The Swiss technology company Beck Automation develops innovative automation solutions that can be integrated into the production processes of plastics processing industries. With its innovative system solutions and services, the process specialist ensures quality and efficiency in a wide range of production processes. CEO Nicolas Beck, CSO Nino Zehnder and Ralf Ziemer, Sales Manager Medical at Beck Automation, explain in an interview why the third-generation family-run company is now establishing another mainstay in the field of medical technology.
Swiss automation innovations for the medical market
Mr. Beck, you are expanding into the medical field and have founded your own BU for this purpose. What was the decisive factor for this?
Nicolas Beck: We have been looking at this option for about four years, because Switzerland is a global medical location where pharmaceutical companies and research and development facilities are located. Our country not only plays a clear leading role in an international comparison, but is also surrounded by medical companies and suppliers from neighbouring countries. Furthermore, market analyses and the sharp increase in the number of enquiries show the growing demand for automation solutions. Our high-quality system solutions are in great demand. In the IML sector, we are among the top 3 manufacturers worldwide. Therefore, our entry into the medical market is a consequent step, which represents a milestone in the history of Beck Automation.
How did Beck Automation prepare for its entry into the medical sector? It was certainly necessary to build up specialist knowledge, to train employees and also to align marketing and sales with the new sector.
Nino Zehnder: Already in the planning phase, we built up market- and product-specific knowledge and hired expert staff. We have aligned sales, project management, construction and service to the specific conditions. In addition, we cooperate closely with our existing customers who, for example, serve the medical consumables market. Because we want to concentrate specifically on the medical market, the Business Unit Medical will work autonomously within our organisation in order to be able to react competently, flexibly and quickly to customer requirements.
So you want to offer specific automation solutions for the medical sector?
Nino Zehnder: Medical components are not standard parts. They require very individual, customised solutions and that is where our core competence lies. Therefore, we will continue to act according to our mission statement: listen, understand, and then act within our core competencies. Our customised systems result in sustainable economic advantages for our customers. In doing so, we set ourselves the highest standards in product and production safety. We ensure this through solutions that are reproducible, validatable and hygienically flawless.
Which customer groups do you address?
Ralf Ziemer: Our solutions are aimed at companies that produce medical consumables using injection moulding. These are pharmaceutical companies and their manufacturers. There are application areas in the four main segments of injection, infusion/transfusion, diagnostics/laboratory as well as health care and hospital care. Furthermore, we also address manufacturers of high-quality packaging solutions in cosmetics.
What product-specific added value can potential medical customers expect from Beck Automation?
Ralf Ziemer: Products used for medical purposes must not pose any risks to patients or users. The products must therefore be absolutely flawless. Since our systems cannot be manipulated, our machines offer the highest possible product and production safety. In addition, our modular machines are highly efficient with the smallest possible footprint. These systems already fulfil many of the prevailing requirements in medical technology.
Are there any other advantages that Beck Automation can offer potential medical customers?
Nicolas Beck: Our employees have in-depth automation know-how and also show many years of experience in the development and production of customised solutions. Our customers benefit from this profound knowledge. Furthermore, we are broadly positioned internationally. With our Swiss headquarters, our new plant in Portugal, which opened in 2021, and the expanded subsidiary in the USA, we have a good network to build on. If our own employees are not available on site, our long-standing international partners are at our disposal.
Nino Zehnder: And finally, we have already been able to implement the first solutions in the medical sector. This is despite the fact that we won’t officially launch our new business unit until beginning of Q2/2022. However, we cannot talk about this project at the moment.
Thank you very much for the interesting comments.
