Founded in 1939, the former glass-blowing workshop from Flawil has developed into a global high-tech enterprise and market leader. The company established itself with the rotary evaporator, which concentrates substances from liquids and was introduced to the market by Walter Büchi in 1957. This device is still part of the standard equipment of every laboratory. The family-owned company meanwhile employs around 800 people worldwide and is present in over 100 countries on all continents. Around two thirds of the employees work for BÜCHI outside Switzerland. The SME sells analytical and test equipment for pharmaceutical and chemical research and equips laboratories with measuring instruments for quality control in the food and animal feed industries or for environmental analysis. In addition, BÜCHI offers its customers a wide range of services such as consulting, servicing, training and application support. With its user-friendly, high-quality laboratory and process solutions, BÜCHI aims to contribute to the health and safety of people and our environment.
Competitive edge through international network
Since 1978, BÜCHI has been building up and constantly expanding an international network. The network meanwhile comprises 20 subsidiaries worldwide, which employ their own sales and service teams, as well as application and marketing specialists in order to meet regional specifics and requirements. "This enables us to fulfill our claim of being as close to the customer as possible everywhere and to provide excellent technical and application support on site," says Andrea Glomb, Head of Sales EMEA at BÜCHI. In addition, the fast-growing company works closely with numerous sales partners. "Partnerships with local companies operating in specific markets are the foundation for successful market penetration and establishment. Building such partnerships is one of the keys to success," says Andrea Glomb. The largest sales markets are the USA, China, Germany, France and Japan. BÜCHI has an export share of 97%. Many glass components and other labor-intensive parts have been manufactured in the company's own factory in India for a few years now.
"Swiss made", support, regionalization and employees as further success factors
Switzerland as an industrial location also plays a key role in BÜCHI's rapid growth. For partners and customers, "Swiss made" is a hallmark of outstanding quality. Other success factors are the high level of application and technical support provided locally by the subsidiaries or sales partners, the regionalization of marketing, a country-specific presence, documentation in the national language and competent employees who enjoy working for, and are committed to, BÜCHI. As a member of S-GE, BÜCHI also benefits from a wide range of first-class services such as consulting and information offers, in the implementation of its growth strategy.
