Jubiläumsbuch 100-Jahre EN by SCHNEEBERGER AG

A LINEAR CENTURY. FROM SHARPENER TO LINEAR BEARING

A CENTURY OF PRECISION, INNOVATION AND RELIABILITY.

To facilitate readability, the texts in this book do not use male and female pronouns at the same time. Instead, the authors have tried to use a neutral form or to alternate between genders.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

CONTENTS.

Foreword

How it all began

Expansions and first exports

Changes in the 1950s and 1960s

Farewell and a new start

New paths and strategies

A milestone, the Monorail

Linear into the new millennium

Global expansion, global strategy

Walter Schneeberger, founder and pioneer

A brand that conquered the world

What unites us and unifies us

A truly special relationship

Visionary approaches, a daring look ahead

Guideways and the faces behind them

Foundings and company names

The chronology in photos

Acknowledgments | Impressum

100

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

FOREWORD

HUNDRED YEARS OF HIGHEST PRECISION. In 2023, the SCHNEEBERGER Group is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its company history. The company can celebrate this historic milestone thanks to the continuous further development of the company and the expertise of all of its employees. The company’s unique journey began in 1923 when Walter Schneeberger founded a machine workshop at Dorfstrasse 9 in Roggwil. Right at the beginning, he and his employees launched a first sharpener that could be used to grind wood milling cutters and blades, among other things. More grinding and woodworking machines were soon developed, which were sold in Switzerland and even exported abroad. The devices and machines sold very successfully in various countries, and further sites had to be purchased for the production area due to the high demand. The company grew, and when carbide tools were launched on the market in the 1940s, Schneeberger once again demonstrated its inventive spirit. To be able to grind these new types of tools, the company developed its own smoothly running slides with preloaded roller guideways. That was the actual beginning of extremely precise linear bearings. As a company, SCHNEEBERGER has always placed great importance on the highest precision and innovation. In 1948, it was therefore a logical step to continue these revolutionary linear guideways as an independent product line. But this was not the only business field that had potential. New products such as machines for the graphic arts industry and for processing lenses were also successful-

ly launched on the market. After 30 years, in 1953 it was time to transfer the company from a sole proprietorship to a family-owned stock company. Over the years, a small workshop had become a globally active company. In 1988,

As a company, SCHNEEBERGER has always placed great importance on the highest precision and reliability.

SCHNEEBERGER had a total of around 400 employees in the sharpening machine, linear technology and woodworking business units. The newly founded company J. SCHNEEBERGER Maschinen AG finally took over the field of sharpening machines in 1989, so that SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik could focus entirely on linear technology. And with 1,400 employees now working in the group, this work is sure to be continued with passion beyond the 100th anniversary. Hans-Martin Schneeberger

A LINEAR CENTURY

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

Although the machines and devices were somewhat unwieldy at the beginning, they gradually became more and more sophisticated. One of the first «trial grinding machines» from the founding year 1923 (left), the model BS, the first «official» sharpener from 1924 (bottom center) and a double-sided grinding machine from 1927 (right) – with the WS logo (for Walter Schneeberger) on the base.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

Walter Schneeberger (right) and his apprentice mechanic Guido Hofer in the barn in Roggwil that had been converted into a workshop.

On Thursday, March 1, 1923, the time had come: The «Mechanical Workshop Schneeberger» chapter began in the rear part of the house at Dorfstrasse 9 in Roggwil in the canton of Bern in a barn that had been converted into a workshop. After the death of his father a year before, Walter Schneeberger took the leap into self-employment with a thousand Swiss francs – saved as a reserve for the first three months of the start-up phase.

He had already invested 8,000 Swiss francs in the workshop and setting up his business in his father-in-law’s house. Thanks to a loan from his bank, he now had a lathe, two drilling machines, a planing and lubricating gel machine as well as a forge and an anvil for forging. The machines were powered by a transmission drive, which made work much easier. Leather belts transferred the energy directly to the required machines and centrally drove them.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

SCHNEEBERGER began in 1923 with a lathe, two drilling machines, a planing and lubricating gel machine as well as a forge and an anvil.

At first, the young entrepreneur wanted to focus on sharpening devices for milling tools. He saw great potential in this as well as the future of his workshop. For seven years, he had built up his self-confidence as a fitter, toolmaker and department foreman at MABAG Maschinenbau AG in Langenthal, where he gained the finishing touches for his move to self-employment. Now the time had come for his own ideas. First apprentice, first sharpener Two months after the business started, the young Guido Hofer joined the company on May 1st as the workshop's first apprentice mechanic . Guided by Walter Schneeberger himself, Hofer carried out minor repairs for tradesmen, farmers and local industrial enterprises. In fall 1923, a larger volume of collets and drill chucks were produced for August Turgi-Frei in Brugg in the canton of Aargau. This order and other orders for the first, simpler devices made it possible to hire Mr. Bösch as the first worker in 1924. Challenged by the demand of wood specialists for sharpening options for their tools, Schneeberger finally completed his first «milling cutter sharpening device» in February 1924. The Model BS, as they called it, was taken over by H. Wagner-Honegger, which also produced machinery for the wood industry in Olten. Wagner-Honegger was primarily known for moulding machines, band saws and circular saws. The company paid 120 Swiss francs for the Model BS. After thorough testing, Wagner-Honegger sold it to Kiefer in Otelfingen in the northwestern part of the canton of Zurich.

SCHNEEBERGER started here at Dorfstrasse 9 in Roggwil in 1923. Below is the rental agreement between Walter Schneeberger and his father-in-law, Jakob Grütter.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The workshop thrives The still small mechanical workshop in tranquil Roggwil got its first major job with an order for twelve more Model BS devices from H. Wagner-Honegger in Olten. This laid the foundation for a growing manufacturing program. Walter Schneeberger’s workshop became increasingly well-known as a supplier for wood specialists and remained the sole manufacturer of this specific woodworking equipment for around 15 years. Walter Schneeberger was an inventive genius, and his employees were extremely capable. So it was hardly surprising that by the following year they already had a first machine for grinding milling cutters and moulding blades for sale and also supplied them, among other things, to the Bally shoe factories in Schönenwerd.

The Model BS, the first sharpening device from the mechanical workshop, from 1924.

Walter Schneeberger was an inventive genius, and his employees were extremely capable.

Represented at a trade fair for the first time Additional orders and development steps for machines and equipment followed, and the workshop soon had to be expanded. A second apprentice also began his training in 1926 and a company car, a Ford, had to be purchased. On April 14, 1928, the 12th Swiss Sample Fair in Basel («MUBA») opened its doors. The first presentation of products from SCHNEEBERGER’s product range resulted in extremely important contacts for the prospering workshop. The booth at «MUBA» was designed and operated in collaboration with Mr. Wagner from Wagner-Honegger, Olten. He was also the person who made contact with Fischer-Süffert in Basel and Mr. Willy Fischer. It was an important step in the company’s history, as it turned out. Like Wagner-Honegger, Fisch-

One of the first large grinding machines, from around 1925.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

The children Rosmarie, Walter and Hans helped with painting in «piecework». er-Süffert was a company that offered special machines for the wood industry. The company's customer base was larger and they had, among other things, moulding machines with high-speed special engines. Further expansion and «piecework» As part of the expansion of the range, Treumund Schweizer first joined the Walter Schneeberger team as a shareholder, then as a worker. Just six years after it was founded,

the workshop had to be expanded once again. A new car, this time a Fiat, provided urgently needed, valuable services. In addition, Rudolf Schneeberger joined the team as an additional worker who learned the craft of turning. As the next expansion of the product range, Fischer-Süffert commissioned the production of knothole drilling machines and finally the first milling cutter grinding machine with wet grinding was also constructed in 1929. In the following year, the company received a request for school desk couplings, which were executed and painted with brushes by the three children Rosmarie, Walter and Hans as «piecework». Even back then, the children from the family were involved. An official general representative Cooperation with the Basel-based company Fischer-Süffert had continually intensified since the first meeting at «MUBA» in 1928. The close ties with Willy Fischer in particular were an important factor for the positive business development of SCHNEEBERGER products. The joint and congruent strategies in the development and sales promotion ultimately led to Fischer-Süffert becoming the official general representative for all SCHNEEBERGER products in 1932.

This is roughly what the «MUBA» trade fair appearances of Walter Schneeberger Maschinenbau, Roggwil/Bern, looked like. This photo dates from 1948.

WIE ALLES BEGANN

1923 - 1928

One of the first milling cutter sharpening machines with dividing head. Photo from around 1927.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

EXPANSIONS AND FIRST EXPORTS. After the order situation had developed very well due to the good work of the general representative under Willy Fischer and demand from customers, the company ventured to make its first exports to nearby countries. This was despite the global economic crisis, which began in October 1929 with the stock market crash in New York, but was just making itself felt in Switzerland. 1934 can therefore be designated as the start of the SCHNEEBERGER Group’s export business. In that year, Walter Schneeberger visited the Leipzig trade fair with Willy Fischer as general representative and succeeded in making the first machine exports – with impressive products and arguments. The first deliveries were made to France and Leipzig.

The year 1934 can be designated as the start of export business.

America, but the upturn was also more modest. The crisis in Switzerland finally reached its lowest point in 1932 with persistently high unemployment. The textile, metal and watch industries as well as the mechanical engineering field were particularly affected.

Rudolf Schneeberger moved for nine months to the company Gugelmann in the Brunnmatt. Employment and demand also remained stagnant in 1935. This prompted employee Rudolf Schneeberger to move from the mechanics workshop in the village center to the Gugelmann company with around 1,500 employees at the time in Roggwiler Brunnmatt, where he worked for nine months.

The production of the Czech dovetail milling machines for Fischer-Süffert was also taken over under license, and the HN-2 milling cutter sharpening machine was redesigned as one of the many expansions and further developments. Economic crisis and financial hardship Although the global economic crisis early on affected the export economy, it developed slightly differently in Switzerland than in the other countries. The economy collapsed less drastically here than in Germany or North Rudolf Schneeberger in the workshop at the rotary table.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

Active sales promotion took place with advertisements, such as this one for the Model H milling cutter sharpening machine.

After the crisis, before the war In a time between economic and war-related political uncertainty, SCHNEEBERGER continued to expand its product range and pursued a variety of further developments. Thanks to active sales promotion from the general representative Fischer-Süffert, the company managed to export machines and equipment from rural Roggwil to major countries such as England, France and Italy.

From 1936 onward, the economic recovery progressed slowly, and the devaluation of the Swiss franc brought about an increase in orders relatively quickly. Deflation continued to restrain consumption and purchasing decisions, but the competitiveness of Swiss companies increased noticeably. Despite the slowly recovering economic situation, SCHNEEBERGER found itself in financial difficulties, since the assets of Wagner-Honegger in Olten had to be covered. The value at the time amounted to around 5,000 Swiss francs and was to be paid by Walter Schneeberger. After some back and forth, Willy Fischer, as general representative, was willing to pay the sum and meet the financial obligation. It should be noted that Fischer-Süffert itself had lost around 30,000 Swiss francs from business in Germany due to the devaluation.

Thanks to active sales promotion, Roggwil machines could be exported to England, France and Italy. The cooperation with Albert Köberle from the Gebrüder Köberle company in Zurich-Oerlikon began in 1937, for which the DUKO and GEMA machine types were developed and built two years later. Elektromotorenbau AG in Birsfelden was also an important customer. Large-scale lathe work could be carried out for the company in 1938. This work was an integral part of the order situation for the mechanical workshop until 1950. Walter Schneeberger Jr. joined the company in 1938 and began an apprenticeship as a mechanic. Mobilization and export blockades In the midst of the turmoil surrounding the impending World War, Walter Schneeberger managed to buy the property on St. Urbans-

EXPANSIONS AND FIRST EXPORTS

The development of the SN sharpening machine marked the beginning of the era of the company's own longitudinal guideways. The first longitudinal guideways for '«linear movements»: shown and described as such in an advertisement from 1945/46.

trasse 2 in Roggwil in 1939. A workshop was set up for the production of special woodworking machines in a former garage and production was expanded. However, the founder did not have much time to set it up, as the Swiss Federal Council called for the general military mobilization of the Swiss Army on September 2, 1939. Walter Schneeberger took over as commander of the war fire department in Roggwil. The first direct exports of machinery to the Castellani company in Italy could still be completed in 1940, before an export blockade two years later made it impossible to trade with foreign companies. Although Switzerland remained protected from a military standpoint and remained one of the few still functioning democratic constitutional countries, the Second World War also left permanent traces.

The start of the guide rails Before the surrender in May 1945 finally heralded the end of the Second World War, Ernst Pfister joined SCHNEEBERGER as a designer and technician on January 1, 1945. As the son-in-law of the company founder, he was a member of the immediate family who was passionate about continuing along the path already embarked on. His wife Rosmarie Schneeberger also began her time in the mechanical workshop as an accountant and provided extremely valuable services. 20 people were working in the company at the time, and the development of the SN sharpening machine with its own built-in longitudinal guides was to become a formative period.

Relationship to the wider world The Second World War was the bloodiest conflict in history and cost around 50 million lives. Although Switzerland was completely surrounded by powers at war in the fall of 1942, it was largely spared damage. However, the situation did not return to normal until the complete lifting of rationing was announced in 1948.

EXPANSIONS AND FIRST EXPORTS

The new machine factory building with the adjoining office from the perspective of the still green surroundings.

New workshop, new material Since many cities had to be rebuilt after the end of the Second World War, the availability of cement and iron for reinforcements was limited. Despite these difficulties, the company managed to complete a workshop with an adjacent office area in 1946 – as the first new building on the company premises on St. Urbanstrasse, some of which are still used today. The machine factory was moved precisely on October 1st at a cost amounting to around 100,000 Swiss francs.

Putting their own ideas into practice After the war, many tools in the machine and tool industry were manufactured from carbide and wet-ground with diamond grinding wheels. This in turn resulted in machines with smooth-running slides that ensured the necessary precision: This marked the birth of industrial roller guideways, as it were. After the Köberle brothers were able to place larger export orders for sharpening machines to England and Italy in 1947, the following year saw the start of production of longitudinal guideways according to customer drawings. However, Walter Schneeberger and his team wanted to put their own ideas for guideways into practice and therefore brought Max Nägeli, the company's first machine designer, into the workshop in Roggwil in 1948 as an apprentice.

In 1946, the company moved into the first new building on the company premises on St. Urbanstrasse. Carbide had been introduced in 1927 primarily for cutting tools under the name «Widia», an abbreviation of the German «wie Diamant» (like diamond, referring to the hardness). But the sintered material made of tungsten carbide and cobalt didn't achieve its real breakthrough as a material until later.

Max Nägeli, the first machine designer apprentice in SCHNEEBERGER’s history, at his desk in 1948.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

In addition to the various machines for the wood industry, the guide rails were also further developed as a new sales branch.

Not only did the export business flourish again with the reconstruction after the war, deliveries within Switzerland also increased. Walter Schneeberger Jr. returned to his father’s company as a trained mechanical engineer and took over management of the company from then on. In addition to the various machines for the wood industry, he, together with Ernst Pfister and his team, then also had to further develop the guide rails for the tool industry as a new branch of sales. However, the product range of the still relatively small workshop from Roggwil was now so broad that it was promoted with its own booth at the Basel Sample Fair («MUBA») in 1948. And in 1949, Mr. Ehrbar became the first in-house sales representative to be hired, at the time still referred to as a «traveling sales representative».

An anecdote from this time At that time, the workshop of Walter Schneeberger already had such a good reputation in «mechanics circles» that people often contacted us with unsolicited applications. In December 1946, for example, Rudolf Ammann from Roggwil wrote the company owner a card asking to start an apprenticeship as a lathe operator. He promised to attend the vocational school in Langenthal and «learn as well as any time before». This was an important hint for the boss, as Mr. Ammann was already 65 years old.

Walter Schneeberger (left, top photo) in front of the entrance to the new office. The machine factory was located just around the corner (lower photo).

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

CHANGES IN THE 1950S AND 1960S.

A sharpener with the «WS» logo for Walter Schneeberger, Roggwil. On the right is the 1950 trading license, which was amended by hand on January 1, 1953 with the conversion into a stock company. However, the fee of 9.50 Swiss francs remained the same.

The 1950s were all about change, as there was a lot to make up for after a decade of war and deprivation. Doris Day sang «Que Sera, Sera», while the women wore trendy petticoats. SCHNEEBERGER also had to make some adjustments due to the gratifying order situation. The next steps were to convert the company into a stock company and to set up a pension fund foundation. In 1950, three years before this change in legal form, Max Schneeberger joined the company as a foreman and Hans Schneeberger as

a trader. The latter was appointed as head of the commercial department and was joined by Verena Lüdi, the first «office apprentice». Commercial concerns, new advertising measures with advertisements in various magazines and an increased presence abroad were at the top of the list of priorities.

The conversion into a stock company was added to the trading license by hand.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

There were only a few meters between the residential building (left) and the office: founder Walter Schneeberger (far left) together with his wife Rosa (center), Hans Schneeberger (3rd from left), Ernst Pfister (far right) and guests.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

SCHNEEBERGER’s Pension Fund Foundation was established over thirty years before the Swiss-wide introduction of compulsory occupational pensions. Orders for various machines for the graphic arts industry could be started in production. These were to continue into 1956. New designs of various tried-and-tested grinding machines were also implemented and successfully launched on the market. From sole proprietorship to stock company The 30th anniversary went hand in hand with a change in legal form: The sole proprietorship W. Schneeberger, Maschinenbau was converted into the family-run stock company «W. SCHNEEBERGER A.G., Maschinenfabrik» on January 1, 1953. Over the thirty years of previous business activity, it had become apparent that, although grinding equipment and machines formed an important pillar of production, the growing know-how was continuously opening up new sales markets. In addition to contract work, series-produced special machines, machines for the optics industry, shoe production and the construction industry were also manufactured in the 1950s.

Provisions for employees and space SCHNEEBERGER’s Pension Fund Foundation was established in 1954 with the aim of ensuring that employees could continue their «usual standard of living» even in retirement and providing support in emergencies resulting through no fault of their own. This provision was put in place more than thirty years before the introduction of compulsory occupational pensions in Switzerland. Although this was enshrined in the Constitution in 1972, it was not implemented definitively until 1985. SCHNEEBERGER thus also played a pioneering role in this field. The savings that the employees and the company accumulated together in the foundation also made it possible to establish an insurance policy that covered the risk of premature death of a married employee. The money was also used to buy two

The growing expertise continuously opened up new sales markets. Different challenges were often placed on the products, which SCHNEEBERGER met with skilled employees and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Despite all this, the company’s constant growth was only ensured by its own brands and the systematic further development of the guide rails. These patent-protected longitudinal guideways brought groundbreaking innovations.

CHANGES IN THE 1950S AND 1960S.

Many important decisions in Roggwil were made in Bären, the restaurant directly facing the company’s premises.

apartment buildings with 13 apartments that could be lived in by employees of the company. In 1961, the foundation finally acquired land on Platanenweg in Roggwil, where a total of four residential buildings were built and made available to employees as rental apartments at fair prices. The workshop on St. Urbanstrasse, which the company only moved into in 1946, already had to be expanded. In addition to other orders such as the manufacture of shoe last and heel copying machines, the construction of special machines for the carpet industry also required great flexibility and even more space beginning in 1955.

Please smile: The SCHNEEBERGER booth crew at the International Factory Equipment Exhibition in November 1961 in London, England.

Presence at trade fairs and abroad The International Factory Equipment Exhibition that took place in London on November 13 - 18, 1961 was not the first trade fair where SCHNEEBERGER’s sales team outdid themselves with the presentation of products and devices. Back in 1958, a team attended the Hanover trade fair for the first time and presented interested customers with the wide range of possibilities offered by «W. Schneeberger A.G. from Roggwil/Bern, Switzerland». The first participation in the European Machine Tool Exhibition in Paris was also an important step in the company’s chronology. SCHNEEBERGER presented the further de-

Number of employees on February 22, 1964 Persons

in the company 100 among them, foreign workers 6 Apprentices Machine fitters 5 Lathe operators 3 Mechanics 3 Machine draftsmen 3 Businessmen 4 Total apprentices 18

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

«The company's return on investment lies in the cutting edge of the tool.»

veloped longitudinal guideways there as a «world first», so to speak, and was able to establish and deepen important contacts. Due to the increased presence abroad, a large order for shoe last duplicating lathes was received from Boston, one of the oldest cities in the U.S., in 1959. Storage areas and subsidiaries After Ludwig Striebig’s «Model 62» panel saw from Littau in the canton of Lucerne was made ready for series production, SCHNEEBERGER took over the general representation of all Striebig circular panel saws in 1962. This required an expansion of the sales team as well as the next expansion of the workshop, warehouse and office space in Roggwil. The co-op warehouse, which had already been purchased in 1961, followed two years later by the barn on St. Urbanstrasse, were extended and expanded. These investments proved to be the right choice over the years. The prevailing optimism at the topping-out ceremony of the extension building on May 17, 1963 was therefore completely appropriate. Although taking part in the machine tool exhibition in Paris was a novelty for the SCHNEEBERGER Group in 1959, it paid off. The longitudinal guideways and other machines presented there resulted in brisk demand for products from Roggwil. This demand required a local infrastructure, and the company decided to establish a French subsidiary, SCHNEEBERGER SA, in Paris in 1964. With this «dépendance», founder Walter Schnee-

The Model HD, the double-sided wood sander from 1960 (top) and optimistic faces at the topping-out ceremony of the extension building in May 1963.

berger was able to create something approaching «peace» between himself and the French-speaking world, as he had always had difficulties with the French language. Longitudinal guideways from the Black Forest While the subsidiary in France was founded primarily in response to the high demand

CHANGES IN THE 1950S AND 1960S.

A small team started in the Köhler family’s home (left) before moving on to Schleifmühleweg 11 (right) in 1967.

in the Paris area, the reasons for a branch in Germany were somewhat more complex. Thanks to an intensive exchange with Ortwin Köhler and the locally respected expertise of his team in Neuenbürg, the SCHNEEBERGER team saw a way to manufacture the longitudinal guideways for the German market. Another supporting argument was that German employees worked extremely conscientiously and precisely.

The Black Forest seemed like the right place to produce longitudinal guideways for the German market.

Hans and Walter SCHNEEBERGER, Ernst Pfister and Ortwin Köhler founded SCHNEEBERGER GmbH in Neuenbürg in the beautiful Black Forest in 1965. The first offices were occupied on Wildbader Strasse 169 at the home of the Köhler family, and the initial production work started at the same time. Even though

the nearby river Enz was flooded by snowmelt and storms and the company’s cellars were flooded, these natural occurrences did not succeed in stopping the positive development. The increasing demand even forced Managing Director Otto Haller to install two grinding machines on his own premises. Until this point, the grinding work had been carried out by external partners, but supply bottlenecks now forced the company to carry out this work itself. As the results of these trials were so satisfactory, the decision was made to grind the longitudinal guideways in-house from then on. The death of the founder Sadly, the many changes in the 1950s and 1960s also included the death of company founder Walter Schneeberger. In the midst of the prosperous business operations and the positive development of the sales figures came the news that the founder had passed away at the age of 78, during his stay at a health resort in Acquarossa in Ticino.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

FAREWELL AND A NEW START. The death of Walter Schneeberger in 1968 didn't just greatly affect his own family. A large number of employees and business partners also bid an emotional farewell to the company founder. The move to the new factory hall and the adjacent office building in Roggwil was therefore both a farewell and a new start in the same year. He had achieved and initiated a great deal, survived some difficult times and proved to be a great inventive genius: As a company, SCHNEEBERGER owes the start in the converted barn on Dorfstrasse as well as numerous pioneering measures to Walter Schneeberger. The company founder died in 1968 at the age of 78 and left his wife, daughter and two sons as well as a company that ventured into new premises after the death of its founder.

The company owes many great pioneering achievements to Walter Schneeberger.

New construction of factory hall and office building At the latest with the special supplement headed in larged letters in the Langenthaler Tagblatt newspaper on March 11, 1969, it was clear: Maschinenfabrik W. Schneeberger AG was committed to the Roggwil site and invited the public to an open house.

W. Schneeberger AG was committed to Roggwil. The reason for this special edition of the newspaper with the invitation to visit the premises was the construction of the new workshop for longitudinal guideways and the glass pavilion on St. Urbanstrasse in Roggwil that was also

The new workshop (top) and, in the photo on the right, the then state-of-the-art office pavilion. Top: Company founder Walter Schneeberger.

FAREWELL AND A NEW START

At the time, the single-story new office building was one of the most state-ofthe-art glass buildings in Switzerland. completed in 1968. With a floor area measuring roughly 30 by 45 meters, the new workshop not only offered the possibility of using a crane system with a load capacity of up to five tons but also the opportunity to make the production of the longitudinal guideways much more efficient. The single-story new office building next to the hall – at the time one of the most modern glass buildings in Switzerland – was also a real bonus. With its openplan office design, it was possible to work across departments on a single floor. The designers drew detailed plans in the same room in which administrative employees had to endure the noise of typewriters and telephones ringing, separated only by low cabinets and flower arrangements and connected with a continuous dark red carpet. Successfully leading the way worldwide The focus on the production of longitudinal guideways proved to be the right decision,

necessitating the purchase of the old bakery on Brennofenstrasse in Roggwil in 1970, which was converted into storage space. This was because space for intermediate storage of semi-finished products and individual parts was very much in demand and important for seamless completion of the products and machines. While the export share of the extremely gratifying guide rail segment was still around 70 percent in 1964, this figure rose continuously in the 1970s. Thanks to the increasingly wellknown guarantee of maximum precision from Roggwil in Switzerland and Höfen in Germany, the SCHNEEBERGER Group offices were receiving orders from all over the world. In the course of this development, however, woodworking machines remained an important cornerstone of success. As these machines were in demand, especially in Switzerland and Europe, the company now attempted to open up the market area further.

The Open House in Roggwil on March 1, 1969 provided exciting insights into many work areas of the new workshop.

Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Karl Schiller (center, behind the machine), visited the SCHNEEBERGER booth at the trade fair in Hanover in 1969.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

FAREWELL AND A NEW START

The company attended its first trade fair for woodworking machines outside Europe with its own booth in Louisville, Kentucky in North America, for example. The establishment of «SCHNEEBERGER Italiana» in 1971 was a further step toward a more global approach. This company is still active today in Angera, in Lombardy, directly on Lago Maggiore. Vision and anniversary In Germany, capacity limits were increasingly being reached in Neuenbürg. Supply bottlenecks and the need for weekly relocations left no other choice: A new building had to be built and more space had to be made available immediately. Following a detailed assessment of possible locations in the surrounding area, the excavation work could finally begin in May 1971 in Höfen an der Enz, just six kilometers south. The new production hall with the adjacent offices was opened on Friday, October 27, 1972 and was then used for the production of the various longitudinal guideways.

A new building had to be built and more space had to be made available immediately. One year later, the company moved into the expanded workshop for machine assembly in Roggwil. The focus in 1973, however, was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the SCHNEEBERGER Group. A gold anniversary logo was designed and used to decorate the invitations to the celebration. The celebration itself, to which guests from Germany and abroad

The office and production buildings in Höfen an der Enz on November 29, 1971, when production of the longitudinal guideways was restarted. Below is the gold logo that accompanied the activities in the anniversary year of 1973.

An anecdote from the anniversary year Although the planning of the activities started early in the anniversary year of 1973, some hectic rushing around was unavoidable. The date of the visitor day was printed incorrectly, so a new double page had to be printed and distributed immediately in the village newsletter «Der Roggwiler» – with an invitation inside and two blank pages. It was perhaps due to the additional advertising effect that the visitor day in Roggwil on Saturday, November 24th was so well attended...

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

It was also crucial to remain open to new paths.

were also invited, took place on October 12, 1973 at the Hotel Beatus in Merligen, directly on Lake Thun. Everyone was already in a great mood en route to the celebration on the «Blümlisalp» ship. A 30-page document with information on the departments and products was also created to mark the 50th anniversary. With the guest day on November 23rd and the visitor day on November 24, 1973, the anniversary year came to a very well-attended and fitting conclusion.

On the visitor days in Roggwil (left) and Höfen, the visitors were not only amazed by what they saw, but also laughed at some of the anecdotes from the past.

Celebrating a company anniversary and making it an opportunity to deepen relationships and open doors to the public was certainly important. However, it was also crucial to look ahead and remain open to new paths. So, in 1975, the time was also right for SCHNEEBERGER SA in Paris to move into a new building in Brétigny sur Orge. In France as well, it was important to establish more efficient structures and to make the best possible use of them.

Number of employees on January 1, 1973 in Roggwil, Switzerland Men in the

Hans Schneeberger (far left) and his wife Irene enjoying the 50th anniversary celebration.

company in administration/ in sales part-time Women in administration/ in sales part-time Apprentices 18 men, 5 women Total employees

115 27 2 8 4 23 179

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

FAREWELL AND A NEW START

Established in 1968 and expanded in 1969, the workshop for longitudinal guideways (top right) and the glass pavilion (left next to it), which was also built in 1968, supplement the warehouse (barn behind it) that has been in use since 1963. On the left next to the glass pavilion is the machine factory, which has undergone continuous expansion. At the bottom in the center of this aerial photo from 1969 is the warehouse to the right of the train station and the old bakery (Brennofenstrasse 1B), which was used as storage space as of 1970.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

NEW PATHS AND STRATEGIES. In 1977, one year after Ernst Pfister left the company, it was time to realign the company. The new two managing directors, Walter Schneeberger Jr. and Hans Schneeberger, had great plans for the future. With a joint strategy, they began the radical rebuilding of the company. Over the years, it became clear that a more distinct demarcation of the individual divisions at W. Schneeberger AG was necessary. The tasks and services were too specific, and the markets they needed to serve were too complex and multifaceted. Together with the Board of Directors, the new management decided to tackle a triage of the manufacturing program.

A SCHNEEBERGER sharpening device from 1984.

What was happening at that time Introduction of 16-bit processors In 1979, Intel introduced 16-bit processors, which took on a dominant position in the years that followed thanks to collaboration between Intel, IBM and Microsoft. To make Europe less dependent on American and Asian microelectronics, Siemens launched an ambitious project in 1984, finally bringing a West German megabit memory to production maturity in 1987.

Clear business areas and a holding company The production was initially divided into the areas longitudinal guideways and mechanical engineering. Managing Directors Walter Schneeberger Jr. and Hans Schneeberger, who were each in charge of operations and commercial matters, reorganized the company divisions. They separated the companies into business divisions and assigned joint responsibility for production, sales and administration to designated individuals. Now everyone was clear where to set which priorities and to which area of the company they belonged as an employee. Another important development step was taken in 1980 when the company SCHNEEBERGER Holding AG was founded in Roggwil. All shareholdings in the existing companies – W. SCHNEEBERGER AG in Roggwil, SCHNEEBERGER SA in Brétigny sur Orge, France, SCHNEEBERGER GmbH in Höfen, Germany, and SCHNEEBERGER Italiana S.p.A in An-

NEW PATHS AND STRATEGIES

Walter Schneeberger Jr. (left) and Hans Schneeberger gave the company clearer structures – also in the factory workshops here in Roggwil.

gera near Varese, Italy – were taken over by the new holding company. On December 18, 1980, it was entered in the Swiss commercial register. New buildings and expansions In Höfen, Germany, favorable circumstances made it possible to purchase the previously rented warehouse and take over an adjacent property. As a result, nothing stood in the way of realizing the «H 80» construction project. Together with the architects Glur and Haldimann, Hector Egger, Langenthal, could begin with the construction of the new warehouse and office building as well as the factory conversion. This expansion in the northern Black Forest was of great importance, since it was now possible to produce on around 7,000 square meters and store shipping material. Thus, a truly new era for the production and completion of the longitudinal guideways began. From large to very small In 1983, Hans Schneeberger took over the operational management of the group of com-

In 1980, another important development stepg was taken with the founding of SCHNEEBERGER Holding AG.

In August 1981, a new era began in Höfen with the construction of the new warehouse (right) and office wing (middle) as well as the converted factory workshop (left).

NEW PATHS AND STRATEGIES

From large to very small, from precise to extremely precise.

panies, and Walter Schneeberger Jr. concentrated on the tasks of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. A characteristic feature of this period was that increasingly larger machines could be used to produce increasingly smaller parts. This required very accurate guideways and the highest level of precision in all work processes. New prototypes were also created time and again and often developed further over a longer period of time to series maturity. In 1984, for example, the first «XY tables» for the semiconductor industry was created and one year later – in a pioneering technical role – the first CNC-controlled profile grinding machines. The expansion into new countries was somewhat counter-cyclical in these years. In other words, it didn't go from big to small, but rather vice versa. In 1985, SCHNEEBERGER Inc. was founded in Woburn, Massachusetts in the vast country of America, which was quite different from the small town of Roggwil. On January 1, 1986, SCHNEEBERGER thus replaced the company's local representative in the vicinity of Boston and started its own business activities in the field of linear technology.

The further development of the existing product range continued at a rapid pace.

Rapid development With Hans-Martin Schneeberger as Marketing Manager and Jürg Schneeberger as Technical Manager, the family's third generation joined the company in 1987. Andreas Schneeberger took over the Woodworking division a year later. The further development of the existing product range continued at a rapid pace. The guide rails were constantly being optimized and adapted to other areas of application. Together with a team, Hans-Martin Schneeberger also took the special tables to the next level of development.

Not only was the presentation in a brochure from 1983 perfected, the roller guideways themselves were also hard to beat in terms of precision.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

15 years earlier, in 1969, machine tools still looked like this (top photo). By the fall of 1984, their appearance had completely changed: a copy sharpening machine with a mounted automatic machine (photo on right).

NEW PATHS AND STRATEGIES

A lot was going on, and production rooms and storage areas had to be optimized time and again. In addition to this change, a restructuring of the entire Group began in 1988 in order to make it more clearly organized for the future.

In 1988, a restructuring of the entire group of companies began.

While the three business units, Sharpening Machines, Linear Technology and Woodworking, were still considered the primary fields of activity at the time, the focus in the future was to be on the specific products and markets on the one hand and on the strict separation of ownership and operating conditions on the other. Reorganization of the business divisions Global monetary policy was more restrictive during this period and the global economy

The development of the workforce in Roggwil, Switzerland and Höfen an der Enz, Germany Year Employees in Roggwil Höfen 1923 2 0 1964 100 0 1976 172 36 1996 175 110 2006 216 254 2016 256 415 2019 315 443 2022 366 488

recovered only slowly from the recessionary period of the early 1980s. Despite the somewhat uncertain situation and the looming Gulf War, SCHNEEBERGER opted for a forward strategy. At apress conference on July 1,1989, Walter Schneeberger Jr. and Hans Schneeberger announced the company's new structure, which would take place as of October 1,1989. It provided for a reorganization of the fields of activity and a spin-off of the sharpening machines product line. Maschinenfabrik W. Schneeberger AG and its subsidiaries in France, Germany, Italy and North America were taken over by Hans Schneeberger and his sons Hans-Martin Schneeberger and Andreas Schneeberger. They focused on the Linear Technology and Woodworking business units. The spin-off of the sharpening and grinding machine division led to the establishment of a new company, J. SCHNEEBERGER Maschinen AG. This new company was active on the immediately adjoining premises and was led by Walter Schneeberger Jr. and his son Jürg Schneeberger.

With this new division, the individual divisions were able to develop independently. With this new division, the individual business units were able to develop independently. Ultimately, Walter Schneeberger Jr. stepped down from the Board of Directors of W. Schneeberger AG and Hans Schneeberger became the new president.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

In 1989, J. SCHNEEBERGER Maschinen AG took over the business unit for sharpening machines – on the adjacent company premises in Roggwil.

The J. SCHNEEBERGER Maschinen AG is one of the leading suppliers of stateof-the-art CNC grinding and precision machines.

J. SCHNEEBERGER Maschinen AG SCHNEEBERGER developed and built the first CNC-controlled profile grinding machines in 1985, heralding a new era in tool quality. In 1990, the pioneering 5-axis grinding concept was launched on the market. This outstanding kinematics from Roggwil in the Canton of Bern, revolutionized the tool grinding machine market. Today, the J. SCHNEEBERGER Maschinen AG remains one of the leading suppliers of state-ofthe-art CNC grinding machines and produces precision machines for the global market with the help of 180 employees.  schneeberger.swiss

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

A MILESTONE, THE MONORAIL. The company began the 1990s with the momentum of the realignment and the additional energy from the third family generation. Equally positive was the fact that a product with a wide range of applications and a great future was launched: the Monorail guideway.

What the Monorail guide rail looks like today.

Although SCHNEEBERGER’s first longitudinal guideways were developed for and installed in its own type SN tool sharpening machine back in 1945, the timeline for this innovative product branch began anew in 1991. Although the development of the Monorail began in 1988, it was only with the move to the new workshop areas and office buildings in Roggwil and Höfen that the initial situation was established to optimize production.

Roggwil: on the left, the office building moved into in 1991, and the production hall on the right, which was inaugurated on March 24, 1999.

A MILESTONE, THE MONORAIL

Thanks to the new scheduling of the production plants, the Monorail became a genuine «milestone». Efficient and with optimum initial position The start of series production of a product always requires forward-looking planning and the best possible organization of all processes. Thanks to the new premises along Sankt Urbanstrasse, that became possible in Roggwil, and new opportunities for expeditious work were also created in Höfen. The expansion of the existing workshop, which began in 1990, was completed the following year and production started with optimized processes. In these first years of series production, the carriages were manufactured in Roggwil and the rails for the Monorail were made in Höfen. This was done to provide the complete Monorail range for sale in a short amount of time. The Monorail, which from now on could be

Höfen an der Enz: In the early 1990s, production areas were also expanded and capacities increased.

developed into increasingly diversified product types, became a genuine milestone in the company’s history thanks to the new scheduling of the production plants and an active marketing strategy. However, the focus was not only on the customary precise accuracy, but also on what is known as «lean production». Resources, material and processes had to be designed to be as useful as possible in order to enable economical processes. Rolling development steps Economically speaking, in addition to the space available, employees also had to be prepared to question and continuously optimize each individual work step. Not only were high demands placed on the material, but the success that occurred – and is occurring – was and is due to the collaborative thinking and contribution of all those involved.

Its success is due to the collaborative thinking and contribution of everyone involved. In 1991, not only was a wide range of the monorail on rollers available, it was also possible to use the power of innovation to complete an initial prototype of a Monorail with an integrated length measuring system – the «MMS» type. Delivery of this further development was possible a year later, and the complete range was then presented at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), the largest trade fair for manufacturing technology, in Chicago.

A MILESTONE, THE MONORAIL

In the early 1990s, the cornerstone was laid for a sales network in the Asian region, and thus a decisive step was taken for the company.

Expansion into Asia In the early 1990s, the cornerstone was also laid for a sales network in the Asiatic region, which was a decisive step for the company. With various partnerships, it was possible to open up new sales channels and supply other industries with products. During this time, Nippon SCHNEEBERGER K.K started as an independent company in Atsugi, Japan, a suburb of Tokyo. Meanwhile, in Roggwil, the buildings and land in the village center that were not absolutely necessary for efficient business were sold. In 1992, the apartment buildings in the residential area in Freiburgfeld were taken over by the Pension Fund Foundation. Therefore, not only was guide profile grinding in progress, the company's profile and portfolio were also being sharpened.

Not only profile grinding, but also the sharpening of the company profile was in progress. The further developments, in particular the Monorail, occupied many employees and the specific incoming orders were repeatedly turning out to be new challenges. What quantity of raw material needed to be procured and where should it be stored? Which guideways served this customer and when and where could they be delivered to them? Great skill and a good feel for all the teams within the Group were necessary – and ultimately paid off in growing export figures.

The mechatronic option for the conventional Monorail: The «MMS» with integrated length measuring system in the current version.

The first mechatronic linear bearing Besides the fact that the order situation was not easy to manage, structures had to be streamlined and responsibilities clarified. As Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hans-Martin Schneeberger took over the management of all linear technology companies in 1993 and led them into the future with a global team. In France, SCHNEEBERGER Technique Linéaire S.à.r.l. in Brétigny sur Orge, founded in the same year, acquired and restructured the linear technology divisions from SCHNEEBERGER SA. Other products such as the Monorail 65 and the innovative table programs «MATS» and «NDN» also found their way onto the market.The business areas flourished and the demand for guideways grew steadily and encouraged SCHNEEBERGER to further expand its range.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

The mechatronic linear bearing proved to be an extremely successful addition to the product range.

In 1993, the first Monorail was delivered as a mechatronic linear bearing – a unique combination of mechanics, electronics and computer science. With its built-in position measuring system, this guideway has proven to be an excellent addition to the range and has been used in many fields of application, including computer tomography in the medical industry. Since the linear technology business was very successful and required large capacities in terms of personnel and space, in 1995 the decision was finally made to discontinue the woodworking division at all companies in the group. This was a major step, since SCHNEEBERGER’s name and early product range were very closely linked to woodworking.

What is a mechatronic linear bearing? The mechatronic linear bearing is a symbiosis of the three engineering sciences, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science. Thanks to this sophisticated combination, a mechatronic linear bearing can carry out tasks independently. SCHNEEBERGER perfected these disciplines and provided pioneering achievements in this field with various further developments.

Just over thirty years of development had elapsed here: a sample of a linear bearing at a trade fair in London in 1961 (pictured above) and today’s computer tomograph in the medical industry (pictured below).

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

This accuracy could only be achieved with the highest level of precision work.

Components, Systems, Monorail The strategic realignment made it possible to concentrate exclusively on the three product lines «Components», «Systems» and «Monorail». However, this meant that the next restructuring was necessary, and this in turn required a high degree of adaptability on the part of everyone involved. For example, the Monorail product production facilities in Höfen were merged in order to ensure further expansion. By 1997, it became clear that the right strategy had been chosen, when the first positioning systems were delivered with position stability in the nanometer range. This milestone was of great importance insofar as a nanometer is around 70,000 times smaller compared to human hair. This accuracy could therefore only be achieved with the highest level of precision work. The market introduction of the «Monorail with ball guides» and the launch of the second generation of mechatronic guideways also took place around 1998.

The realignment made it possible to concentrate on the three product lines, «Components», «Systems» and «Monorail». New markets, accustomed precision Shortly before the turn of the millennium, the economy gained significant momentum again, and revolutionary innovations were

Maximum precision is also an indispensable quality for machine beds.

about to enter the market in various industries – or were able to do so at that time. These included flat screens and various new devices in medical and dental technology, both of which incorporated microchips, as was the case in many other product groups. With over 75 years of experience and the ability to guarantee maximum precision, SCHNEEBERGER was well equipped for manufacturing components in the semiconductor and electronics industries. As early as 1984, SCHNEEBERGER was able to supply the first positioning systems for manufacturing microchips and safeguard them with the corresponding patents. These chips, which can be found in every mobile phone today, form the «brain» of electronic devices. These important electronic components are manufactured on so-called «wafers» under clean room conditions. Once again, it turned out that persistent further development was

A MILESTONE, THE MONORAIL

The know-how and great work was protected by corresponding patents.

to bear fruit. With its positioning systems, SCHNEEBERGER contributed not only to optimal quality assurance in chip production, it also opened up other market segments for the use of these highly accurate products. This was particularly the case in the rapidly developing electronics, solar and medical technologies.

Microchips (pictured below) are checked and aligned with high precision in a cleanroom (pictured below left).

Briefly explained A nanometer measures one billionth of a meter, which mean it is an extremely small unit of length. The abbreviation for a nanometer is «nm». Compared to human hair, a nanometer is around 70,000 times smaller. Its ratio to a meter as a linear dimension corresponds to the comparison of a hazelnut to the size of the entire planet Earth.

Once again, it turned out that persistent further development was to bear fruit.

A wafer is a round, approximately one millimeter thin disk, usually made of silicon. It is the actual «starting material» for chip production.

Photo: Konstantin Kolosov, shutterstock

A laboratory microscope is just one of many examples where SCHNEEBERGER miniature guideways are used.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

LINEAR INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM. The move into the new millennium was preceded by anxious concerns about the «millennium bug». The transition to the year 2000 was viewed as critical, as the change of date from 99 to 00 did not seem to be a matter of course for computer programs. SCHNEEBERGER also made precautionary analyses and changes to rule out possible errors. At the beginning of the year, all these measures proved to be sufficient, which meant no interruptions or even failures were reported. After all, by the early 2000s, a lot of things were already running on computer systems and sophisticated control programs, so this was no small matter. Precision and sophistication As the new millennium began, SCHNEEBERGER continued drive towards more innovative products. Along with a vast expertise led this to the «Minirail» profiled linear guideway being introduced to the market.

Their minimal size allowed them to be installed in difficult instruments such as microscopes. It had the same advantages as the previous guideways but was many times smaller and more compact. Its minimal size allowed it to be installed in difficult devices such as micro-

scopes or optical instruments, for example. Further adaptations and developments were specified with the launch of the first Minirail series. As of May 2000, the miniature guideways were manufactured with balls, and it was foreseeable that further product types would follow. New hall, new market fields As a result of the strong order situation, a new production hall for positioning systems was commissioned in Roggwil during the course of the year. This hall was a long-planned extension to the existing production building and allowed capacity to be increased and processes to be optimized.

Thanks to this addition to the product portfolio, it was possible to open up further markets. Toward the end of 2000, the majority of shares in Rhenocast AG Schaffhausen was acquired. It was then possible to integrate this manufacturer of mineral casting parts into the group of companies, thereby tapping into more markets with this addition to the product portfolio. The combination of mineral casting machine beds and linear guideways promised auspicious innovations. Application areas in the optical industry were just as conceivable as those where vibration-damped and stable thermal requirements are a prerequisite: for example, in well-known sectors such as the semicon-

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

The combination of mineral casting machine beds and linear guideways promised auspicious innovations. ductor industry and medical technology or newer, emerging sectors such as robotics and 3D printing technology. Active in sales and distribution The first three years of the millennium were difficult. On the one hand, various buildings such as the old production hall in Roggwil had to be refurbished, while on the other hand not all business areas were performing equally well across the board. The new production hall for the Monorail series was inaugurated in Höfen an der Enz. It was another milestone in the further expansion of efficient manufacturing in the Black Forest. The start of production of Formula S linear guideways also began during this time. These guideways, which are primarily used in medical technology and the semiconductor industry, provided extremely precise movements.

In 2002, the family and a large number of mourners had to say goodbye to Hans Schneeberger. He died at the age of 75 in his native Roggwil. China, South Korea and the Asian markets in general became increasingly important in the new millennium and established themselves as reliable customers. In 2002, for example, the company decided to start sales activities in Shanghai and in Seoul, South Korea, with its own employees. This arrangement of the Asian market was so successful that SCHNEEBERGER (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. was established in 2005; two years later, it started its own production facility.

China, South Korea and the Asian markets in general became increasingly important in the new millennium.

A selection of products explained in brief Monorail Profiled linear guideway with rollers or balls and different carriage types Minirail Miniature profiled linear guideway with balls and different carriage lengths Minislide Micro frictionless table with integral cage control, also with measuring system Twin Gantry: Positioning system with mineral cast base, miniature guideway and measuring system.

Innovation, evaluation, expansion Because of the consistent technical advances that led to new product innovations from the SCHNEEBERGER Group, it was necessary to expand the sales structures. This was also the case in countries in which SCHNEEBERGER had been active for a long time. What opportunities existed to support existing representations or even create additional in-house sales force positions? What was the competitive environment like? As of 2004, sales were expanded in Turkey, Spain, Russia and Ukraine, among others. In the same year, Roggwil was able to launch the Minimodule product family, and one year

LINEAR INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM

The «old barn» in Roggwil, which had to give way to the new freight forwarding building in 2005.

later Powertrack’s test production began. The market launch of the «Miniscale», a miniature guideway with integrated distance measuring system, was also launched in 2005.

Sales structures could also be expanded with new product innovations. Linear also in the company name Linear technology had been the common denominator of all development steps and the basis for innovation at SCHNEEBERGER for many years. Monorail became Minirail, which is made up of classic guide rails and mechatronic linear bearings with integrated measuring systems. The direction in which one wanted to develop became increasingly clear, especially in the years after the turn of the millennium. With the name change from «W. SCHNEEBERGER AG» to «SCHNEEBERGER AG Linear Technology», this strategy was also reflected visually in August 2005. In Roggwil, the demolition of the «old barn», which helped shape the image of the company premises for decades, also contributed to the transformation. It had to give way to the creation of the new freight-forwarding building.

the most modern in Europe. In Asia, the company also took advantage of the situation to establish its own branches in China and India and to establish a new production facility in Shanghai with SCHNEEBERGER Changzhou Precision Systems. Since, among other things, gear racks and other special components in the field of linear technology were also given important roles, Spatz Präzisions GmbH in Bessenbach, Germany, joined the SCHNEEBERGER Group as a specialist company as of 2008.

Looking to the future In 2006, the mineral casting business unit was decisively strengthened by establishing a new production facility for mineral casting in Cheb, Czech Republic. A year later, production was already underway and efforts were made to further develop this plant as one of Production of mineral castings began in Cheb, Czech Republic in 2006.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

GLOBAL EXPANSION, GLOBAL STRATEGY. The expansion of the global network and the establishment of new partnerships continued in 2008. However, in spite of the expansion of the company premises and the production hall in Höfen, for example, dark clouds were on the horizon. This is because the financial crisis, which peaked or rather reached its low point with the bankruptcy of the US investment bank Lehman Brothers in September 2008, very much shaped the SCHNEEBERGER Group’s business at the time. Shaken by the financial crisis The crisis had such a major influence on the semiconductor industry in particular that orders fell dramatically and layoffs and shorttime work had to be introduced. The SCHNEEBERGER Group felt the economic effects well into 2009, and great efforts were still required in subsequent years to stabilize the order situation.

SCHNEEBERGER felt the economic effects of the financial crisis well into 2009. Micro frictionless tables and production expansion Series production of gear racks in versions with mounting holes and flange began back in 2008; in 2010, the Minislide and Minislide MSQ micro frictionless tables with built-in measuring system were added. This product family was and remains one of the most important of the SCHNEEBERGER Group to this

Established in 2008, SCHNEEBERGER India Pvt. Ltd. at its current domicile in Bangalore, India.

The crisis had a major influence on the semiconductor industry in particular.

2008 financial crisis The Swiss economy was able to look back on several years of growth and increasing demand in 2008, when the collapse of the U.S. bank Lehman Brothers triggered one of the biggest financial and economic crises of the last hundred years. Switzerland reached the full extent of the crisis in 2009, when the economy shrank by 1.9% per capita compared to the previous year. A recovery finally occurred in 2010, when positive growth rates were once again seen in many sectors.

GLOBAL EXPANSION, GLOBAL STRATEGY

The forward strategy was also the starting point for further changes in Asia.

A straight-toothed gear rack with flange (rear) and a micro frictionless table Minislide, as they were launched in 2008 and 2010.

day, together with the Minirail products, which have now been fundamentally revised in production. At the same time, a further production expansion was also carried out in Höfen, and a first rail grinding machine with a length of six meters was commissioned. Forward strategy pays off The production hall in Cheb, Czech Republic, which had also expanded two years before, was expanded in 2010 with a precision replication room and thus upgraded for further innovations. In Asia, the forward-looking strategy was also the starting point for further changes. The representation in South Korea was transferred to a sister company, SCHNEEBERGER Korea Ltd., and with SCHNEEBERGER Linear Technology Pte. Ltd., a new company was founded in Singapore. In Malaysia and Thailand, sales continued with their own sales team, while a new production facility, SCHNEEBERGER Changzhou Precision Systems Co, Ltd., was established in China. This mineral casting production plant was developed using experiences from Cheb in the Czech Republic, where construction and production were very similar.

Record volumes and investments In addition to the micro frictionless tables, the Monorail and Minirail profiled linear guideways also established themselves very well on the market. Their potential use in many fields of application paid off, and the already proven range of SCHNEEBERGER products was gradually expanded with innovations. In 2011, a record volume was achieved with the Monorail guideways in Höfen, thus crowning a successful period with the «Highlight of the Economy» award.

The range has been expanded step by step with innovations.

An important factor of the SCHNEEBERGER Group: the plant in Höfen, here represented by the Rail Grinding division in 2013.

GLOBAL EXPANSION, GLOBAL STRATEGY

One of the current issues of the company magazine with information from the SCHNEEBERGER Group.

AKTUELL Umfr Seite

Nr. 119 • Dezember 2012

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DIE SCHNEEBERGER HAUSZEITSCHRIFT THE SCHNEEBERGER INTERNAL NEWSPAPER

SCHNEEBERGER Mineralgusstechnik s.r.o. weiter auf Expansionskurs

However, to continue supplying customers on time, it was necessary to make additional investments in the infrastructure of this extremely important SCHNEEBERGER Group plant. Various processes were analyzed, optimized and – together with the plant in Roggwil – prepared for lean production. This was then to be launched in 2013.

SHO: Portrait

SCHNEEBERGER Mineralgusstechnik s.r.o. continues to grow SRO Technik

SHO: Expansion im Osten

SRO: Sommeranlass

SHO: Zusammen wachsen

Enlarge and expand Investments were made in new machines and systems at all production sites, especially from 2011 onwards. In Roggwil, a supplementary system for the Minirail and Minislide product family started operations, and in Höfen another profile grinding machine and in April 2013 an expansion of the production hall provided greater capacities. State-of-the-art systems were also used in Bessenbach and Cheb to meet the ever-shorter delivery cycles required. The Asian market also developed rapidly, and Monorail production in China was also expanded and a new production facility for mineral casting was planned.

State-of-the-art systems were used to meet the required delivery cycles, which were becoming ever shorter.

Over the last few years, the Monorail guideway had developed in such a wide range of applications that an expansion of production became unavoidable. This was also due to the built-in electronic distance measuring

system, which once again allowed new, previously untapped areas of application. Finally, the production plant in Magdeburg, which had a usable area of 3,500 square meters and was exclusively used for the production of the Monorail guideways, provided a significant increase in capacity. This plant was located in the north of Germany and was therefore geographically and strategically important to the production facility in Höfen an der Enz in the south. Visually on a new level as well In addition to the optimizations in production, the increasingly dynamic demands also had to be taken into account in distribution, sales and marketing. It was no longer enough to simply talk about innovations, they had to be made visible to everyone. SCHNEEBERGER has strived to be visually present since its beginnings as a mechanics workshop – be it with our own booths at trade fairs, advertisements and articles in trade magazines or with commitments as representatives of the industry in associations. This is the only way that the SCHNEEBERGER name could have become the brand it is today. This

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

It was no longer enough to simply talk about innovations, they had to be made visible. of course involved not just «advertising» but also making use of various media. For internal communication, we launched our own company magazine with the fitting name «PROFIL» at an early stage. As of 2010, it was renamed «AKTUELL» («Current») and published in-house news and important facts about the company structure in several bilingual issues per year. In 2012, further new means of communication were added with a separate video channel on YouTube and the launch of the «SCHNEEBERGER App». In addition, the content of the website was expanded to a total of nine available languages and – as a further example of the visual presence – in 2013, the interior of the traffic circle in Roggwil was even designed with symbolized linear bearings.

SCHNEEBERGER has always strived to be visually present.

Essentials for the Best In October 2017, the A. Mannesmann Maschinenfabrik, Remscheid, a manufacturer of ball screws and drill spindles, joined the SCHNEEBERGER Group and thus added to the portfolio. Over 50 years ago, Mannesmann was one of the first manufacturers in Europe to further develop this machine element to the very highest level of precision. However, in addition to the trade war between the USA and China, the coronavirus pandemic, which made direct contacts impossible from 2019 to 2021, also

Linear bearings have been in place in Roggwil since 2013 in the middle of the traffic circle on the road linking Bern and Zurich.

showed that it is not always possible to simply move forward and expand. Staying true to the company slogan «Essentials for the Best!», it was always SCHNEEBERGER's aspiration to be a direct, useful contact and the «essential» basis for the success of its customers. In addition to humans and nature, this included and includes the utmost precision, innovation and reliability at the heart of our actions. Today, it is clear how much extraordinary effort was required from everyone involved. This will likely be necessary for the next 100 years as well.

Number of employees at the start of the 2023 anniversary year Roggwil, Switzerland Höfen, Germany Remscheid, Germany Cheb, Czech Republic

366 488 132 120

A LINEAR CENTURY

Only a small selection in different size ratios shows that SCHNEEBERGER products are as diverse as the areas in which they are used.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

Founder and visionary Walter Schneeberger (1890 - 1968)

PORTRAIT OF THE FOUNDER

WALTER SCHNEEBERGER, FOUNDER AND PIONEER. Walter Schneeberger was born on Thursday, February 13, 1890 in Madiswil in the canton of Bern as the fourth child of Rudolf and Elise, née Geiser. At that time, his father Rudolf worked in Madiswil in the mechanical workshop of Jakob Ammann, the founder of the Ammann Group Langenthal, which operates worldwide today. Helping out as a hireling Walter Schneeberger’s family lived in Madiswil until 1893, before they moved to Melchnau. Father Rudolf rented a farm there but had to give it up in 1896 and relocated to Busswil with his family. There, the young Walter attended primary school before financial difficulties forced his family to re-organize in 1900. The parents moved to Roggwil in Krebsgraben, while Walter had to help out on Jakob Müller's farm in Melchnau as a «hireling». He completed the next stage of his primary schooling in Melchnau at the age of 10. From June 1902 to April 1903, Walter moved back to Roggwil with his parents and attended school there. He then spent time in Rik-

Walter's father worked for the founder of Maschinenfabrik Ammann Langenthal. en with Wilhelm Ott, a gardener and farmer, until December 1903, when he had to move home once again. Walter was now in good hands with postman Ruf and was able to hold his own in farming and as a postman. He left school on April 6, 1904, as schooling usually only lasted until the eighth grade back then.

Shop assistant and apprentice After his confirmation at Easter 1905, Walter took the first step in his professional training in a position obtained through Ulrich Ammann. In Romont in Freiburg, he helped out as a shop assistant in Rudolf Mettler's hardware store. The fact that French was spoken in this historic town in the Freiburg Plateau caused him a few headaches. But with a lot of hard work, adaptability and some mischievousness, he survived this time as well. On May 1, 1906, he finally began his apprenticeship as a mechanic at Maschinenfabrik U. Ammann, Langenthal. Four years later, on April 16, 1910, the mechanics apprenticeship was completed, and he passed the examination with flying colors. After that, Walter remained in Langenthal until the end of August of the same year and completed military training school as a fusilier in Lucerne. After also completing NCO school and following his promotion to corporal on November 30, 1910, he went on the road as a journeyman as was usual at the time. This took him to Maschinenfabrik Burkhard in Basel for a year, before he worked in electrification, transmission and engine installation at Naef in Adliswil until February 1912. The skills acquired during this time would benefit him later when he was self-employed.

An anecdote from the Romont era The young Walter was in good hands in Romont, but he could never get the hang of the French language. A customer in the hardware store asked him once: «Où est-ce-qu'il est le patron?» Walter lifted his head, ran away and brought the customer a large box of cartridges – instead of the boss.

WALTER SCHNEEBERGER, FOUNDER AND PIONEER

Learning in large companies For the remainder of 1912, he worked for King & Co. in Zurich’s Wollishofen district. The following year, he finally got the opportunity to work in oil switch construction at Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (MFO). Schneeberger gladly welcomed the opportunity, as MFO primarily manufactured machines and turbines at the time as well as electric parts of locomotives. This included the legendary SBB crocodile. The machine factory was later divided into the companies Oerlikon-Bührle and Brown, Boveri & Cie. (BBC) and renamed ABB (Asea Brown Boveri). In 1914, Schneeberger joined an assembly group that belonged to Sch-

War, hospital and return home His time in Winterthur was interrupted by the mobilization of war on August 3, 1914 due to the First World War. Schneeberger now had eight months of active service, for which he was promoted to sergeant on November 15th. However, due to illness, he then had various hospital stays in Navaggio in Ticino, Solothurn, Zurich and Langenthal and had to be reassigned to the army auxiliary service, which carried out work to help the combat

His journeyman years took him from Langenthal via Basel to Zurich, Winterthur and back again.

Image: Walter Mittelholzer

weizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik (SLM) in Winterthur. At the time when Walter was working for SLM, the company launched 100 medium-sized locomotives, 40 tenders – i.e., rail vehicles with a coal compartment and water trough – and around 250 engines. In this environment, he had the opportunity to participate in various work steps in a large company and to acquire wide-ranging knowledge. Walter Schneeberger worked here in 1913: The factory premises of Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (bottom) with the train station (middle) and the open racetrack (top left). Photo from around 1920.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

troops. Even the fact that he had been actively involved in sports didn't help. He was a top gymnast and president, among other things, with the Roggwil gymnastics club until 1915.

This gave him the opportunity to acquire a broad knowledge in large companies.

Marriage and commitments at home At the age of 26, Schneeberger finally returned to his native area and took on a position as fitter, toolmaker and department foreman at MABAG Maschinenbau AG in Langenthal in 1916. In familiar surroundings but amidst the turmoil of war, he married Rosa Grütter, who was two years older than he was, on October 11, 1917. In the same year, he joined the Roggwil fire department and was involved in all positions up to and including commander until 1945. For six years he was president of the association and for three years even president of the regional fire department association. In 1920, daughter Rosmarie was born, followed one year later by son Walter and finally the third child, Hans, in 1927. Schneeberger continued working at MABAG in Langenthal, which manufactured complex machines for the textile industry, until 1923. One year after the death of his father Rudolf, he then showed great courage and founded his own mechanical workshop in his father-in-law’s converted barn at Dorfstrasse 9 in Roggwil in March 1923.

The founder and visionary in the garage converted into a workshop in 1939 on St. Urbanstrasse 2 in Roggwil.

A doer and thinker Walter Schneeberger was not only a visionary doer, he was also a partner in his own village. As a town councilor and board member in the trade association, he was passionate about local issues. His various titles as an honorary member testify to his many years of work in clubs and associations. He passed away in Roggwil in fall 1968 at the age of 78.

Walter Schneeberger (1890 - 1968) Born on February 13, 1890 as the fourth of six children in Madiswil. With the founding of the «Mechanische Werkstätte Schneeberger» on March 1, 1923 in Roggwil, he laid the foundation for the SCHNEEBERGER company.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

A BRAND THAT CONQUERED THE WORLD. The immediate visibility of a company or a product was not as important one hundred years ago as it is today. At that time, the advertising options were still limited, which is why direct contact was even more important. It is all the more surprising that founder Walter Schneeberger gave his brand priority at an early stage. For example, the first machines with the «WS» logo – the abbreviation for Walter Schneeberger – were launched on the market in the years immediately after the founding. While the lettering was still geometrically clear in its form at the beginning, it became significantly more playful in the subsequent fiscal years and even took on an artistic appearance. With the strong growth of the company as of the 1940s, the actual logo became a word

Founder Walter Schneeberger gave priority to his brand at an early stage.

From an unpretentious «WS» (for Walter Schneeberger) to an internationally renowned brand: SCHNEEBERGER’s graphic character was and still is found on countless machines and products.

A BRAND THAT CONQUERED THE WORLD

SCHNEEBERGER was very present as a brand at an early stage: The «WS» logo on a sharpening device (from the 1950s), the lettering on the facade of the office entrance in Roggwil (middle photo, around 1955) and on brochures, already two-color (bottom, printed around 1963).

SCHNEEBERGER established itself as an independent brand, symbolic of the precision of its work and products. mark with a more angular shape. Symbolic of the precision of the work and products – first W. SCHNEEBERGER AG – then just SCHNEEBERGER was established as an independent brand. Everything for the best accuracy When the company’s focus was no longer merely on machines and instruments but increasingly also on guideways and special parts, it was time to rethink the added text «Maschinenfabrik» (machine factory). Beginning in the 1960s and finally with the start of production in Neuenbürg, Germany in 1965, SCHNEEBERGER was only used as an established term in sales and as a label on products. Advertising slogans such as «The return on investment of the company is in the cutting edge of the tool» were used to advertise grinding equipment on brochures and at trade fairs. However, an actual «claim» as promise and an added text were still missing. By designing the «50 Years» logo in befitting 1970s typography, those responsible proved

A BRAND THAT CONQUERED THE WORLD

The change of the SCHNEEBERGER brand continued in 1973 with the anniversary logo for its 50th anniversary.

their courage for consistency on the occasion of the 1973 anniversary. Without modifying the clear typeface, they kept to the word SCHNEEBERGER as a term. Accuracy is a commitment.

The logo in a new font, but otherwise unchanged from around 1983.

The word SCHNEEBERGER was held onto as a term. Commitment to accuracy.

Out of the ordinary In the following years, only the font changed. This resulted in the logo taking on a somewhat rounder shape from around 1983 onwards. Otherwise, the name remained without additions as did the contour, which framed the lettering with rounded corners. The late 1990s and early 2000s brought not only mobile phones and other digital achievements, they also marked a significant innovation for the SCHNEEBERGER brand. Earlier, but at the latest with the name change to SCHNEEBERGER AG Linear Technology in the summer of 2005, the promise «Essentials for the Best!» was added to the logo as a slogan.

The promise: «Essentials for the best!»

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

The SCHNEEBERGER logo, as it can now be seen on facades worldwide. Here in Höfen an der Enz, Germany. Below the image is the reduced logo for the holding company.

The frame around the lettering was opened up and a more clear-cut diversification was established with the addition of «Linear Technology» - or, for example, «Mineral Casting Technology» as the name of the respective business area.

From now on, it was clear which SCHNEEBERGER companies provided which services. This was a useful addition, because from now on it was clear which SCHNEEBERGER companies provided which services. And with the promise «Essentials for the Best!» that said it all: Focus on the essentials for the best. Conquering the world as a brand SCHNEEBERGER has always been committed to providing the highest precision and cutting-edge products as well as to carrying its outstanding reputation as a brand out into the world. To this day, one communicates with «Essentials for the Best!» in the same form all over the world and also emphasizes consistency for the holding company with the reduced «S». The same applies to the dark red color shade, which – except for anniversaries – makes the SCHNEEBERGER lettering light up on its own. A consistent attitude that, combined with the constant maintenance of values, has created a globally active brand from two inconspicuous letters.

Creating a global brand from two inconspicuous letters.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

WHAT UNITES AND UNIFIES US. The SCHNEEBERGER Group, originally launched as a small one-man workshop in Roggwil, now employs over 1,400 people worldwide. Wherever they happen to be working in the world, they all have one thing in common. the desire to work in a team. This is the only way to achieve groundbreaking innovation and the highest possible all round precision.

On this and the following pages, a random selection of employees – from machine technicians, sales managers and managing directors to retirees – will have their say. They briefly describe their experience at SCHNEEBERGER, why they are working or used to work at the company. And this provides an impressive insight into what unites and unifies them all.

«I feel very comfortable here due to the pleasant and friendly working atmosphere. Colleagues always have a positive and active approach to work. I also appreciate the good relationships with the customers and the long-term collaboration.» Zhiqing Su Technical Director at SCHNEEBERGER (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China

I like working at SCHNEEBERGER because there is a culture that encourages everyone to perform at their best.

«A globally recognized brand with a rich heritage: I have been working at SCHNEEBERGER since 2008 and like it here because there is a culture that encourages everyone to perform at their best. There is a warm connection between the management, the business units and the employees in the field and in the workshop.» Anand Yoshi Managing Director at Schneeberger India Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore, India

WHAT UNITES AND UNIFIES US

«I worked at SCHNEEBERGER for 47 years, including my apprenticeship. I experienced many interesting projects, from the first draft to series production. The daily work with linear technology fascinated me and awakened my passion for this exciting world.» Ernst Mischler Development Manager CHE, retired SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik, Roggwil, Switzerland

«There are many reasons why I'm working at SCHNEEBERGER. Primarily because of the pleasant and positive working environment. And this has been the case since 2001, so for more than twenty years!» Laura Piga In-house Sales at SCHNEEBERGER S.r.l., Angera, Italy

«I have been part of the SCHNEEBERGER Singapore finance team since January 2014. I learn something new every day and have the opportunity to develop my skills.» Mun Kuen Kiu Accountant at SCHNEEBERGER Linear Technology Pte. Ltd., Singapore

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First name/Surname : Mun Kuen Kiu Function : Finance Place of work : Schneeberger Singapore Since when in the company? : Jan 2014

Why do I work at SCHNEEBERGER? : I can learn a lot and upgrade my skills.

WHAT UNITES AND UNIFIES US

«I like working here because SCHNEEBERGER is a company that supports and looks after all its employees. I joined Customer Service on February 1, 2018.» Rhonda Mondello Customer Service Representative at SCHNEEBERGER Inc. Woburn, Massachusetts, USA

The development perspective and a strong position in the market offer very interesting tasks.

«I work with an excellent team, both in the Czech Republic and throughout the entire group. The long-standing tradition of our company, the development perspective and a strong position in the market offer very interesting tasks and stable employment for employees.» Libuse Kolarova Head of Controlling at SCHNEEBERGER Mineralgusstechnik s.r.o. Cheb, Dolní Dvory, Czech Republic

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

«I have only been working at SCHNEEBERGER in China since January 6, 2021, but already completely share the vision, the tasks and the goals of the team here. Together, we aim to strengthen and expand the systems business in the Asia-Pacific region.» Wise Guan SCHNEEBERGER Precision Motion System Asia Pacific, Shenzhen, China

«I joined SCHNEEBERGER back in 1995. I have been installing linear bearings with built-in cage control reliably and with passion ever since. I really value my work and the company as an employer.» Birguel Kurtuldu Installation elements at SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik, Roggwil, Switzerland

«Why have I been working for the SCHNEEBERGER Group since July 1, 2001? Because it has been the best company in my life – and it will remain so in the future.» Kiho Kim Managing Director of SCHNEEBERGER Korea Ltd., Seoul, South Korea

WHAT UNITES AND UNIFIES US

«The high level of visibility in the industry, interesting projects in the fields of technology and management and an equal and friendly working environment within the group are my reasons for joining SCHNEEBERGER in 2010.» Haibo Miao General Manager at SCHNEEBERGER Changzhou Precision Systems Co. Ltd., Changzhou, Jiangsu, China

«I really enjoy working in a medium-sized and family-run company. I've experienced this at SCHNEEBERGER since February 7, 2011. The company offers great opportunities for professional and personal development.» Domenico Roma IT specialist at SCHNEEBERGER GmbH Höfen/Enz, Germany

«I want to work with people who produce the best quality in the field of linear technology. That’s why I’ve been part of the SCHNEEBERGER Group since October 2022.» Mateusz Zagził Project and Production Manager at Schneeberger Components Sp. z o.o.; Poland

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

I can improve every day – and feel challenged.

«SCHNEEBERGER is a very attractive company, where I have the opportunity to improve every day. And have been feeling challenged for over 15 years.» Misuzu Takahashi Key Account Manager at Nippon SCHNEEBERGER KK, Tokyo, Japan

«I am delighted to have been part of the world’s first linear bearing manufacturer since the end of March 2014. My goal is to expand SCHNEEBERGER’s network in Turkey and raise it to the next level in order to increase the brand value through even better product and service quality.» Ismail Aykut Managing Director at SCHNEEBERGER LINEER TEKNOLOJİ, Istanbul, Turkey

GUEST COMMENTARY ON THE ANNIVERSARY

A TRULY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.

As the president of the municipality, I was able to make a great contribution to realizing the expansion of the parent company at the time.

Even in my early years as a little boy, I looked up to this respected flagship company with great respect. And yes, a very special relationship has been established with SCHNEEBERGER over the years. I still remember well when I helped out in an organizing committee for a Roggwiler village festival that was carefully planned by Walter Schneeberger Jr. His clear vision paid off because the celebration was a resounding

success. As a neighbor, I also got to know Hans Schneeberger personally. When I was elected as the communal president of Roggwil in 1998, the close connection to SCHNEEBERGER was really established. A relationship that has always been characterized by mutual respect and openness and has been successful in every respect for all parties involved. Shortly after I started my first term as communal president, Hans-Martin

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER – GUEST COMMENTARY ON THE ANNIVERSARY

Schneeberger called me and congratulated me on the election. He invited me for a coffee in his office for an open discussion and gave me the opportunity to get to know many on the management team. This marked the start of a collaboration that lasted over 16 years and was extremely important for the municipality. One that was founded on partnership. Thanks to this close cooperation, it was al-

This was the starting signal for a long-standing, exceptionally important collaboration.

ways possible to openly discuss even difficult business, to look for and also find solutions. I will always remember the legendary «after-work moments» with Hans-Martin Schneeberger over coffee or even a beer at Restaurant Bären. We took these opportunities to talk openly about various things. In the end, some topics that may have seemed «crazy» at the beginning resulted in large projects that were successfully completed. There were many such examples, but I would like to highlight two in particular. First of all, the Roggwil heating network, which would never have existed in its current form without SCHNEEBERGER’s involvement. Because there were a few tricky sticking points during planning and implementation, which could all be cleared up thanks to the close connection. As a second project, I would like to mention

the extension building across the street from the main building. In return for SCHNEEBERGER’s willingness to participate in the heating network, I was able as communal president to make a significant contribution to the construction of the new building. For me, this close connection has always been a great enhancement, and at that time I also learned a lot about how the largest employer in the community is managed successfully and always with a view to the future.

Big projects were created from topics that seemed «crazy» in the beginning.

I am certain that SCHNEEBERGER will continue to be an excellent calling card for the municipality of Roggwil in the future. I would like to congratulate the entire team on its 100th anniversary and am looking forward to seeing the enduring special relationship continue long into the future. Erhard Grütter Communal President of Roggwil, 1998 - 2014

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

VISIONARY APPROACHES, A DARING LOOK AHEAD. As the French poet Victor Hugo once said, «The future has many names. For the weak, it means the unattainable. For the fearful, it means the unknown. For the courageous, it means opportunity.» The SCHNEEBERGER Group is looking to the future with courage

and foresight and gives you the opportunity to be part of possible paths and visions on the topics of products, markets, locations, technology, sustainability and company structure. Visionary thoughts from today's perspective.

Stefan Hantke President and CEO SCHNEEBERGER Group

What application areas are we currently active in and in which areas will we be active in the future? Today, the SCHNEEBERGER Group is a leading supplier of high-precision linear technology in areas such as machine tools, the semiconductor industry, medical technology, metrology, automation, 3D printing and many other industries. We will continue to play an important and decisive role in the above industries and their digitization through our technological leadership in the interplay between guiding, measurement and drives.

In the future, the SCHNEEBERGER Group will be able to support the digitally integrated process environment with its technological and methodological knowledge and will be an essential building block for Industry 4.0 environments and applications. In this way, our products will make a significant contribution to flexible and efficient production in the future.

We will be an essential building block for Industry 4.0 environments and applications.

VISIONARY APPROACHES, A DARING LOOK AHEAD

Our products are in demand around the world to make machines more accurate and productive.

Hans-Hermann Rahlmeyer President and General Manager SCHNEEBERGER GmbH

Company founder Walter Schneeberger certainly could not have imagined 100 years ago that the linear technology products would be sold from Switzerland to Germany and Italy to South and North America and even Asia in 2023. And provide benefits for customers in high-precision production machines for the semiconductor and machine tool industries. In 1923, the company looked after customers in Switzerland, followed soon by Germany and Italy. In the 1980s and 1990s, markets such as the USA and Japan were added, and at the start of the this century, Asian markets such as China, Korea, Australia and Singapore as well as India and Israel have become interesting locations for global mechanical engineering. The emerging markets in South America or Africa must now also be considered. In the meantime, the SCHNEEBERGER Group successfully serves around 4,000 active customers in more than 30 countries around the world.

The tranquil Swiss location was the starting point for global expansion, and after the Second World War, the company became active at international trade fairs. SCHNEEBERGER had booths at the key machine tool trade fairs, such as IMTS in the USA or the JIMTOF trade fair in Japan, beginning around 1990. Finally, the IMTEX trade fairs in India, CIMT in China and SIMTOS in Korea as well as PRODUCTRONICA in Europe were added. Sales companies, often with application consultants, helped to achieve good international market penetration. Today SCHNEEBERGER is not only a registered trademark worldwide, our products are in demand from mechanical engineers worldwide in order to make their own machines more accurate and productive. In the future, growth will be in Asia and India. There is a young population in these areas, hungry for success and with very good training, which will provide interesting market opportunities for our high-precision linear products. North America is also a good «hot spot» for our sales with the main market of the USA and the effort there to manufacture many things themselves. Whether Africa and South America will be able to catch up with the established European and Asian markets in the foreseeable future, despite the good potential of young people, remains to be seen. In any case, we are well equipped to deliver our products to customers worldwide.

VISIONARY APPROACHES, A DARING LOOK AHEAD

Kourosh Schneeberger Division Manager SCHNEEBERGER GmbH

With further growth, we will also expand our current production sites and build new ones. Our future positioning with regard to production and logistics infrastructures will be determined primarily by factors such as proximity to customers and markets. ical devices, robots, automation and assembly systems – i.e., all machines and devices that are built almost exclusively in highly industrialized nations in Europe, SCHNEEBERGER Sales engineerAsia Companies is then and America.SCHNEEBERGER However, the equipment SCHNEEBERGER partner set up, operated and usedDistribution by our customers all over the world. In order to guarantee a strong security of supply for our direct customers, we must already be present today – but even more so in the future – in all regions of the world with production and logistics infrastructures.

Production costs, including wage costs and the dynamics of wage cost development, the availability of qualified workers, legally and politically stable framework conditions and the status of the general, local infrastructure will also play a role. However, secondary factors will certainly also influence our decisions, such as customs duties, taxes, subsidies and prices of land and real estate. Our customers are manufacturers of sophisticated machine tools, production equipment for the manufacture of computer chips, med-

In order to guarantee a high level of security of supply, we must be present in all regions of the world.

Industrial growth will take place in Asia in particular, with China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and India, and we will therefore drive forward the expansion of our production and logistics infrastructures in these regions. Not solely as a matter of course but still focused.

SCHNEE

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

EBERGER Production locations

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

Tobias Daniel President Sales & Marketing (CSO) SCHNEEBERGER Group

An essential success factor in our 100-year company history is active proximity to customers. All the many close relationships and partnerships based on trust, where we go through «thick and thin» with our customers and business partners. As a family business, the long-term relationship and mutual success are always the driving force behind our business. We are proud to have more than 4,000 customers worldwide, including countless top brands and technology leaders in their segment. All appreciate our strong application expertise and a partner who always goes the extra mile and strives to find solutions together. Win-win is what we practice.

Communication is also in a state of upheaval, both in terms of media and requirements of speed as well as in terms of information content. This development certainly poses certain risks, but for us as a company there are also many opportunities with an excellently aligned portfolio, our highly qualified team and a clear vision for the future. We want to actively make use of these opportunities. Communication will focus on the added value of the products and services offered, i.e., answering questions at first glance: What are the benefits of the product? What problem will the product solve for me as a customer?

In order to manage the influence of digitizaMy vision is a seamless combination of irretion and the effects of changing customer placeable human – i.e., personal – and digirelationships, SCHNEEBERGER’s sales detal touchpoints between suppliers and cuspartment will continue to develop and to be tomers. For example, the SCHNEEBERGER oriented to the future. The current relation«e-Shop» that already exists today, the virtual ship between suppliers showroom and the online and customers has been configurators on our website. undergoing fundamenWin-win is what tal changes in the «busiWe will resolutely continue we practice. ness-to-business» area for along the path we have alseveral years. Digitization ready taken in sales. Despite and the associated inforall this change, in the future mation opportunities available in real time we will remain true to our proven values. present sales with the challenge of meeting Namely, to always put the customer at the increasingly well-informed buyers. heart of everything we do.

VISIONARY APPROACHES, A DARING LOOK AHEAD

Michael Dvorak

Wireless data transmission and cutting-edge ways to generate energy are providing groundbreaking opportunities for our customers.

President and General Manager SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik

SCHNEEBERGER has not only been a pioneer for innovative new products for decades, but also a pioneer in combining new, future-proof technologies in its high-quality products. The SCHNEEBERGER Group will continue to pursue this success model in the coming years. In the countless possibilities afforded by digitization, we see not only new and constantly growing business areas, but also great opportunities for the development of new products and processes. Algorithms with artificial intelligence will help us to further expand the limits of technical feasibility and continuously optimize our highly accurate products in the field among end users. The requirements placed on our products can vary depending on the application. Whether it’s weight reduction, higher rigidity or extended service life. New materials and material combinations, combined with state-ofthe-art 3D printing technology offer us the opportunity to adapt

SCHNEEBERGER products even more effectively to the high demands of our customers. The combination of sensors in different products has been a tradition for the SCHNEEBERGER Group for decades. Modern technologies are making the built-in sensors ever more high-resolution and powerful. Modern wireless data transmission and cutting-edge ways to generate energy are providing groundbreaking opportunities for our innovative customers. SCHNEEBERGER remains the technology leader in linear technology even after 100 years and continues to set new standards with its products.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

With mineral casting, we are reducing CO2 emissions per ton used from 1.4 tons to zero.

VISIONARY APPROACHES, A DARING LOOK AHEAD

George Blaha President and General Manager SCHNEEBERGER Mineralgusstechnik s.r.o.

Now in particular, in light of the company’s 100th anniversary, the focus on sustainability and the current footprint is very important for the group as a whole. With our products – particularly with SCHNEEBERGER mineral casting technology – we are able to significantly reduce our customers’ CO2 footprint. For example, with machine structures produced in mineral rather than steel casting. This reduces CO2 emissions per ton used from 1.4 tons to zero. Mineral casting is a cold casting process that requires no additional heat energy – and thus saves all the energy required for smelting, which is unavoidable for steel production. But our sustainability in the SCHNEEBERGER Group does not end with the product itself – that is just the start. In recent years, all sites have implemented many individual projects that have led to energy efficiency and significant savings. In this way, everyone has jointly and sustainably contributed to a significant reduction in the CO2 footprint. All plants were successively converted to LED lighting. We have also implemented heat recovery solutions at many locations, enabling significant recovery from compressors, refrigeration systems and other power units. At the Roggwil plant, we switched to district heating using wood chips – instead of oil – and we have optimized the basic temperature

for heated rooms across all plants. We have also commissioned various photovoltaic systems in plants in Switzerland and the Czech Republic and use 98 percent of the energy produced in this way directly at the sites themselves. There are plans to expand the PV systems to other plants.

We have commissioned various photovoltaic systems and use 98 percent of this energy directly at these locations.

So we have made a start. However, it is very important – of course also for the future – to drive forward the topic of sustainability within the SCHNEEBERGER Group. This applies to both the products and the locations. This will allow us to make our contribution to minimizing the footprint year after year. With our mineral casting technology, we are also supporting our customers in their efforts to improve their own sustainability.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

Anita Meier

Lifelong learning is gaining in importance. This is a matter of course for an innovative company like SCHNEEBERGER.

Division Manager, Services SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik

The world of work is changing rapidly. For employees, part-time work opportunities are increasingly in demand, even among young people and men, along with job sharing, even top sharing (sharing management positions) and working from home. Work-life balance and meaningful work are becoming increasingly important. Shift work as is common in industrial operations is becoming increasingly unpopular. At the same time, immigration is not sufficient to cover this gulf between supply and demand for labor, which is also expanding due to economic growth. The increasing shortage of skilled workers and cost pressure in Europe are forcing companies and employees to rethink. Companies must therefore make a virtue of this necessity and, above all, automate labor-intensive activities. Automated work steps also help to reduce personnel costs and gain

a competitive advantage on an international level. Digitized and automated processes, Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence – these are no longer just keywords. Workers’ skills in digital, transformative and technological expertise must keep pace with new requirements. Automated processes require employees to be able to program and operate these systems. When working from home, employees need a high degree of self-management and communication skills as well as digital collaboration tools. Agile working – including outside the development departments – digital learning, change and innovation competence, require willingness on the part of companies and employees. Skills have a decreasing half-life as a direct result of technological progress. Lifelong learning is becoming even more important. The best approach is to make this a habit. This is a matter of course for an innovative company like SCHNEEBERGER and its employees.

VISIONARY APPROACHES, A DARING LOOK AHEAD

Hans-Martin Schneeberger Owner SCHNEEBERGER Group

As a family-owned company, we value solid and forward-looking management and resilient corporate governance. We will continue to make use of the specific advantages that we enjoy as an independent company in the future in order to capitalize on opportunities quickly and effectively. Our proximity to customers in Europe, Asia and America, combined with problem-solving and agile thinking and action, will continue to be the basis for sustainable and profitable growth in the future. This approach will help us to expand the future viability of our company. The upcoming transition from the third to the fourth generation will continue to take shape in the coming years. Equipped with good training and global experience, the next generation, together with a strong and highly competent management team and workforce, will continue to develop and expand the company.

Our proximity to customers in Europe, Asia and America will continue to be the basis for our sustainable growth in the future.

Aerial photo of the Roggwil premises: In the middle, we see the production hall and the office building, to the right of which is the area still empty in 2014 for the expansion building on the other side of the road.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

GUIDEWAYS AND THE FACES BEHIND THEM. Guideways must not only be extremely precise, the company that manufactures them must also be well-managed. The responsible members of the Executive Board, the Board of Directors and the owner family can be found here on these pages.

The Executive Board, from left: Tobias Daniel (President Sales & Marketing (CSO) SCHNEEBERGER Group), George Blaha (President and General Manager SCHNEEBERGER Mineralgusstechnik s.r.o.), Stefan Hantke (President and CEO SCHNEEBERGER Group), Michael Dvorak (President and General Manager SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik), Hans-Hermann Rahlmeyer (President and General Manager SCHNEEBERGER GmbH), Monika Lanz (Chief Financial Officer (CFO) SCHNEEBERGER Group)

GUIDEWAYS AND THE FACES BEHIND THEM

The Board of Directors, from left: Hans-Martin Schneeberger, Peter Binder, Sunny Stalnaker, Martin Kapp, Ralf Gerdes

The owner family, from left: Kaessra Schneeberger, Hans-Martin Schneeberger, Mahnaz Schneeberger, Shirin Schneeberger, Kourosh Schneeberger

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

FOUNDINGS AND COMPANY NAMES. Founding

Company name

Country

1923

SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik (current company name) 1923: Founded as W. Schneeberger, Mechanische Werkstätte 1953: Conversion into the stock company W. Schneeberger AG 2005: Name change to SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik

Switzerland

1964

SCHNEEBERGER SA Operations ceased

France

1965

SCHNEEBERGER GmbH 1965: Established as SCHNEEBERGER GmbH in Neuenbürg 1971: Move to Höfen an der Enz 2008: Acquisition of Spatz Präzisions GmbH (business premises in Bessenbach) 2012: Acquisition of SCHNEEBERGER GmbH (business premises in Magdeburg)

Germany

1971

SCHNEEBERGER Italiana S.r.l.

Italy

1980

SCHNEEBERGER Holding AG

Switzerland

1985

SCHNEEBERGER Inc.

USA

1990

Nippon SCHNEEBERGER K.K

Japan

2001

Rhenocast AG (acquisition) 2002: Merger with W. Schneeberger AG

Switzerland

2005

SCHNEEBERGER (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.

China

2006

SCHNEEBERGER Mineralgusstechnik s.r.o.

Czech Republic

2007

SCHNEEBERGER Shanghai Precision Products Co. Ltd.

China

2008

SCHNEEBERGER India Pvt. Ltd.

India

2008

SCHNEEBERGER Changzhou Precision Systems Co. Ltd.

China

2010

SCHNEEBERGER Linear Technology Pte. Ltd.

Singapore

2011

SCHNEEBERGER Korea Ltd.

South Korea

2017

A. MANNESMANN Maschinenfabrik GmbH (acquisition)

Germany

2018

Werotec AG (acquisition) 2020: Merger with SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik

Switzerland

2020

SCHNEEBERGER Components Sp.z.o.o.

Poland

2020

SCHNEEBERGER Precision Motion Systems Shenzhen Co, Ltd.

China

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

USA

Headquarters Sales partners Distribution partners

Worldwide precision, among others...

...in Roggwil, Switzerland

...in Höfen/Enz, Germany

...in Woburn, USA

92 SCHNEEBERGER Sales engineer

SCHNEEBERGER Companies

HEADQUARTERS, SALES AND DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS

Germany Switzerland

Poland Japan

Czech Republic

South Korea

Italy

China

India Singapore

...in Cheb, Czech Republic

...in Changzhou, China

...in Bangalore, India

...in Lubliniec, Poland

SCHNEEBERGER Production locations

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

THE CHRONOLOGY IN PHOTOS.

1923

1924

Walter Schneeberger founds a mechanics workshop in a converted barn in Roggwil.

The first sharpening machines are developed and manufactured.

1969

1971 In addition to machines and guideways, the production program also includes roller tables for the optics industry.

1946

The new machine factory building with the adjoining office is moved into.

1978 Division into the areas of longitudinal guideways and mechanical engineering. Establishing a holding company.

New factory buildings, are completed in Roggwil (left) in 1969 and in Höfen an der Enz in 1971.

THE CHRONOLOGY IN PHOTOS

1948

1953

1965

Conversion into a stock company and production of machines for the optical industry.

With headquarters in France (1964) and Germany, production takes place at the first locations outside Switzerland. Further locations will follow.

The first longitudinal guideways are manufactured according to customer drawings.

1984

1989

1990

Reorganization of the fields of activity and focus on linear technology and woodworking. Spin-off of the sharpening machine product line.

Development of special machines such as this copy sharpening machine with mounted automatic machine.

Market launch of Monorail profile guideways with rollers and balls.

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

THE CHRONOLOGY IN PHOTOS.

1993

The first Monorail is launched on the market as a mechatronic linear bearing.

1995

1997

Decision to abandon the woodworking division at all companies in the Group. Focus on the three product lines, «Components», «Systems» and «Monorail».

The first positioning systems with position stability in the nanometer range are delivered.

2005

2006

The addition of the logo with the promise “Essentials for the Best!” creates clarity: Focus on the essentials for the best!

With a mineral casting production facility in Cheb, Czech Republic, this business unit is significantly strengthened. In particular, the combination of machine beds made of mineral casting and linear bearings is becoming established on the market.

The Minirail miniature guideway is being further developed into a “miniscale” with an integrated measuring system. The company name changes to “SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik”.

THE CHRONOLOGY IN PHOTOS

1998

Launch of integrated wafer inspection systems with control and damping mechanism.

2008

2000

The «Minirail» profiled linear guideway is launched on the market. Linear bearings with integrated cage control, the Formula-S, follow in the same year.

Integration of the manufacturer of mineral casting parts, Rhenocast AG Schaffhausen, into the Group.

2010 The bilingual company newspaper «Profil», created in the early years, is now renamed in «AKTUELL».

Gear racks are added to the product range with the acquisition of Spatz Präzisions GmbH, Bessenbach, Germany.

The Minislide MSQ micro frictionless table opens up new areas of application.

2001

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

THE CHRONOLOGY IN PHOTOS.

ITALIEN

USA

INDIEN

SCHNEEBERGER S.r.l. Via Soldani 10 21021 Angera (VA)

SCHNEEBERGER Inc. 44 Sixth Road, Woburn, MA 01801-1759

SCHNEEBERGER India Pvt. Ltd. 406, Satra Plaza, Palm Beach Road, Sector 19D Vashi, 400 703 New Mumbai

+41 62 918 41 11 +41 62 918 41 00 info-ch@schneeberger.com

+49 7081 782 0 +49 7081 782 124

+39 0331 93 20 10 +39 0331 93 16 55

info-d@schneeberger.com

info-i@schneeberger.com

+91 73 0454 0119 info-in@schneeberger.com

CHINA

KOREA

SINGAPUR

SCHNEEBERGER (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Rm 606, Shang Gao International Building No. 137 XianXia Road 200051 Shanghai

SCHNEEBERGER Korea Ltd. Garden5 Tool 10, Chungmin-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Korea 05840

SCHNEEBERGER Linear Technology Pte. Ltd. 38 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 #01-04, Singapur 569511

日本シュネーベルガー株式会社〒105-0001 東京都港区虎ノ門3-20-5 クレイン虎ノ門ビル7階

Further development of the Minirail miniature guideways into «Miniscale Plus» and «Lube-S» with long-term lubrication.

施耐博格（上海）传动技术有限公司上海市长宁区仙霞路137号盛高国际大厦606室，上海 200051

+81 3 6435 7474 +81 3 6435 7475 info-j@schneeberger.com

슈니베거코리아 유한회사 05840 서울시 송파구 충민로 10 가든파이브 툴관 10층

+86 21 6209 0027 +86 21 6209 0102

+82 2 554 2971 +82 2 554 3971

+ 65 6841 2385 + 65 6841 3408

info-cn@schneeberger.com

info-kr@schneeberger.com

info-sg@schneeberger.com

SCHNEEBERGER MINERALGUSSTECHNIK 10.1069/03/0819/d/0.1/SRO/CM/Gedruckt in Deutschland. Technische Änderungen vorbehalten.

+1 781 271 0140 +1 781 932 4127 info-usa@schneeberger.com

JAPAN Nippon SCHNEEBERGER K.K. Crane Toranomon Bldg 7F 3-20-5 Toranomon, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-0001

A.MANNESMANN EIN UNTERNEHMEN DER SCHNEEBERGER LINEARTECHNIK

TSCHECHISCHE REPUBLIK

CHINA

DEUTSCHLAND

SCHNEEBERGER Mineralgusstechnik s.r.o Prumyslový park 32/20 350 02 Cheb – Dolní Dvory

SCHNEEBERGER Changzhou Precision Systems Co. Ltd. 137 Hanjiang Road Changzhou New district 213000 Changzhou, Jiangsu

A.MANNESMANN MASCHINENFABRIK GmbH Bliedinghauser Str. 27 42859 Remscheid

施耐博格（常州）测试系统有限公司汉江路137，常州新区，常州213022 +420 354 400 941 +420 354 400 940 info-mineralguss@schneeberger.com

+86 519 8988 3938 +86 519 8988 5115

+49 2191 989-0 +49 2191 989-201

info-mineralcasting@schneeberger.com

mail@amannesmann.de

SCHNEEBERGER VERTRIEBSBÜROS ÖSTERREICH UND SÜDOSTEUROPA

BENELUX

DÄNEMARK, SCHWEDEN

FRANKREICH

+31 6 5326 3929

info-nl@schneeberger.com

info-f@schneeberger.com

info-uk@schneeberger.com

ISRAEL

POLEN, SLOWAKEI, TSCHECHISCHE REPUBLIK +420 6 0278 4077

RUSSLAND, WEISSRUSSLAND, UKRAINE +7 985 960 85 53 +38 050 407 6789 +37 529 860 0410 info-ru@schneeberger.com

SPANIEN, PORTUGAL, ANDORRA +34 69 559 05 99

TÜRKEI

info-es@schneeberger.com

info-tr@schneeberger.com

+972 5 0551 7920

info-il@schneeberger.com

info-cz@schneeberger.com

+33 6 33 12 14 26 (West) +33 7 72 55 06 74 (Ost)

GROSSBRITANNIEN

+43 676 935 1035 info-a@schneeberger.com

MINIRAIL / MINISCALE PLUS / MINISLIDE

2014

DEUTSCHLAND SCHNEEBERGER GmbH Gräfenau 75339 Höfen/Enz

MINI-X

SCHNEEBERGER GESELLSCHAFTEN SCHWEIZ SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik St. Urbanstrasse 12 4914 Roggwil/BE

+44 77 8814 5645

+ 90 545 320 83 55

Symbolized linear bearings are used to design the interior of the traffic circle and thus give the municipality of Roggwil a piece of company history.

Produktkatalog 2019

2013

MINI-X

PROSPEKTE

• MINI-X MINIRAIL / MINISCALE PLUS / MINISLIDE

• KUNDENSPEZIFISCHE FÜHRUNGEN

• LINEARFÜHRUNGEN und UMLAUFKÖRPER

• MONORAIL und AMS Profilschienen-Führungen mit integriertem Wegmesssystem

• LINEARTISCHE

• MONORAIL und AMS Applikationskatalog

• MINERALGUSS SCHNEEBERGER

• POSITIONIERSYSTEME

• MINISLIDE MSQscale

• ZAHNSTANGEN

www.schneeberger.com

MINERALGUSSTECHNIK

MINIRAIL | MINISCALE PLUS | MINISLIDE

10.1069/03/0819/d

• FIRMENBROSCHÜRE

Produktkatalog 2019

CURRENT LOCATIONS. Switzerland SCHNEEBERGER AG Lineartechnik St. Urbanstrasse 12 4914 Roggwil

Czech Republic SCHNEEBERGER Mineralgusstechnik s.r.o. Prumyslovy park 32/20 350 02 Cheb – Dolní Dvory

Germany SCHNEEBERGER GmbH Gräfenau 75339 Höfen/Enz

USA SCHNEEBERGER Inc. 44 Sixth Road MA 01801-1759 Woburn

Italy SCHNEEBERGER S.r.l. Via Soldani 10 21021 Angera (VA)

India Schneeberger India Pvt. Ltd. 188/4, Bommasandra Industrial Area, Bommasandra, Bangalore 560099

Turkey SCHNEEBERGER LINEER TEKNOLOJİ Tic. ve Ltd. Şti. Ataköy 9. Kısım Mah. Yüzücü Talat Yüzmen Sokak No:6 Yunus Emre Sitesi S3 A-Blok D:2 Bakırköy 34158 Istanbul Japan Nippon SCHNEEBERGER KK Crane Toranomon Bldg 7F 3-20-5 Toranomon, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-0001

THE CHRONOLOGY IN PHOTOS | CURRENT LOCATIONS

2017

The A. Mannesmann Maschinenfabrik, Remscheid joins the SCHNEEBERGER Group as a manufacturer of ball screw drives and drill spindles.

2023

The development continues: Among other things, with the SCHNEEBERGER Absolute Measuring system SAM as the next step towards Industry 4.0. And the electronic shop for online orders.

China SCHNEEBERGER Precision Motion System Asia Pacific 3/F, Building A, Hongfa Science Park, No.2035 Songbai Rd., Shiyan Town, Boan District, Shenzhen, P.R.C 518108 SCHNEEBERGER (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Rm 606, Sheng Gao International Building No. 137 XianXia Road 200051 Shanghai

SCHNEEBERGER’s 100th anniversary is being celebrated with an exhibition of the company’s history, a celebration and this 100-page anniversary book.

South Korea SCHNEEBERGER Korea Ltd. 5F-E01, 10 Chungmin-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05840 Republic of Korea Singapore SCHNEEBERGER Linear Technology Pte. Ltd. 38 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2, #01-04 Singapore 569511

SCHNEEBERGER Changzhou Precision Systems Co. Ltd. 137 Hanjiang Road Changzhou New District 213022 Changzhou, Jiangsu schneeberger.com

100 YEARS OF SCHNEEBERGER

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

IMPRESSUM

Many thanks to all employees and partners who built up SCHNEEBERGER over the course of a hundred years, supported it and led to its success. As the company’s most valuable and important asset, they have determined the company’s path and have consistently followed it. Thank you for your loyalty, commitment and involvement on a small and large scale.

Thanks also go to the families of our employees, who had to do without many hours together during special shifts, trade fair assignments and special orders. The editorial team and SCHNEEBERGER would like to thank the following people for their research and provision of archive material, images and a wide range of documents: Marianne Flückiger, Louis Vetter, Josef Winterberg, Peter Herzig, Hansruedi Bähler, Ernst Mischler, Monika Lanz, Anita Meier, John Skaltsas, Hans Eggenschwiler, Michael Werner, Daniela Grunder Image sources Bildarchiv SCHNEEBERGER, Shutterstock, Susanne Seiler, Walter Mittelholzer, Weltbild Verlag Olten, Bildarchiv ETH Zürich.

Editorial team under the direction of Rosalia Haller Text and concept Philipp Abt | wortschaft, Langenthal Layout sehruum11, visuelle Kommunikation Langenthal Proofreading flatterie.ch | Jeannette Abt-Lamatsch Translations LanguageWire, Hamburg Image editing Digital Druckcenter, Langenthal Printing and production Druckerei Egger AG, Frutigen The use of texts (including excerpts), image material and graphics is permitted only with the express written consent of SCHNEEBERGER Holding AG. This anniversary book was printed as a single edition in German and English in Switzerland and published as a first edition of 1,000 copies each.

100

A LINEAR CENTURY – FROM SHARPENERS TO LINEAR BEARINGS In 1923, Walter Schneeberger started with sharpening equipment for grinding wood milling machines with a small team in a simple workshop located behind the elementary school building in Roggwil, Bern. Thanks to an innovative entrepreneurial spirit, the little machine shop has grown over the past 100 years to become a leading supplier in the field of linear bearings, profiled linear guideways and high-precision linear motion technology in general. The anniversary book provides 100 pages of insight into the 100-year development of the company and its products, shows contemporary documents from its remarkable history and tells many surprising anecdotes from the eventful story behind the company.