The Corporate Groups of Georg Fischer operate in a number of business areas. Globalization, faster development times and shorter product life cycles along with innovation and cost pressures are trends that affect all industries to the same extent. Georg Fischer responds to these trends, investing systematically in research and development. Its aim is to stay one step ahead of the competition: with new products or features that give the customer added value, with new services or business areas or with improved processes.
GF Piping Systems
Trends and challenges in the piping systems market:
Worldwide demand for clean drinking water is rising;
Infrastructure demand for new builds and renovations;
Safe and inexpensive piping systems for sanitary and heating installations;
Meeting the highest quality standards for industrial applications;
High demand in Asia and other emerging markets.
GF Piping Systems meets these challenges by developing safe and reliable connections for all applications, by increasingly using plastic instead of metal and by expanding its global presence, especially in Asia. The organizational structure is geared to serving individual market segments and meeting the needs of end customers. The Corporate Group is positioning itself as a provider of integrated solutions.
GF Automotive
Trends and challenges in the automotive industry:
Sparing use of resources and minimization of emissions;
Greater safety;
Increased comfort;
Increasing cost pressure and outsourcing;
Platform strategy.
Development at GF Automotive thus focuses on lightweight construction, improved material properties, functional integration, replacement of sheet metal by cast parts and streamlining of production processes. The declared aim of GF Automotive is "More parts per vehicle". The Corporate Group is also extending its global reach – especially in Asia and North America – thus meeting the automotive industry's demand for a local presence.
GF AgieCharmilles
Trends and challenges in mechanical engineering:
Miniaturization and precision;
Faster systems with greater system availability;
Customers increasingly demanding user friendliness;
Outsourcing of production capacity to Asia (China);
Automation.
GF AgieCharmilles meets these challenges by focusing on precision manufacturing (EDM) and high-speed and high-performance milling (HSM/HPM). Automation in production, application support, the service business and microtechnology are becoming ever more important factors.
