatt (ZH)
• Äss-Bar GmbH, Zurich (ZH)
• Hector Egger Holzbau AG, Langenthal (BE)
• Hug Baustoffe AG, Nänikon (ZH)
• Kernser Edelpilze GmbH, Kerns (OW)
• Lindauer AG, Steinen (SZ)
• Strüby Holding AG, Seewen (SZ)
• Tuwag Immobilien AG, Wädenswil (ZH)

First place for Hector Egger Holzbau AG
The main prize this year was won by Hector Egger Holzbau AG from Langenthal (BE), which specializes in high-tech timber and element construction. Founded in 1848 by Samuel Rudolf Hector Egger, the company has been run by owner Paul Schär as Hector Egger Holzbau AG since 2001 and is characterized by a high level of innovation and a broad-based understanding of sustainability. Jury president Bruno Dobler explained the decision:

"Hector Egger Holzbau AG is a regionally and locally deeply anchored family business. The high and balanced level in all dimensions of sustainability, the cultural commitment and especially the extraordinary innovative strength impressed the jury and persuaded us to award Hector Egger Holzbau AG this year's main prize of the ZKB SME Award."

Silver and bronze go to Acryline AG and Strüby Holding AG
The second place was achieved by Acryline AG, a leading company in the processing plastic and acrylic glass industry
with headquarters and production in Oberglatt near Zurich. State-of-the-art technology and a quarter of a century of experience make the company, founded in 1989 by Thomas Cahak, an important leader in industry and advertising.

In its statement, the jury emphasized that Acryline AG had achieved an excellent position in plastics and advertising technology over the past 29 years. Investments in new technologies, the responsible use of plastics as a resource and the reduction of environmental pollution, but also the prudent treatment of employees had been convincing.

Third place went to the Swiss architecture and timber construction company Strüby Holding AG from Seewen (SZ). The company has developed from a timber construction company into a total service provider. Environmental efficiency is a top priority throughout the business process. In addition, the use of new technologies, high environmental standards and tangible innovative strength tipped the scales for the jury.

The jury is made up of representatives of Zürcher Kantonalbank, the partners CCRS (Center for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability) and öbu (Association for Sustainable Business), as well as well-known SME representatives. Prizes are awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that make an outstanding contribution to sustainable development as part of their entrepreneurial activities.

www.zkb.ch/kmupreis

The partial merger into the company Maurer Elektromaschinen GmbH made it possible to increase the depth and breadth of the product range.

Ideal synergies

Since the beginning of January 2018, you will find in Schöftland, in addition to the large battery range, various solar modules, charge controllers, sine wave inverters for 230V and an impressive selection of 12V lamps and DC accessories. This merger results in ideal synergies, on the one hand in the area of products (batteries and solar technology) and on the other hand in the area of customers. Until now, Maurer Elektromaschinen GmbH supplied exclusively companies from the industry, end customers and processors, while Sumatrix AG's customers mainly include dealers in the mountain regions.

Peter Maurer and Manfred Leutwiler are looking forward to a continued successful cooperation with their customers and suppliers. True to the motto: "Together we are stronger".

The customer thus benefits from an even wider range of batteries for every application and solar energy for off-grid objects.

www.maurelma.ch

Suva reported over 465,000 accidents in 2017. This is one percent more than in the previous year. The number of occupational accidents remained stable compared to the previous year, although the number of employees in Switzerland increased by just under 1 percent, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The number of non-occupational accidents, on the other hand, rose by 1.9 percent. This was still slightly down in the previous year.

(Source: Suva)

 Heat wave caused more accidents

Suva recorded significantly more non-occupational accidents than in the previous year among its insured, particularly in the months of January and June 2017. According to MeteoSwiss, 2017 brought Switzerland the third warmest spring and the third warmest summer since measurements began in 1864. June in particular saw a heat wave of the kind atypical for this month. Another heat spurt was recorded in October. "Accordingly, people were active outdoors for longer, which led to more accidents," says Peter Andermatt, Suva's statistician.

In terms of leisure activities, the main contributors were accidents while hiking and walking (+ 16.5 percent) and on motorcycles (+ 4.8 percent) and bicycles (+ 3.6 percent). In the exceptionally warm months of June and October, insured persons reported significantly more accidents than in the previous year for all three leisure activities. Hiking and walking accidents even increased by half in the months of January and June compared to the previous year. In total, Suva registered more than 21,500 accidents during hiking and walking.

Young people have fewer accidents during leisure time

The largest increase in all recreational accidents was among 55- to 64-year-olds, at 8 percent. "Apparently, people in this age group are drawn to the outdoors more often than younger people when the weather is nice," says statistician Andermatt. That's because the sharp increase in accidents in this age group can't just be explained by the fact that there are increasingly more insured people in this age group because of the baby boomers. The 35 to 44 year olds note an increase of 3.6 percent in leisure accidents. For those up to 24 years of age, leisure accidents have even decreased by 2.7 percent.

Suva insures around two-thirds of all employees in Switzerland against the consequences of occupational and non-occupational accidents and occupational diseases.

www.suva.ch

The most important facts in brief:

• Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire in the event of a short circuit. They are not only found in cell phones and computers, but also in electric cigarettes.
• In Zurich, an e-smoker's battery exploded in his pocket. Severe burns were the result. A second, similar case is known.
• Tests in Empa's safety laboratory show how violent such an explosion can be.
• The industry puts the danger into perspective. These are isolated cases. However, it is recommended that replacement batteries always be transported in a protective case. (srf)

Intended for installation in battery packs only

http://www.empa.ch

Today, 41 players in the Swiss cocoa industry have joined forces to form the independent association Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa. The new association promotes sustainability in the cocoa sector. Founding members include the industry association CHOCOSUISSE, manufacturers, importers and traders of cocoa-based products, Swiss retailers, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), non-profit organizations and research institutions. "The joint initiative of the private sector, the public sector, civil society and research institutions is an important step towards a sustainable cocoa value chain," says Ernst A. Brugger, President of the Cocoa Platform.

Target: 80 percent sustainable cocoa

The members of the Cocoa Platform have set themselves an ambitious, binding target: "By 2025, at least 80% of the cocoa-containing products imported into Switzerland will come from sustainable cultivation," says Walter Anderau, former president of the CHOCOSUISSE industry association. "This applies to cocoa beans, cocoa liquor, butter and powder, as well as imported finished products. And it requires that cocoa be grown in a socially, environmentally as well as economically sustainable way." In the longer term, the entire physical flow of cocoa-containing products into Switzerland should be sourced from sustainable sources.

Joint sustainability projects

To achieve this goal, the Cocoa Platform promotes joint projects with measurable impact. "The newly established association networks and strengthens the efforts of the private sector, public sector, civil society and research institutions for sustainable cocoa," says Esther Haldimann, Head of Advisory Services at Helvetas and NGO sector representative on the newly elected board. "The platform leverages the expertise of its members to develop and implement innovative solutions. This collaboration strengthens synergies and enables greater impact."

Achieve measurable improvements

The Cocoa Platform aims to achieve measurable improvements in a timely manner. It is therefore focusing its activities on areas where its members have extensive experience and can make a global contribution. Work has already begun to develop solutions in working groups on a number of key issues.

A contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

With its initiative for a sustainable cocoa sector, the Cocoa Platform, which was launched in June 2017, aims to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pursued by UN member states and also by Switzerland. "In the context of the global 2030 Agenda, the new initiative can help improve the living conditions of people in the growing countries and conserve resources," says SECO Director Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch. "An important asset of the Cocoa Platform is that it creates a framework for closer cooperation between the private sector and the public sector. That way, the economic development cooperation we do in various cocoa-growing countries can have more impact."

Strong international networking

The Cocoa Platform is committed to close cooperation with all key stakeholders in the global cocoa sector. It promotes dialogue with local authorities and organizations in the producer countries and coordinates its measures with international and national initiatives. The Cocoa Platform took another important step towards international networking on January 19 at the International Green Week in Berlin, where representatives of the sustainable cocoa initiatives of Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland agreed to work closely together.

The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa and the German Forum for Sustainable Cocoa signed a joint declaration of intent at the opening event to intensify their cooperation.

The members of the association Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa:

You can find the current directory here 

For the sixth time, the Swiss Venture Club (SVC) honors exemplary small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region with the Prix SVC Wirtschaftsraum Zürich. The event offered the more than 2,200 invited guests from business, science, politics and the media insights into the region's impressive and diverse entrepreneurship. Presenter Nik Hartmann led the award ceremony at the Hallenstadion Zurich.

The sponsor and initiator of the Prix SVC is the Swiss Venture Club, an independent, non-profit association for the promotion and support of SMEs in Switzerland. Steven Himmelsbach, SVC Regional Head of the Zurich Economic Area, emphasizes: "We award companies that belong to Switzerland's SME elite. Our focus is on exemplary companies that create jobs and help shape the Swiss economy."

First place for the Schibli Group from Zurich

The winner of the Prix SVC Wirtschaftsraum Zürich 2018 is the Schibli Group from Zurich. The Schibli Group offers comprehensive services in the fields of electrical engineering, building technology, automation, communications and IT. These six award winners were able to prevail over hundreds of companies in the region in a multi-stage selection process.

The family business, now in its third generation and led by CEO Jan Schibli, successfully combines comprehensive services in the fields of electrical engineering, building services, IT, communications and automation. With 15 locations in Switzerland and one in Dresden (D) and around 500 employees, including 90 apprentices, Schibli offers its customers everything from a single source, from electrical installation to intelligent building automation or video surveillance systems to IT infrastructure or customized cloud solutions.

The successful market positioning goes hand in hand with winning the coveted Prix SVC Wirtschaftsraum Zürich. Michael Steinmann, president of the 16-member jury of experts, pays tribute to the freshly crowned winner in his laudation: "The Schibli Group is an entrepreneurial pearl that stands for far more than electrification of Zurich apartments and houses." And further: "Business acumen, sense of family, promotion of talents and respect for the individual ambitions of the employees, such points impressed the jury."

In addition, the family-owned company from Wetzikon impressed entrepreneurs and attendees such as the government councilor and economic director Carmen Walter Späh with its high apprenticeship quota. "According to the Zurich KV," said the presenter, "the Schibli Group has the highest quota in the region with 90 apprentices out of 500 employees."

Reichle & De-Massari and Transa Backpacking AG in second and third place

Second place went to the Swiss family-owned company Reichle & De-Massari (R&M). "R&M is a successful transformation and growth story in a highly competitive future market," as jury president Michael Steinmann emphasized in his laudatory speech. Reichle & De-Massari develops complete cabling solutions for high-quality data communications networks in office buildings and data centers, for industry and in telecommunications. Leading the Swiss market, Reichle & De-Massari is now active in over 40 countries and has its own market organizations on six continents. The company employs 920 people worldwide, 250 of them in Switzerland, and is led by CEO Michel Riva.

Transa Backpacking AG, the leading supplier of travel and outdoor equipment in Switzerland, took bronze. The company has been on the market for 40 years and today offers over 33,740 products from 521 different brands in ten branches and outlets. In addition to providing qualified advice, Transa relies on its 320 employees and 19 apprentices to share their own outdoor experience. With an extensive range of services, user courses and test facilities, Transa, under the leadership of CEO Daniel Humbel, offers its customers a comprehensive service package covering all aspects of diverse travel and outdoor activities.

Awards for Meister Abrasives AG, Pumpstation Gastro GmbH and Qualipet AG

Also honored were Meister Abrasives AG from Andelfingen, a global leader in manufacturing processes using highly productive grinding tools, the successful and innovative catering company Pumpstation Gastro GmbH from Zurich, and Qualipet AG from Dietlikon, a leader in Swiss pet supplies and in the production of natural pet food.

http://www.swiss-venture-club.ch

The online platform Factory5 enables its partners and users to network and communicate directly with each other. However, it includes various processes, such as Micro5, a miniaturized five-axis milling machine that ensures excellent quality while consuming fifty times less energy than conventional equipment due to its size.

The Swiss Climate Foundation co-financed "Series Zero" and thus contributed to an important development phase. Factory5 aims to make manufacturing processes more responsive, efficient and centralized. It also aims to improve the global value chain by providing all industrial competencies (manufacturing, measurement, design, maintenance, etc.) and the necessary management software (MRP, CRM, etc.) and the use of smartmachines.

This optimizes production, increases efficiency and promotes cooperation between companies. The online platform Factory5 unites and coordinates the individual production processes. This concept should soon make it possible to create complete factories and, as the designers would like, make Switzerland "greener, smarter and more connected.

www.klimastiftung.ch and www.maxcomm-green.com

Contacts:

For French-speaking Switzerland: Samuel Vuadens, CEO Mecatis SA. s.vuadens@mecatis.ch. For German-speaking Switzerland: Jonas Hügli, CTO Safelock SA, jonas.huegli@safelock.ch