50 years of innovative detergent and disinfectant

50 years of innovative
detergent and
disinfectant solutions
Dr Markus Borer
CEO of Borer Chemie AG
Foresightful and
sustainable
for half a century.
Life is sometimes shaped by coincidences. When
my father, who was actually at home in the field
of computer sciences, was offered the licence for
a revolutionary cleaning formula over dinner one
evening, he saw the opportunity and within two
days had the licence contract in his pocket.
Cleanliness allows
no compromise.
2
This led to the founding of Borer Chemie AG,
a company which today employs 80 people in
Switzerland and has had a subsidiary company
operating in China since 2008.
My own life has also been shaped by my father’s
entry into the chemical industry. I have been fascinated by everything «chemical» since my earliest childhood years and was happy to spend time
in Borer Chemie AG. It was therefore not difficult
to choose which subject to study – I studied and
gained my doctorate in Chemistry at the University of Berne.
Today, in my position as CEO of Borer Chemie AG,
my ties to the company have of course become
much stronger while my contact with practical
chemistry has become somewhat abstract.
When I look at the company, however, one thing
especially is obvious: the chemistry is there –
even today! Over the next few pages, you can read
about the fascinating mix of products, services,
skills, ideas and characters that have turned a
one-man business in 1965 into a successful company committed to sustainability, partnership
and Switzerland as a business location.
My favourite car.
Not one that just anyone
drives.
My luxury.
Having time for myself
and my family.
My dream.
A leisurely road trip through
the former Eastern Bloc.
50 years of Borer Chemie AG – we are proud of
what we’ve achieved and want to continue our
success with our staff and partners.
Editorial _ 3
Everyday encounters
Watch industry and precision
mechanics
Perfectly cleaned components
are a prerequisite for the perfectly
functioning watch.
You’re in indirect contact with several products from Borer Chemie AG every day. Did
you know that the surfaces of many precision instruments are cleaned with our highly
specialised products and that our detergents
are used in many laboratories around the
world? Or that our deconex® products ensure cleanliness and hygiene in hospitals?
Smartphone display and monitor
You’re in contact with us every time you
touch your Smartphone or look at your
PC’s monitor, as our products are used
in their manufacture.
Tablet compression tools
Residue-free cleanliness is the first
duty of the pharmaceutical industry. This is achieved spotlessly
by the use of our detergents and
procedures.
Surgical robots
Cutting-edge robots are increasingly
being used in surgery. These are reprocessed
with deconex®.
Test tubes and beakers
Many innovations have their origins in a
laboratory. We contribute by providing
perfectly cleaned laboratory glassware.
Ophthalmic glass and
precision optics
Ensuring that you have a clear
view: our products are used
in the production of ophthalmic
lenses and precision optics.
Surgical instruments and endoscopes
Our deconex® products are used
for the reprocessing of surgical
instruments.
Competences _ 5
We started out offering just a single product, but now have a
portfolio of over 160 highly specialised products.
Pioneering spirit
then and now.
«Sitting down with my colleagues and solving a tricky
cleaning problem with a
newly developed product
and process, that’s when I
have fun.»
Stefan Mauerhofer
Director R & D
6
Borer Chemie AG was founded in 1965 from an
opportunity which the company’s founder –
Anton Borer – knew he couldn’t pass up. His
entrepreneurial spirit developed the company
into the business model which still functions today. In the 1960s, the regulatory framework was
somewhat broader and the young businessman
Anton Borer and his growing team were able to
concentrate on conquering new markets and developing innovative detergents.
To be able to sell our products around the world,
we must comply carefully with country-specific
registration provisions. The regulations on medical and biocidal products also govern the use
of certain products in the medical and hygiene
fields. The Life Sciences division is kept busy
with issues surrounding cGMP, and distribution
needs to follow detailed transport regulations
for dangerous materials. ISO 9001 and ISO 13485
form the basis for our businesses.
Today, our business activities take place in a tighter legal and regulatory network. Naturally, the provisions offers our company, as well as customers
and users, a high level of security, without which
it would not be possible to run a sustainable, forward-looking company. Legal barriers do however
represent a lot of administrative work, additional
jobs and restrictions on freedom of action.
It’s a challenge! However, we’re growing with the
demands and stay on track. For 50 years.
Readiness to deliver:
Our modern logistics
centre makes short
reaction times possible.
Whether filled fully automatic
or labelled carefully by hand, we
deliver Swiss quality.
Quality control – each
raw material and each
production and filling
batch is checked and
documented.
Innovation _ 7
A half century
1997
Borer Chemie becomes
borer – advanced cleaning solutions.
Apple’s first iPad
is launched on the
market.
«Buendnerfleisch». A single
word brings tears of laughter
to the eyes of Federal
Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz.
Unforgettable.
For the first time in US
history, a black man becomes
president. Barack Obama was
elected on 4 November 2008.
2010
The biggest literary success of modern
times: the first Harry Potter book is
published in 1997 and generates enormous hype about the boy wizard. The
book is translated into 73 languages
and sells more than 450 million copies
worldwide.
The YouTube portal
goes online. Users can
watch and rate video
clips and upload their
own for free.
2005
Solar Impulse begins the
first fully solar powered
flight around the globe.
The last flight of
Concorde from
London Heathrow
to the Aviation
Heritage Museum
in Filton, UK.
«Pretty Woman» is
the most-watched
film of the year.
The European Union
becomes reality.
1990
1993
2003
2015
2008
Dr Markus Borer assumes
leadership of the company after
successfully heading up several divisions. Borer Holding is
formed and the shares divided
among the founder’s three sons.
As part of the dynamic
development of the Asian
market, our subsidiary
company Borer Shanghai is
founded under the leadership
of Raymond W. Hu.
We are celebrating the 50-year
anniversary of the company.
Our Laboratory and Pharma
divisions are merged into the new
Life Sciences business unit.
2011
A new logistics centre is built
for the temporary storage,
commissioning and distribution of finished products. Two
truck bays allow for rapid
processing.
2007
Steve Jobs presents
the first Smartphone
from Apple’s iPhone
series on 9 January
2007.
The subsidiary company Borer
Shanghai celebrates its fifth birthday
in the presence of Dr Markus Borer.
2009
The premature death of the
«King of pop». Michael Jackson
writes musical history.
Steve Jobs conjures
the first iPod from his
pocket on 23 October
2001.
Anton Borer retires and hands
over the operational management of the company to René
Jordi. He takes over leadership
of the company for the next
5 years.
The Facebook social
network is launched in
February 2004. Based
on its own figures, approximately 1,44 billion members visit the Facebook site
at least once a month.
The new North-West building
provides an additional 300 m2
laboratory space, 300 m2
production space and 800 m2
storage area.
2 October 2001 – all planes
of the once proud Swissair
are grounded.
deconex® 28 ALKA ONE is the
first product with proven efficacy
against prions, which can cause
the so-called mad cow disease
(BSE).
Products are labelled justin-time and according to the
destination for which they are
intended in over 20 languages.
This allows for a high level of
flexibility and rapid delivery to
customers around the world.
Two disinfectants developed:
decosept® for the surgical and
hygienic disinfection of hands,
and deconex® SOLARSEPT
for the rapid disinfection of
surfaces.
2001
First ISO 9001 certification
from Bureau Veritas. A first
step in preparing for today’s
necessary and extensive
regulatory requirements.
The results of a comprehensive
study on the aqueous cleaning
of optical glass is presented
to international experts. The
presentation is published in
the journal «Optical World» and
receives international recognition. This gives rapid access to
the global optics industry.
2004
Intensification and expansion
of international sales. Western
European, Asian and Eastern
European markets opened up.
1989
2002
The international
anonymous press
archive WikiLeaks
is founded.
1995
2006
The euro is introduced as the
currency in 12 states of the
European Union, as well as in
Andorra, Monaco, Montenegro,
San Marino and Vatican City.
1991
The Berlin Wall falls on
9 November 1989.
The Schengen Agreement
comes into force.
Researchers invent the MP3 file
format. This compresses music
files so that anyone can download them from the internet.
Ötzi, the ice man, is
found in the South
Tyrolean Alps.
2013
8
Milestones _ 9
Garfield, the legendary
comic cat, eats his first lasagne.
MTV goes on the air. The
first video shown is «Video
Killed the Radio Star» by
The Buggles.
Mathias Rust lands his Cessna
near Red Square on the Day of
the Border Troops. Following
this, several high-ranking
military officers receive early
pensions and perestroika makes
advances also in the army.
Lady Diana Spencer and
Charles, Prince of Wales,
marry on 29 July 1981.
French biochemist Luc Montagnier decodes the genes of the
AIDS pathogen, HIV.
Woodstock Music
and Art Festival
The year with three
popes: Pope John-Paul I
succeeds Paul VI to the
Holy See. However, he
dies 33 days after taking
office. After a new vote,
John-Paul II becomes
pope.
Steve Jobs and Steve
Wozniak found the
Apple company in a
garage in Palo Alto.
1976
1981
Apollo 11 lands on the moon
on 20 July 1969. One day
later, the first human walks
on the moon. Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut, speaks the legendary
words: «It’s one small step
for a man; it’s one giant leap
for mankind!».
The first Alfa Romeo
Spider is built. It is the longest-lasting, largely
unchanged cabriolet ever built.
1966
1969
1965
1987
1978
The world’s first computermanaged mixing plant.
Made possible by an IBM XP
computer with a 10-MB hard
drive and a Mitsubishi PLC
with fibre optics.
1984
First expansion of the production, storage and office space.
Nuclear catastrophe in the
largest atomic power station
in the world at the time –
1986
Chernobyl.
The first product for the preparation of medical instruments
is developed and successfully
launched.
The company moves to its new
building in Zuchwil, still the
current headquarters. Approx.
800 m2 production, storage and
office space is available.
Up until this point, products
were exclusively distributed
via specialist retailers; now,
Switzerland can also be processed directly.
Development of deconex® 12,
a mildly alkaline, low-phosphate
detergent, as a result of a request
from water protection agencies.
PMC, Products for Medicine
and Chemistry, becomes
a public company, Borer
Chemie AG.
Contracts for the development
of the first products for automated cleaning in laboratories are
issued to external partners. The
deconex® 21 powder product is
launched successfully.
The successful CEO Maurice
Vultier dies unexpectedly. Anton
Borer is unsure whether to continue the company.
Registration of the detex®
11 brand name encounters
difficulties, hence the product
is renamed deconex® 11 and can
then be registered and protected
in 17 countries in accordance
with the Madrid Agreement.
Move to Biberist.
Gap in the market found: Glisseal,
the laboratory grease without a
drop point, is a practical supplementary product to the detergent
deconex® 11.
The first product is called
detex® 11, as 11 is the lucky
number of Solothurn.
Awarded the licensing rights
for the manufacture and sales
of laboratory device cleaners.
The licence covers Switzerland,
Germany, Scandinavia and the
Far East.
Anton Borer founds PMC,
Products for Medicine and
Chemistry, in a former hair salon
in Solothurn.
1965
1974
1980
1965
1977
1982
Michael Jackson’s multimillion-selling album
«Thriller» is released. Over the years, it becomes
the best-selling album in history.
For many, «Thriller» is their very
first CD – compact disc – or their
last LP.
10
Opening of the 16.9-km long
Gotthard road tunnel from
Göschenen to Airolo.
Change the clocks:
daylight savings time
is introduced.
Elvis Presley, the
«King of Rock ’n’ Roll»,
dies in Memphis.
1968
Ernő Rubik invents
the Rubik’s Cube.
Martin Luther King dreams of a
world in which all men have the
same rights, regardless of race
or religion. He is murdered on
4 April.
The song
«Like a Rolling Stone»
by Bob Dylan
is released.
In cinema, 1965 begins with
the third James Bond film
«Goldfinger». The film makes
it into the Guinness Book of
Records for recovering its
production costs after only
three weeks at the box office.
Milestones _ 11
We are a family company. Our staff are
collaborators and innovators. They form
the core of our company.
Our ideas of
today are tomorrow’s
successes.
Regardless of whether
he’s working on the
forklift or at the
computer, Marc Ghezzi
keeps the shelves in
order and makes sure
deliveries take place on
time – with precision
and panache.
Cindy Meister is affectionately called
«our pearl» by the Industry Team.
She stays calm in the middle of all the
hectic and completes her many tasks
to a high level of quality, all while keeping a smile on her face.
Our success is based on our employees. These
statements may sound corny, but we know that
without the efforts, many ideas, passion and determination of our employees, we wouldn’t be
where we are today.
We know how valuable our employees are. But
why do they like to work here? We asked them.
A wide range of tasks, a good working climate,
team spirit, the international character, progressive employment conditions, a high level of
freedom, a friendly and informal atmosphere,
the ideal company size: all arguments which
speak for us as an employer.
It really makes us happy that the average tenure
is high at our company; two people have already
been with us for 26 years. This could be due to
the fact that we value not only success, but that
basic values like mutual respect, transparency
and sustainability also play an important role.
«I have the most varied job
you can think of. It’s great
fun.»
Martin Haussener
Industry sales
An environment where philanthropy and togetherness count. An environment which promotes
innovation and creativity.
All the better! Because the one-man operation
of 1965 now employs 80 full-time staff at its
Zuchwil headquarters. During university vacations, we also employ students who can earn
some extra income. We profit not only from their
efforts, but from their different ways of looking
at things.
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Borer Chemie AG _ 13
«What do I like about Borer
Chemie? Good working
conditions, understanding
managers and a great
team.»
Gökhan Günes
Production employee
Creativity is usually thought of in connection
with art and design. We believe that being creative also means to formulate ideas and propose
solutions. Thus, the basis for the 2015 decision to
train the company’s first ever business apprentice came from an employee initiative.
Our technologically demanding products and
cleaning process require bright minds: regardless of whether our employees are fiddling with
a formula, getting acquainted with a new area
of application or technology, optimising a workflow or developing a new sales strategy, everyone
is welcome to give their thoughts and join in!
exported
Today, there are over 30 roles within our company, which represents an impressive variety of
expertise and specialisation – a guarantee for the
proverbial Swiss quality.
Switzerland as a business location
With the international orientation of the company and an 80% export share, it may appear to be
less important to be based in Switzerland. However, Switzerland is and remains essential for us as
a market and production location. This is because
we stand for famous Swiss qualities – conscientious and precise, technological and innovative,
cooperative and fair, foresightful and sustainable.
80%
Output 7 trucks
per day
Participation, creativity, process organisation –
key words to be implemented. Our staff achieve this every day
in an impressive way.
Customer- and
country-specific labels
in 37 languages
3 to 5 product
developments per year
1700 pallet spaces – corresponding
to an area equivalent to 8,5 tennis
courts
Dispatch by
post, courier,
truck, air
freight and
sea freight
Quality controls for 160 products
with 170 raw materials
Participation also means finding solutions as
a team: our production staff in an animated
discussion.
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Borer Chemie AG _ 15
Borer Chemie AG
Gewerbestrasse 13
4528 Zuchwil | Switzerland
www.borer.ch