What is your job at OHAG?
During my now 24 years at Otto Hofstetter, I’ve had various functions. My main task at the moment is to organise hotrunner refurbishments. Customers contact me directly. Together, we decide whether replacing or rebuilding makes more sense. We can do a replacement in two to three days, and a complete overhaul in our factory takes four to six weeks. In addition to the revamps, I handle spare parts sales. For 20 years, I’ve kept a record of what’s been replaced on which hotrunner and when. This record helps us avoid sending a customer an unsuitable spare part or giving one to a service technician. In all of my roles at Otto Hofstetter AG, I’ve always had close contact with our customers all over the world, which has been a great experience for me.
What does OHAG mean to you?
Before I joined the Otto Hofstetter AG team, I was an entrepreneur myself. As an employee, I wanted to stay true to this mentality and get involved as if it were my own company. That is probably the reason why I identify so much with the company today. I think it’s a great privilege to have been working here for almost 25 years and to have experienced being a trusted member of the team.
What do you do outside of OHAG?
Nature is very important to me. That’s why I pitched my tent in the foothills of the Appenzellerland region in Switzerland. I live practically at the edge of a forest, which allows me to observe nature closely, especially birds, and listen to their concerts.
I can usually identify the voices I hear, and I also know whether they are just passing through or live here permanently. I’ve also made a study of butterflies and other insects and can identify most of them too. My house and large garden require maintenance, of course, which also keeps me busy. Beyond that, I like to hike a lot and to travel to southern Europe in my mobile home. I’m more of a sun person.
Why is the mountain Gupf your favourite place?
From up here I enjoy a great view of the Alpstein massif with a vista that includes four countries: Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and of course Switzerland. With the fantastic view up here, I can switch off, breathe deeply and let my soul be inspired.
You live in Rehetobel, the third-highest community in the canton. Are you drawn to heights?
As a sun person, it’s important for me to live above the fog line during the foggy season. According to Wikipedia, Rehetobel enjoys the most hours of sunshine per year in Switzerland! And pure nature is all around us here. Hiking trails right outside the front door, cow bells ringing and the chirping of birds. Many people might find this boring, but for me it’s perfect.
What made you move from Uznach to Rehetobel?
Before my time at Otto Hofstetter, I owned a car dealership within sight of my current job. With the sale of the business and employment at Otto Hofstetter AG, I made a completely new start. In the Uznach region, I couldn’t find a house that met my requirements. In Rehetobel, I found one that was perfect for me.
Your daily commute to Uznach is no short hop by Swiss standards. How do you use your travel time?
When I joined Otto Hofstetter AG, the English language was completely foreign to me. Until then, I had no need to learn it. But as an employee of an internationally active company, that quickly changed. I used the daily journeys on the train to address this shortcoming. I also learned how to type while on the train. Today, I mostly read the newspaper, travel stories or articles about birds and nature.
On your way to Uznach, you pass through a part of Switzerland that’s fit for a postcard. What does Switzerland mean to you? What is tradition for you?
Traveling every day through this beautiful part of Switzerland and being able to live in Appenzellerland is a great privilege for me. The variety of well-tended landscapes and the distinct local cultures and dialects are part of what makes Switzerland so appealing to me, and all this happens in a very small space. Excellent medical and social care, a good educational system as well as clean drinking water, good food, hygiene and high-quality craftsmanship are big pluses of living here. This is all very enriching for me and gives me the feeling of security. For me, tradition creates a feeling of togetherness. But it also has to be exemplified and renewed again and again.
What does it mean to you to feel rooted?
Being deeply rooted in my living space and in my family means a lot to me. This also applies to my work at Otto Hofstetter AG. There, I feel I’m a valued part of the team. By the way, my relationship with the company began long before I became an employee. Otto Jr. and I were schoolmates and we spent a lot of time in the workshop when we were kids. So the company and Otto have been with me for most of my life.
Your former industry is facing a profound change as a result of electromobility. To what extent are you still following this?
Although I haven’t worked in it for many years, the automotive industry is still very close to me. Accordingly, I actively follow how it’s developing. With electromobility – and possibly other new technologies as well as new business models – the auto industry is going through a radical upheaval. The future will definitely be exciting.
What changes do OHAG and the plastics industry face?
The discussion about plastics is very emotional today and it is often not based on facts. If it were more objective, plastic wouldn’t have such a bad reputation today. That makes me feel a little uneasy since Otto Hofstetter AG is completely geared towards this material. What happens when the pressure on plastics producers increases and the packaging industry turns to other materials? Running such a company in these challenging times seems very difficult to me, so Otto Hofstetter Jr. enjoys my fullest admiration.
When you retire at the end of January 2022, you personally will face a radical change. What will your main occupation be from February onwards?
I often hear or read about people going into retirement with mixed feelings. I have absolutely no concerns. I’m interested in many things. There are countless mountain peaks I’ve never seen, and my motorhome has not yet stood in many beautiful places in Europe. So my programme is already full of attractive prospects. Beyond that, I would like to improve my language skills and learn Italian.
How do you prepare for retirement?
There is nothing to prepare for. I’m looking forward to it. I believe that I have done my part for the good of our society. It seems only fair to me to be able to focus more on myself in the coming years.
How can Otto Hofstetter AG fill the void when you leave?
Basically, I am of the opinion that nobody is irreplaceable, including me. Of course I have built up a lot of knowledge and expertise over the past 24 years, which I will now pass on to my successor, who’s been by my side for almost a year now. He’s already doing very well. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have the time to really convey all the knowledge I have to him. That’s why I will always be available for advice after my retirement.
What advice would you give your employer for the future?
Given Otto Hofstetter AG’s record of success over almost 70 years, I don’t think the company needs any tips from me. However, there is one point where I see potential for action. Sometimes I have the impression that my colleagues are not aware of the excellent reputation the company and its moulds enjoy around the world and how important it is to continue to deliver quality. Informing employees about how we’re seen by others could certainly remedy that deficit. I am proud to have been part of the Otto Hofstetter AG team. I hope all employees feel that way too.
Thank you for this interview, Mr Bischof. We wish you all the best for the future.
