What changes have you seen within the company during this time?
Automation has brought about the biggest changes. Many processes have been automated in production and in basically all other departments. The development of new solutions for the medical sector has also left its mark. Compared to PET and PAC, the requirements in this special area are somewhat higher and the quality control more stringent. With regard to mould base plate production, the situation is roughly the same as with the moulds for thin-walled packaging. Each order is very specific, and standardisation is practically non-existent.
How has Otto Hofstetter AG improved in recent years?
Precision machining and assembly have always been at a very high level at Otto Hofstetter AG. From my technical point of view, however, I think we have improved even further in these areas in recent years. This is mainly due to the machines we work with. Every new machine we acquire enables us to improve further and add some additional value. For example, a new grinding machine is being put into operation just now and its stand and bed are made of granite. This makes it very heavy and very stable, which means it can better withstand the grinding pressures it’s subjected to and deliver even more precise results.
Albert Kuster
Head of Mould Base Plate Production. He has been with Otto Hofstetter AG for 21 years, but he knows the company even longer, as he worked for a supplier before joining OHAG. He will retire in the spring of 2024 and devote himself to his other passions besides precision machine building.
Like many of your colleagues, you have worked in the metal working industry for many years. Where did you start your career?
As is usual in Switzerland, I did an apprenticeship. In the spring of 1974, I began my four-year apprenticeship as a mechanic at Mecana SA in Schmerikon. The role is now known as polymechanics. The company specialised in plant construction and employed around 120 people at the time. In 1991, I completed further training to become an industrial foreman and worked in this function for Mecana for a further 10 years. It was during this time that I came into contact with Otto Hofstetter AG because they had us produce mould base plates. It’s no coincidence that I’ve been here since 2001.
Why did you choose this work?
When choosing a career became an issue, it was already clear to me that my future would not take place in an office. I wanted to make something tangible. As I was about to leave school, I was given the opportunity to do a trial apprenticeship at Mecana. I accepted the offer and liked both the job as a mechanic and the employer. Maybe my private background also played a role. Growing up on a farm in a neighbouring town, I was used to dealing with all kinds of machines.
You are retiring in a year and a half. How will you look back on your more than 20 years at Otto Hofstetter AG?
First of all, I’m very happy that I left Mecana SA when I did, since the company has since closed. The decisive difference between my first employer and my current one is that here we have always had the resources that we needed to be able to produce the highest quality. The atmosphere in the company is also great. It is characterised by trust and appreciation, which I personally have always valued. Less important, but still very pleasant for me, is the fact that I can easily cycle from my home to my work.
Why did you choose the lakeside promenade in Schmerikon as the location for your portrait?
I feel a very strong connection to Schmerikon. I’ve lived here for nine years, did my firefighting service here, and I’m a member of the Virokantas men’s choir and regularly perform in the theatre here. The location right on the lake is very appealing to me. In the evening, I like to ride my bike here, sit on the shore and enjoy the peace and quiet.
What effect does Lake Zurich have on you?
First of all, I have to say that I’d rather be by the lake than on the lake. Sitting on a rock or a bench and listening to the water beating against the lake wall in the same rhythm has a calming effect on me. I could enjoy sitting next to a stream. In truth,
I would never consider moving to another area. Here, I have everything that’s important to me: the proximity to the water and the mountains. And if I ever feel like city air, Zurich is very close by. All in all, we live in a wonderful part of Switzerland.
Many customers of Otto Hofstetter AG regard Switzerland as something special. What does Switzerland mean to you?
I enjoy how orderly life is here. Whether in private, in the business world or in politics, everything works in a regulated and reliable way. The democracy that gives Switzerland its stability is also practiced in companies. At least that’s how I experience it with my employer. No one dictates what needs to be done. Employees’ opinions are respected and carry weight when decisions are made.
What is the reason for this cooperative spirit?
In my opinion, one prerequisite for this is the high level of professional training that the employees have. Anyone who has completed an apprenticeship, like most people at Otto Hofstetter AG, has a pretty solid technical background and knows the manufacturing process. Thanks to these competencies, they are able to express well-founded opinions, and they can support their opinions with facts. And then, of course, you also need the supervisors who place the appropriate trust in the employees.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Otto Hofstetter AG?
Finding the type of professionals that I just mentioned. Especially in production, which is becoming more complex and more digitalised and is constantly changing at a rapid pace. It is relatively difficult to find specialists who, on the one hand, are technically at the top level and, on the other, can deal with the hectic pace of working life today.
Why is that?
I think too few young people today are willing to learn a manual or industrial trade. A fact that not only applies to our industry. Employment in the services sector seems to be more attractive. Why this is so, I cannot say. In this context, Otto Hofstetter AG’s commitment to training has proven to be very helpful. Anyone who wants to stand at our machines and manufacture our high-precision parts must have solid basic knowledge. The damage that can result from improper operation is immense.
Back to you, Mr Kuster. You will retire in May 2024. Where will you be in five years?
In Uznach or in Schmerikon. Of course, my wife and I will take a trip or two. But as the mood takes us. Depending on the opportunities that arise. Like the other day, when a couple of friends asked us to take a trip with them. In addition, I could imagine offering my services as a driver for people with disabilities. And I will also remain active with the choir and theatre group, for sure.
Mr Kuster, thank you for this open discussion. I wish you all the best and hope that you enjoy your next chapter of life, travelling, singing, acting and spending time by the lake.
