Access
Login/Register
Supplier Login
By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio
Fritz Studer AG's annual press conference took place in Steffisburg in front of international media representatives under the motto “Swiss Made.” International Metalworking News for Asia was among the over 80 press representatives from more than 20 countries who attended the annual press conference.
But how different was this press conference from previous years? And what was the meaning behind the rather unexpected program elements — a Show Fight of traditional Swiss wrestling and even wall climbing — woven into a highly technical industrial event?
To someone not adept at recognising signals, one might simply see them as entertainment. But in reality, every element reflected the message STUDER wanted to convey: stability, strength, discipline, endurance, and mastery — the very attributes behind Swiss precision grinding.
Swiss Made – From Material to Mindset
Coined with their motto Swiss Made, this year’s press conference demonstrated that STUDER machines are 100% Swiss engineered — starting from the foundation: the machine base made of Granitan®.
For 50 years, machine bases made of Granitan have formed the backbone of reliable STUDER precision in cylindrical grinding. Unlike conventional grey cast iron, this mineral casting material offers significantly superior damping behaviour, thermal stability, and long-term dimensional accuracy.
Granitan absorbs vibrations about fifteen times better than grey cast iron, ensuring that even the slightest oscillations — which could compromise surface quality in cylindrical grinding — are eliminated. It also exhibits outstanding thermal characteristics, allowing consistent precision even in environments with temperature fluctuations.
During the press conference, this was not merely presented as technical data. It was positioned as a symbol of Swiss engineering philosophy: build from a strong, stable foundation — and everything else follows.
Just as Swiss wrestling requires solid footing and balance before power can be applied, precision grinding demands a machine base that guarantees stability before microns can be controlled.
A Company Stronger Despite Global Uncertainty
CEO Sandro Bottazzo addressed the global media candidly: 2025 was marked by challenging markets and geopolitical uncertainties, yet STUDER exceeded expectations and strengthened its global position.
Despite slightly lower overall sales compared to the previous year, strong year-end performance and growth in machine orders reinforced market confidence. Particularly noteworthy was the strong response in Asia — especially China — as well as solid performance in North America despite customs challenges.
The aerospace industry emerged as the largest single segment for the first time, accounting for nearly one-third of all orders. This alone underscores STUDER’s positioning in high-precision, safety-critical applications.
The message was clear: Swiss Made does not mean static. It means resilient, adaptable, and globally competitive.
The S23 – Precision in a Compact Form
A highlight of the conference was the presentation of the newly launched S23 universal cylindrical grinding machine, unveiled to the global market at EMO 2025.
The S23 offers high precision, flexibility, and modern grinding technology in a compact footprint. Built on a Granitan machine base and powered by the modern C.O.R.E. hardware and software architecture, the S23 represents the next evolution of STUDER’s grinding expertise.
Its automatic B-axis with 1° Hirth coupling allows up to three grinding tools, increasing versatility in a single clamping operation. Features such as contact detection, semi-automatic balancing, and optional in-process measuring systems ensure consistent, high-quality results.
More importantly, the S23 bridges entry-level and premium segments, making advanced Swiss grinding technology accessible to a broader range of customers.
In many ways, the S23 encapsulates the “Swiss Made” promise: compact yet powerful, precise yet flexible, technologically advanced yet practical.
Strength, Endurance, Mastery – The Symbolism of the Show Fight
Why Swiss wrestling? Why wall climbing?
Swiss wrestling (Schwingen) is a traditional sport rooted deeply in Swiss heritage. It emphasizes controlled strength, balance, respect for opponents, and technical mastery over brute force. Victory is achieved not through aggression, but through technique refined over years.
Wall climbing, meanwhile, symbolises endurance, upward progress, and calculated movement — one misstep can mean failure.
These symbolic activities reflected STUDER’s philosophy:
•Strength – embodied in Granitan and machine rigidity
•Precision – mirrored in the technical control required in both sports
•Endurance – demonstrated by 114 years of company history
•Continuous Climb – represented by innovation and global expansion
The message was subtle but powerful: STUDER’s success is not accidental. It is built on discipline, heritage, and constant striving for higher performance.
Innovation Beyond Machines
Beyond product launches, the company emphasized operational transformation. Investments in production and logistics included a fully automated small parts warehouse with 32 autonomous robots and 16,000 containers, significantly enhancing efficiency.
Digitalisation is also accelerating. The C.O.R.E. Release 5.0 now enables direct access to the manufacturer-independent customer portal from the machine interface, offering live status updates of the machine park.
This integration of mechanical precision with digital intelligence reinforces STUDER’s positioning as not just a traditional machine builder, but a forward-looking technology provider.
Investing in the Future – Dual Training as a Strategic Pillar
One of the most striking insights from the conference was STUDER’s unwavering commitment to dual vocational training.
Around ten percent of the workforce are trainees — a remarkable figure that highlights long-term thinking. The company offers eight EFZ apprenticeship programs, including automation engineer and polymechanic.
What makes this even more unique is the specialised qualification in grinding technology, a program that is unique in Switzerland. Apprentices are trained under real production conditions and even participate in prestigious competitions, such as SwissSkills and WorldSkills.
This emphasis on cultivating skilled talent aligns perfectly with the Swiss Made philosophy: precision machines require precision people.
A Stable Foundation for 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, STUDER expects economic recovery to continue into 2026, supported by strong order intake and positive market response to the S23.
Strategic investments in innovation, infrastructure, and workforce development will remain priorities.
The press conference in Steffisburg was therefore more than a financial review. It was a carefully curated narrative — one that blended heritage, technology, symbolism, and strategic direction.
Final Reflections
As an attendee from South East Asia, what stood out most was the consistency of message and execution. The “Swiss Made” motto was not used as marketing decoration. It was demonstrated — through materials like Granitan, through the precision of the S23, through digital innovation, through workforce development, and even through symbolic cultural elements.
To someone not adept at recognising signals, the wrestling match and wall climbing might have seemed unrelated to grinding machines.
But for those who read between the lines, the message was unmistakable:
Swiss precision is not merely engineered —it is trained, refined, stabilised, and continuously elevated.
And in Steffisburg, at the foot of the Swiss Alps, that philosophy was on full display.