1923 - 2023. Thommen-Furler AG and Fischer Söhne AG celebrate their 100th anniversary! A key success factor and one of the reasons for the long existence of the two companies is the idea of partnership: cooperation is always cultivated and strengthened through regular exchange of experience. Thommen-Furler has been purchasing canisters from Fischer Söhne for decades so that the goods are safely packed. the two companies look back on a positive partnership - and into the future.
A lot happens in a century. We would like to briefly outline the most important milestones of the two companies:
Thommen-Furler Group
FUTURA – Shaping the future together.
Since its foundation in 1923, the Thommen-Furler Group has undergone radical change. Whereas at the beginning and in the following 60 years the focus was on trading in petroleum products, today the Thommen-Furler Group is a specialized service provider for customers in the life sciences, chemicals, high-tech and mobility sectors. The driving force behind this change is our strongly anchored and practiced transformation culture. We act as one group with a common identity. There are 6 legally independent companies under the umbrella of the Group. Operational activities are carried out through a total of 8 locations. All 6 companies operate with the uniform and unique ChemCare® business model. ChemCare® stands for supply, support and recycling. Thommen-Furler successfully established the circular economy concept as a business model more than 30 years ago and is considered a pioneer of today's widely proclaimed and demanded "circular economy".
In its 100-year journey through time, the Thommen-Furler Group has made 7 major decisions. With the foundation in 1923 in Bern, the first stone was laid and the activity as a regional mineral oil trader was started. With the establishment in Rüti b. Büren in 1967, the mineral oil trade was expanded to include the trade in basic chemicals. In 1990, the ChemCare® concept was initialized and at the same time the range of services was expanded to include the disposal of hazardous waste. The sale of the mineral oil business in 2000 was a logical step. The focus on LifeSciences, Chemicals, Hightech and Mobility in 2006 was crucial to further increasing profitability. The addition of Chemical Specialties to the offering from 2011 was our response to new customer needs. And finally, the initiation of external growth meets the need of our customers to obtain as many products and services as possible from a single source.
Fischer Söhne AG: a company with tradition and future
Innovative - Visionary - Adaptable
From the first simple tin cans to the highly sophisticated life sciences product produced in ISO7 / GMP C class cleanrooms - Fischer Söhne has shaped the packaging industry over the past decades with innovative ideas and solutions. Today, the company is one of the most important Swiss producers of extrusion blow molding solutions for canisters and technical parts. Packaging solutions for medical syringes - so-called tubs and nests - are also in demand far beyond the country's borders.
In 1923, the A. Fischer & Söhne was founded, known at that time as "Blechwarenfabrik". They started producing tin packaging for various purposes and later expanded their range to include paper and cardboard packaging for food. In 1960, the first extrusion blow molding line was purchased and 10-liter round plastic bottles were produced for the first time. With the move to Muri in 1967, plastic processing was comprehensively expanded. Between 1985 and 1991 Fischer Söhne is completely reorganized and investments are made in fully automatic extrusion blow molding equipment. This is followed by the construction of a new warehouse with over 6500 pallet spaces. As one of the first plastics processing companies in Switzerland, Fischer Söhne introduces the ISO 9001 quality management system. In 2002 Fischer Söhne takes over parts of Polar AG and expands the business with injection molding solutions for medical technology. This is followed by the expansion of the quality management system with certification according to ISO 13485. Fischer Söhne recognizes the opportunities in the life sciences sector and invests massively in clean room technology between 2014 and 2019. For the years 2023 and 2024, the company is again planning an expansion stage. There are also innovations in other areas: Since 2023, the company has been producing technical parts with a new, state-of-the-art extrusion blow molding line.
Fischer Söhne has successfully responded to the changing needs of the market. Rooted in Switzerland, internationally active - Fischer Söhne is an innovative supplier of extrusion blow molding and injection molding solutions for demanding customers from different markets.
