16 DOING BUSINESS HERE
Doing business here “Our decision to locate in Schaffhausen was based on the strong technological environment and very clear pro-business culture we encountered here.” James McNab, Vice President International Marketing at Sourcefire
Over recent years, Canton Schaffhausen has become the location of choice for very many international businesses. Among the long list of companies which have established a headquarters, a shared service center or a production facility here, you will find: AGCO, Ashland, Citrix, ConvaTec, DSM, Garmin, John Deere, Kennametal, OBI, Tektronix, TE Connectivity, Tyco International, Unilever or Xylem. Schaffhausen’s new arrivals value the exceptional quality of life, proximity to the airport, the expertise of service providers used to dealing with the EU and the moderate cost of living and of running a business by comparison with the overall Zurich area. Combined with very reasonable tax rates and innovative tax planning options, these benefits represent a compelling case and underline Schaffhausen’s attractiveness as a strategic business location. Moreover, when your business needs to expand its recruitment pipeline, the short distances to southern Germany and other parts of the Zurich area mean you have ready access to additional capacity.
Economic structure The most important sectors in Schaffhausen’s economy are plant and machinery engineering, automation, process control equipment, plastics and mold-making, packaging technology, pharmaceutical products, medicinal technology and instruments, food and drink production, electronics, research & development, chemicals, watches and jewelry, specialist printing machines, business consultancy and consulting engineers, software development and IT services. Around 13 percent of all employees work in businesses with over 250 staff, with the remaining 87 percent working in small and medium size companies.
Examples of international companies which have opted for Schaffhausen: ADAMA Agriculture Agrochemical Products, HQ Europe
Aliancys AG Speciality chemicals, HQ Europe
Tektronix Measuring Equipment, Shared Service Center
AGCO International Agricultural Equipment, HQ Europe
Garmin GPS Products, Headquarters
Terex Global Construction Equipment, HQ Europe
Albany International Supplier to the paper industry, HQ Europe
Groupon Social Commerce, HQ Europe
TE Connectivity Electronic Products
Ashland Speciality chemicals, HQ Europe
John Deere Agricultural Machinery, Shared Service Center
Cabot International Chemical products, HQ Europe
Kennametal Europe Hard Metal Tooling, HQ Europe
Unilever Supply Chain Company Consumer Goods, Supply Chain Center
Citrix System International Software, HQ EMEA
Medtronic Pharmaceutical/Medical Technology
Werner Ladders, HQ Europe
ConvaTec Int. Services Medicinal Technologies, HQ Europe
Pentair Flow Control Technology Products, HQ Europe
Xylem Europe Water Technology, HQ Europe
Tyco Fire & Security GmbH Fire, Security