IST celebrates its third cowbell

This time, CEO Mirko Lehmann cheered in Portugal. For the third time in a row, Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG was awarded the much saught after cow bell.

This year's GroupCon of the E+H Group was held in Lisbon. The cowbell is the award for the most successful production company within the Endress + Hauser Group, and IST AG received the award for last year's performance. 

The inauguration of the 2019 bell traditionally took place in the Dergeten in Nesslau on the farm of the Bürgler family. Under a clear blue sky the participants celebrated the success over a traditional Swiss farmer luncheon enjoying the last warm days of the year. 

«We are delighted to have won the prize again,» says Mirko Lehmann, CEO, «this would not have been possible without the tireless and courageous dedication of our employees - thanks go first and foremost to them. In recent years they have been challenged to grow and to think and act globally. While more than 30% of sales were generated with Swiss customers about 12 years ago, today they contribute less than 5% to our turnover. We are becoming more and more international with regard to our locations, customers and employees. This is not only essential to continue economical growth but also for recruitment of specialists and for the region to be paying our taxes.»

He adds that IST AG also faces everyday challenges with this internationality in a valley like  the Toggenburg. For example, it is currently hardly possible to accommodate business customers appropriately in Ebnat-Kappel.

Peter Anderegg, CFO, adds: "The year 2019 also looks good. Although we should not praise the day before the evening, we whole workforce will be attending the Brian Adams concert in the Hallenstadion as a staff appreciation event before Christmas. "

2019 a year of celebration
After the grand opening of the extension building in May, the employees in Ebnat-Kappel have settled in well, and the day-to-day business has long since returned. Meanwhile, IST Roznov celebrated its 25th anniversary in September.

The initially two-headed team in the Czech Republic has grown into an SME with 200 employees. Even today, Roznov and Ebnat-Kappel complement one another excellently: While the clean room works are carried out exclusively in Ebnat-Kappel, the two companies share the backend production for temperature and flow sensors. Both companies operate to high standards and are ISO 9001 and 14001 certified. Roznov also has a chemical laboratory that covers all the needs for pastes required for the production of temperature sensors. The R & D department is also constantly working on groundbreaking innovations and is continuously releasing customer-specific sensor innovations.
The 25-year success story was duly celebrated in Roznov last month. After an official ceremony in the presence of the mayor and the entire management of IST AG, the employees and their families celebrated until the morning.

To ensure that the Czech workforce is enjoys the same benefits as the Toggenburg staff, the Swiss management presented a voucher for the establishment of an in-house fitness room as an anniversary gift.

The fitness room as well as the "Design Thinking Room" with views of the Churfirsten is being used extensively in Ebnat-Kappel and will continue to keep employees physically and mentally fit for race for the next trophy.