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ANNIVERSARYEDITION50YEARS
Editorial
SISTAG AG − 50 YEARS
Anniversary edition
Number of copies: 600
Editor / Address of the editorial office:
SISTAG AG
Alte Kantonsstrasse 7
CH-6274 Eschenbach
Switzerland
Phone +41 41 449 9944
www.weyvalve.com
Design: Kobalt AG, Lucerne
Editor: WÖRTERBUCHER Dany Bucher, Lucerne
Editorial staff: Hans-Jörg Sidler,
Ambros Aschwanden
Print: Multicolor Print AG, Baar
Like that, SISTAG AG promoted its Wey products, made
in Eschenbach, for 50 years. It is therefore time to look
back, assess the current situation and examine future
prospects.
In the 50’s of the last century, Joseph Wey (†) tested
the ingenious Wey sealing system for knife gate valves
at the Hans Sidler & Co. workshop. At the beginning of
the 60’s, stricter regulations for water pollution control
accelerated the development of wastewater treatment
plants, and our company was establi shed as a result.
Hans Sidler and Hans Stalder decided to acquire all
of Joseph Wey’s patent rights and founded SISTAG
in 1964.
Meanwhile we are 50 years successful in business. The
need to prove ourselves as the market’s top niche sup-
plier of knife gate valves motivates us daily to guide our
company into a prosperous future. Our new infrastruc-
ture, which architecturally reflects our corporate identity
in distinctive black and red, is proof of our drive and a
sign of our faith in the future. And, due to increasingly
stringent pollution regulations, climate change, amen-
ded standards and new industrial applications, there is
great potential for long-term company success.
Our faith for another prosperous 50 years at SISTAG
is based on the fact that the next generation is already
wait ing in the wings. My son Samuel is currently earning
his stripes as CEO of our US subsidiary.
Finally, I would like to express my thanks. First of all to
you dear customers who put your trust in us. Through
this partnership we are constantly motivated to per-
form at the highest level possible. Then I would like to
thank our many employees all over the world for your
consistently high commitment and loyalty to our com-
pany. And a big ‘thank you’ goes to the two founders of
SISTAG: it is due to you that we can celebrate a proud
anniversary today.
We promise you, our esteemed partners and customers,
that SISTAG’s performance will continue to impress you
in the future.
Kind regards
Hans-Jörg Sidler
Traditional, dynamic and innovative.
3
Out into the worldWith the signing of the first production licence agree-
ment in 1966, SISTAG crossed borders for the first
time. And, as the Wey sealing system was so suc-
cessful, SISTAG kept on expanding. The patent app-
lication for the sealing system in Japan, Germany,
France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, England, the USA,
Canada and Australia marked the starting point, as it
were, of the SISTAG journey around the world.
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973
SISTAG (Maschinenfabrik Sid-ler Stalder AG) is established and now owns all Joseph Wey patent rights. The Swiss mar-ket is served first, with knife gate valves and sluice gates.
A new assembly plant is built in Eschenbach and, as a com-pany already taking its res-ponsibilities seriously, SISTAG establishes its own employee pension fund.
Due to increasing export de-mands, SISTAG concludes its first production licence agreement. Within Switzer-land, wastewater treatment plants from eleven municipali-ties start using Wey products.
The newly built administrati-on building provides the ad-ministration department and sales team with modern pre-mises, and plans are drawn up for the new sawtooth-roof design manufacturing facility.
The opening of the sales of-fice in Vevey in the French speaking Switzerland enables SISTAG to meet the stead-ily growing demand for Wey products in that part of the country.
The highly satisfactory level of new orders ensures that the sawtooth-roof design manu-facturing facility, planned two years earlier, can now be built and put into use. Many new products are developed.
Double transverse sealing, op-tions for valve gates, vacuum and high-pressure applications were developed in the previous year. Now additional products are singled out to complement the Wey product range.
The implementation of a new production planning and con-trol system serves as a mile-stone in work scheduling.
SISTAG decides to incorpora-te a valve trading programme into their portfolio and patents for the Wey sealing system are applied for in many coun-tries (including overseas).
The business began with 35 employees and now this num-ber has grown to 81. SISTAG is well on its way and set to expand.
54
1964 – 1973
Before our company was established, Joseph Wey, a
paper engineer, was compelled to carry out his projects
by using pulp & paper valves with inadequate sealing
performance. So he got down to work and made count-
less drawings, based on the ingenious Wey sealing
principle which were already in the 1950s turned into
real products at the Hans Sidler & Co workshop. More
stringent regulations for wastewater treatment plants
subsequently prompted Hans Sidler and Hans Stalder
(formerly Joseph Wey’s first employee) to acquire all of
Joseph Wey’s patent rights, and so the SISTAG of today
was created. The decision by the two founders shows
both courage and pioneering spirit. Out of the mechani-
cal workshop established by Johann Sidler in 1908 they
formed a company which conquered the national pulp
& paper and wastewater market with its Wey knife gate
valves within a very short time. Thanks to high quality
products and a reliable service, neighbouring countries
also quickly became aware of the products.
What got the founders goingHans Sidler, born in 1925: “Thanks to our youthful enthusiasm,
good communication skills, careful planning and realistic targets we
had a very successful beginning. Production was hectic from the start,
but we found it very exciting and interesting at the same time. We were
prepared to take risks from the word go, expanded our production and
office areas quickly and automated many manufacturing processes.”
Hans Stalder, born in 1930: “It was a turbulent start! We were
finally able to come to a long-term agreement with the owner of the
first patent of our today world-renowned Wey valve, as we were sure
that only with this in place would we have any chance of success. We
then forged ahead and turned our vision into reality with great energy,
underpinned by a contractually perfect setup. We never thought that it
would take off like it did, but in retrospect it is clear that we brought our
products onto the market at exactly the right time and could therefore
build a solid foundation for the SISTAG of today.”
INTERVIEW
81SISTAG had
employees as early as 1973.
1967
Success storyThe development of wastewater treatment plants
gained momentum again in 1979 and product in-
novations meant that SISTAG could benefit from
this. With Wey features such as zero leakage,
bi-directional tightness, a transverse seal that
can be repacked under pressure and a jam-
ming-free passage etc., we set ourselves well
apart from the competition. This was all lin-
ked to a high level of customer satisfaction
and people recommending us to others. At
the same time we were also able to de-
velop the company further and serve new
segments of the market.
1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
SISTAG celebrates its 10th an-niversary and not just with an event: investments in new ma-chines are made, as, despite the slowdown our outlook for the future is positive.
Orders decreased by 13 per cent due to the recession in the previous year. SISTAG does not introduce short-time working, however, and instead uses the available capacity to boost stock levels and optimise products.
Production of the VR knife gate valve range (ECO type with straight gate and circular flow passage) gets under way. SISTAG continues to develop in other areas and broadens its base.
Production of the TZ butterfly valves begins this year. The production licence for this product is taken over by SIS-TAG.
The computer age begins at SISTAG with the use of the Burroughs B800 computer system. We receive a major order from South Africa for around 500 knife gate valves for a gold mine.
Our knife gate valves are beco-ming increasingly well-known and popular. A large number of small and medium-size orders boost our output by a sub stantial 28 per cent.
Wey Valve International, the marketing and sales organi-sation, is established so that SISTAG can target individual markets and maintain a global presence.
This year SISTAG’s sales exceed the 10 million mark and a major contract from the biggest purifi-cation plant in Switzerland, the Werdhölzli wastewater treatment plant in Zurich, delights the ma-nagement and all the employees.
The second generation joins the company in the person of Hans-Jörg Sidler, and a special project for DN 1200 high-tem-perature knife gate valves is successfully concluded.
A project from Norway causes quite a stir at SISTAG as we secure a major contract for the offshore industry there.
76
1974 – 1983
At the start of the 1970s, other industries succumbed
to the recession. We watched these events closely and
at the same time asked ourselves how we might react if
this happened to us too. Even then we took the view that
safeguarding jobs was very important to us. Ours is not a
hire-and-fire culture; after all, we have deep roots in the
region along with our families and employees. Offering
high-quality products at competitive prices was actually
always a good formula for maintaining full employment.
But in 1975/76, the recession caught up with us, too,
and a 13 per cent decline in sales made things quite dif-
ficult. However, as we were still able to see and evaluate
opportunities for the future after assessing the market,
we thought outside the box and decided to restock du-
ring the slump so that we could deliver even faster in
the future. By upgrading machines, renovating buildings
and optimising operations we were able to do without
short-time working and staff cuts. What we learnt was
that even in difficult times it is worth making plans for the
future and motivating employees by being confident and
having a sense of social responsibility.
Working 45 years in engineering
Fredy Baumli, which events from 1974 – 1983 do you have particularly fond memories of?“Well, I was young and carefree. Shortly after my basic military training many
things were at least as important to me as work! This is why I remember the many litt-
le fun office parties in the woods and how we marched through the workshop on ‘Fat Thursday’ with an in-
house carnival band. Of course, a number of memorable events also happened at work and I fondly recall
the collaboration with many renowned engineering consultancies. I also remember the 50” valves (1,270 mm)
which we manufactured for the American market, at a time when 500 mm was
quite something, and the earthquake-proof valves that we manufactured for the
Leibstadt nuclear power plant.”
INTERVIEW
SISTAG generates sales of
10 millionin the second
decade.
Hans-Walter Strang, Burbach Grödig company, Austrian SISTAG represen-tative since 1968“At the start of the 1960s I got to know Hans Sidler, Hans Stalder und Joseph
Wey. I was just as impressed with the product that they presented to me at
that time as I was with them personally. We then succeeded in obtaining a
licence for Germany, Austria and Holland and as a result we were able to build
up the markets in these countries. In 1968 I was instructed to set up an office in Austria. In 1988, I
acquired a 100 per cent stake in it. I successfully distribute Wey products in Austria to this day. Even though
a great deal has changed in the last few years, my enthusiasm for the Wey products is undimmed, and the
honest and fair cooperation with the managers still impresses me.”
INTERVIEW
1984 – 1993
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
In the company’s 20th year of existence technology makes itself felt and the IT system is upgraded and the latest gene-ration is installed. We are now working on IBM computers.
The falling sales in North America prompt the manage-ment to thoroughly review the production licence for Wey knife gate valves.
The major fire in Schweizer-halle also boosts SISTAG. A number of orders are recei-ved for valves to be installed in fire-fighting water-reten-tion basins in the chemical industry.
The US subsidiary Wey Val-ve Inc. is established in order to serve the North American market even better. In Switzer-land, production begins on the Wey knife gate valve MF.
From the beginning, SISTAG has placed great emphasis on extensive apprentice trai-ning. To this end the first CNC milling machine is put into operation in the apprentice training department.
SISTAG marks its 25th anni-versary. Meanwhile SISTAG, based in Eschenbach, is pro-cessing 165 tons of cast parts and 132 tons of stainless steel on a total of 5,200 m2.
SISTAG’s engineering depart-ment and technical office is upgraded: the 2D CAD sys-tem is introduced, thus further optimising work processes.
Social awareness and chan-ging social demands prompt the SISTAG management to introduce the RBS employee participation system.
Hans-Jörg Sidler takes the position of managing director and repositions the compa-ny. The company is renamed SISTAG Absperrtechnik and receives a new corporate identity.
Ever more quality standards must be met if a company wants to remain successful, which is why intensive pre-paratory measures are being taken to obtain the planned ISO certification.
98
At this time, the name SISTAG was just an abbreviation
for Maschinenfabrik Sidler Stalder AG. When we realised,
however, that we needed to be more customer focussed
and achieve greater customer proximity, we decided that
the term “Maschinenfabrik” (machine factory) was not
specific enough and some sort of an irritant. We wanted
to position ourselves ready for the future in an internatio-
nal market with the help of clear and direct statements.
As a result, we decided that from now on, SISTAG would
be the stand-alone name, without reference to the two
surnames. With the addition of “Absperrtechnik” (flow
control technology) we were also highlighting the variety
of products in our portfolio. In this way, the entire SISTAG
team and its representatives were committed to the new
targets for export development and motivated to offer a
wider variety of specialty solutions for the industry. With
this different positioning and the concurrent newly de-
veloped corporate identity, the new management under
Hans-Jörg Sidler sent out clear signals for the future. This
provided reassurance for the employees, particularly as it
was also made absolutely clear that the new generation,
too, would remain at the Eschenbach site.FocusIn late 1986, a fire in a storage facility at the former
Sandoz chemical company in Schweizerhalle caused
one of the worst environmental disasters in Europe.
Fire-fighting water, which had flown into the river
Rhine over the course of a few weeks, killed a huge
amount of fish. As a result, the Schwei-
zerhalle-based chemical companies
decided to act, and built a large mul-
ti-chamber basin and several smaller
retention basins, as well as collecting
tanks and fire-fighting water reser-
voirs. Our Wey products allowed us
to make a major contribution to the
future safety of human and nature.
Unbelievable but true: the fastest Wey knife gate valve, our SpeedWey HSI shuts in a
near record time of
17milliseconds.
1987
MasterpieceSISTAG apprentices are supported and challen-
ged. From the beginning, SISTAG has offered
apprenticeships for poly-mechanic technicians,
and design draftspersons. Apprentices are provi-
ded with modern facilities. We expect high levels
of motivation from these young people and we
provide thorough training. It is particularly plea-
sing therefore when SISTAG apprentices finish
their training and come top of the whole canton,
as has happened on occasion.
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
SISTAG receives the SQS cer-tificate ISO 9001/EN 29001: an industry first, triggered by international demand for cer-tified services.
The production start of the Wey knife gate valve VN signals the further development of the VR series as a low-cost alternative as well as compliance with the latest requirements in terms of standards and markets.
The growth of the business is also reflected in sales. For the first time, SISTAG turns over more than 15 million Swiss francs, and a multi-million-franc contract for an aluminium plant in Iran opens up new horizons.
In order to better serve the important German market, SISTAG GmbH is established in Germany. Wey Valve Inc. USA celebrates its 10th anni-versary.
Just one year after it is establis-hed, SISTAG’s German subsidiary company is integrated into the QM system according to ISO 9001. In Eschenbach, a two-pallet CNC processing centre for large knife gate valves comes into operation.
Shortly before the new millen-nium, SISTAG starts using a state-of-the-art DN 50 to 400 valve test bench with docu-mented test tracking.
The new millennium gets off to a very good start with a major order being placed by the Per-len paper mill. We also break into the oilsands business with a major order from Canada.
Our success continues, as we once again are able to comple-te a major order, this time for the waterway intersection in Magdeburg (Germany). Eight Wey knife gate valves MFE DN 1400 are supplied.
The engineering department and technical office now work with a 3D CAD system, the com-puter-aided (FEM finite element method) is introduced and SIS-TAG produces the 50,000st VN knife gate valve.
The organisational structure of the company is adapted. By dividing up the marketing and sales departments into Swit-zerland and export depart-ments, we take account of the ever-increasing demand.
1110
From the beginning right up to the present day, the
demands on both staff and products at SISTAG have
continuously grown. The challenges faced by SIS-
TAG change along with the times, and so ongoing in-
vestments in personnel, infrastructure, production
technology and process optimisation are vital in or-
der to remain successful. Various aspects must be
repea tedly considered and challenged to achieve this.
For example, it is important to constantly increase flexi-
bility, to be able to use same parts for several models,
to streamline the range from time to time and to meet
very short delivery deadlines, as today’s customers want
their capital to be tied up for as short a time as possible.
Our modern production systems are now in use 7 days
a week, 24 hours a day, partly by unmanned ‘ghost’
shifts. Our motivated and committed employees are al-
ways willing to take special tasks, to participate in inter-
departmental job rotation and to work overtime during
times of capacity constraints. In combination with our
very well-functioning international supplier network we
will be able to meet the demands of the coming years.
Hans-Jörg Sidler“I grew up in the house with the original workshop, right next to the milling ma-
chine so to speak, so I got an insight into the business from an early age and
was entrusted with tasks even before I qualified as a mechanical engineer. I did,
of course, also hear many discussions about market requirements and person-
nel issues and learnt a great deal about social responsibility. Well-prepared and
highly motivated, I was able to take on my father’s role in 1990 and run SISTAG
together with Hans Stalder. From 1992, I assumed sole responsibility for the busi-
ness and built up a strong management team around me. I am extremely grateful
for the confidence shown in me by the company’s two founders, for the freedom
that they granted me and for the valuable advice I was always able to obtain.”
INTERVIEW
1994 – 2003
In the meantime, Wey product exports
account for an amazing
70per cent.
2014
Records set to be brokenThe 150,000st VN knife gate val-
ve is produced, the number of
employees is higher than ever
before, new capacities are
being created, the record le-
vel of sales is equalled and
steps for the future have
been taken in a way that will
enable us to tackle the next
50 years confidently, yet
still responsibly and with
great respect for our em-
ployees and the partners
who accompany us on
our journey.
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
The administration building needs to be extended, a ma-jor order is received for flood prevention and production of the Wey knife gate valve MG PN 16 begins.
Employee numbers have now risen to 101. An intensive and instructive management seminar for prospective SISTAG managers, lasting several days, takes this into account.
A new partially automated DN 450 to 1200 valve test stand is used, we put a new Oracle server into operation and we achieve Pressure Equipment Directive certification.
The management makes ano-ther far-sighted investment decision. Hall 100 is built, increasing storage and ma-nufacturing capacity by an additional 1,300 m2.
We move into Hall 100 and state-of-the-art high-bay bar racking with an integrated sa-wing system can be put into operation. Production of the Wey knife gate valve MH PN 25 also begins.
The 100,000st VN knife gate valve is produced. Despite the ailing economy, there is full employment in the plant due to the completion of pending tasks as well as process and product optimisation.
The new 24-hour production system with a high-bay ware-house and processing centre doubles our capacity. A third parallel planing machine is now also in use.
SISTAG makes a commitment to the future – due to a new con- struction project another CHF 6 million is invested in the Eschen-bach production site. Major orders from Poland and China show that this is the right course of action.
SISTAG AG achieves another sales record of CHF 29.5 million and moves into the new office building. The new corporate identity is launched as part of the Big Bang event.
Moving into the extension with its new showroom, meeting rooms and canteen as well as changing facilities and a spacious work-shop for apprentices makes the working environment more com-fortable for employees.
SISTAG celebrates 50 years and looks forward to the future! The third generation is now also at the helm: Samuel Sidler holds the position of CEO & President at Wey Valve Inc., USA.
1312
Records tumble and time passes more quickly – at SIS-
TAG too. It is therefore important to plan the future of
the business carefully and with due consideration. The
signs of the times need to be recognised and it is just
as essential to act with foresight and anticipate custo-
mer needs with regard to processes and applications as
it is to come up with product innovations or to make
anti cyclical investments. SISTAG also sees itself in the
future as a responsible, innovative family-run compa-
ny. The third generation is already earning its stripes in
the US subsidiary. We can therefore be certain that the
values which we have adhered to since the very begin-
ning will also be upheld in the future. Of course we want
success, but it must always come with sound growth,
as sustainability is more important to us than sharehol-
der value at all costs. Job security will also continue to
be extremely important in everything we do; we see our
employees and the subsidiaries as part of the family,
because we can only continue SISTAG’s success story
together, with mutual trust.
Manuel Schmidlin completed his apprenticeship as a poly-mechanic technician at SISTAG with honours and a grade of 5.6 in 2014.“I decided to take my apprenticeship at SISTAG, because the training programme
at this company is very well-regarded everywhere and because I very much enjoy
working as a poly-mechanic. I think that this training is a good foundation for my future professional develop-
ment. During my training I always received encouragement and support and I felt, and still feel, very much at
home here because fellowship among employees is highly regarded and fostered. SISTAG supports this by
arranging interesting annual excursions for apprentices and many other events for employees. I just find it
really fun to work here, particularly because I face new challenges every day.”
INTERVIEW
2004 – 2014
In 2014, to coincide with our anniversary year, the
celebrations continue: the
150 000st
VN knife gate valve leaves our plant.
1514
Samuel Sidler represents the third generation at SIS-
TAG. He is currently managing the US subsidiary and
preparing to join the SISTAG management team. Why
does he want this and why is he doing it? You can
read his personal reply here: “When you come from a
family of entrepreneurs with a successful father, grand-
father and great-grandfather, of course you want to claim
this success for yourself too. However, I know that suc-
cess always comes with duties and responsibilities, and
I want to take these on in the sense and spirit of my pre-
decessors. As my father did before me, I also want to
take advantage, for the benefit of SISTAG, of the oppor-
tunities that are opened up by managing a global com-
pany and keep our success story going. Continuing to
preserve our tradition and vision is a great source of mo-
SISTAG AGAlte Kantonsstrasse 76274 Eschenbach, SwitzerlandPhone +41 41 449 9944Fax +41 41 448 [email protected]
Wey Valve Inc.3985 Hwy 6 NorthNettleton, MS 38858, U.S.A.Phone +1 662 963 2020Fax +1 662 963 [email protected]
SISTAG GmbHBahnhofsplatz 1276461 Muggensturm, GermanyPhone +49 7222 7879 790Fax +49 7222 7879 [email protected]
tivation for me, so I will also
stick to the values that have
made SISTAG big: custo-
mer satisfaction, trust in our
employees, a desire to in-
novate and quality without
compromise, plus a great
deal of real Swiss spirit.
These values will continue
to unlock great develop-
ment potential for SISTAG
on the international mar-
ket. Recognising and exploiting this
potential is my personal challenge, as well as securing
our locations in Switzerland, the USA and Germany.”
Looking into the future
North America (USA / Canada)We want to break into the wastewater market here with the new Wey knife gate valve VM and further extend our lead in the oilsands processing sector. We see new environmental requirements in the process industry as a great opportunity for Wey products.
Latin AmericaWe want to achieve a sustained market-opening in the mineral and mining applications sector. We see this as a possible way of gaining a long-term foothold from Mexico to Argentina.
Far East / ChinaWe can supply and equip upcoming manufactu-rers of semi-finished products for the pharma-ceutical and petrochemical industries in this area. The mining industry in various countries of this region offers great potential.
India / Southeast AsiaIn this region, we can support security of supply in the energy and food industries with Wey knife gate valves. Our solutions also provide a high le-vel of operational safety in the steel industry and the production of fertiliser.
Switzerland / Western EuropeWe want to supply custom solutions for complex industrial processes and alternative biogas ener-gy for European plant builders. We have identi-fied expansion opportunities in our home market of Switzerland, particularly in the power sector and steel hydraulic constructions.
… in the future.
Grüezi
Guten TagWelcome
BonjourSaluti
Bun Di
добрый день
Benvenuto
Dzień Dobry Välkommen
Bem-vindoBuen día