Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG dedicates new building

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG has invested more than 14 million Swiss francs in its new headquarters in Ebnat-Kappel, Switzerland. The new building offers nearly 100 employees of the high-tech company a modern work environment, ensuring the production, development, sales and administration departments can work efficiently.

IST AG develops, manufactures and markets world-class sensors for measuring temperature, humidity, mass flow and conductivity. These high-quality products are used in a broad range of applications such as HVAC, medical technology, process automation and aerospace. The company, with more than 160 employees in Ebnat-Kappel, Switzerland, Roznov, Czech Republic, and Las Vegas, USA, manufactures more than ten million sensors annually and sells them on all five continents. “We are a global company to the core,” emphasizes Managing Director Dr Mirko Lehmann.

Added flexibility in development and manufacturing

IST AG specializes in sensors based on thin-film deposition. “The production processes place high demands on the work flow and the infrastructure,” explains Dr Jörn Lützen, member of the management board and head of the new building construction project. “This new, dedicated facility provides the ideal conditions for meeting these challenges.” Roughly half of the 5,000-square-meter floor space is reserved for production and development with 800 square meters set aside for the clean room. “Because the presence of even the tiniest impurities makes it impossible for us to manufacture sensors with micrometer precision, an absolutely pure environment is essential,” adds Jörn Lützen.

Given that IST AG boasts around 4,000 different products and adds more than 200 new ones each year, the Managing Director emphasizes that “the new production facilities increase our flexibility.” Last but not least, the expansion allows the company to drive the development of new products such as biosensors or sensors for gas analysis. “We have a reputation for quickly understanding what the customer wants and tackling and rapidly implementing new developments. This calls for effective communication between all of the departments, which the new building facilitates thanks to a creative interior design,” says Mirko Lehmann.

A visible commitment to the region

IST AG shared rented premises with other companies in the adjacent community of Wattwill until 2012. The operation was spread over several floors. Managing Director Mirko Lehmann felt it was important for the company to remain in eastern Switzerland. “Apart from the fact that most of our employees live here in the region of Toggenburg, the new building is in a very beautiful, quiet and natural setting that motivates us to be even more productive while attracting job seekers. Our business partners also enjoy visiting us.”

IST AG celebrated the dedication of the new facility on 6 September 2013 in the presence of numerous guests. The three-story building was erected in less than 18 months. More than half of the investment for the construction of the building went to regional companies. The third-floor cafeteria features a glass façade with a magnificent view of the Churfirsten mountain range, part of the eastern Swiss Alps and landmark of the Toggenburg area. Mirko Lehmann: “This region still has tremendous potential for continued growth.”