You have been working at Otto Hofstetter AG for a good 26 years now. How has the company changed during this time?
The company has grown dramatically in all areas in recent years. Various extensions have been added to the building in Uznach, and the number of employees has grown accordingly. Investments were also made on an ongoing basis to modernise the various systems we use. In short, the company as it was when I started 26 years ago cannot be compared to what it is today.
If you compare your work then with what you do today, what is the biggest difference?
As a young design engineer, I stood at a large drawing board and drew my plans on paper. A good spatial imagination was very much required. I had no way, for example, to model a hole in a three-dimensional space and check that it came out at the right place. I had to interpret that based on the drawing. CAD and computers only came in the 1990s and were by no means accessible to all employees. Conversely, we also had much more time for our tasks than we do today. I’m happy about the digitalisation of my work because without these modern tools it would be impossible to complete the projects we have within today’s tight time constraints. What also helps is a certain standardisation of the moulds.
Michele Petrizzo
Design engineer in PET Development. He has been working for Otto Hofstetter AG for 26 years, with short breaks. He spent several months in California to improve his English and previously worked for Werfo AG in Haag, Switzerland – now Sulzer Mixpac AG – for nine years. Michele Petrizzo is married and has a 21-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old son.
Where do you see the most significant technological advances in the moulds that Otto Hofstetter AG builds?
The moulds for the thermoplastic sector are based on physical laws. That hasn’t changed in almost 30 years. On the other hand, huge advances have been made in manufacturing. Thanks to laser technology and high-precision systems, we are now able to build moulds that are much more compact and at the same time increase their efficiency. This means that less steel is needed to achieve the same robustness, and yet the moulds are much more productive and easier to maintain.
From your point of view as a design engineer, where do you see the greatest challenges in the future?
In the not-too-distant future, our design systems will be equipped with artificial intelligence. I think this will change the work of the designer even more than the move from paper to CAD did. In the future, I think that the system itself will propose how a mould must be designed to produce a specific plastic part. The task of engineering experts will be to check the plausibility of a solution and to evaluate any alternative solutions. This area of responsibility will also merge with that of production planning and control, resulting in a completely new job description. When this development will come on stream is unclear right now, but I’m sure that it will happen before I retire. So, for me, that means staying flexible.
You worked for a number of years in a similar company, which allows you to make a comparison with Otto Hofstetter AG. In your opinion, what distinguishes OHAG?
Despite its significant growth, Otto Hofstetter AG has managed to remain a family-run company. I see that as a big plus – for the employees as well as for customers. I also owe it to the family atmosphere that I was encouraged by the former engineering manager, Luis Fernandez, to increase my skills. I am very grateful to him for that. Another strength of our company lies in the rich know-how of the employees, which everyone is willing to share in order to obtain the best possible result for the customer.
How could Otto Hofstetter AG improve?
The company has a continuous improvement programme in place. In my opinion, this is worth a lot and makes me confident about the future. Due to the high levels of specialisation in individual areas these days, contact with each other has been diminished somewhat. But that may be the price you have to pay in order to be able to be successful in a competitive market at our high level.
You spent a few months in California for a language course and got to know the Californian way of life. What could OHAG learn from this?
When you address the balance between work and leisure that characterises the people of California, the employees of Otto Hofstetter AG can be assured they are in good hands. The company enables a good work-life balance. The fact that the climate in the Uznach region is not quite Californian can’t be changed by the company.
Bathing in a river may seem dangerous to some readers of the magazine. Don’t you worry about the current?
Since my youth, we have always jumped into the Linth – that’s the name of the river in Grynau – to cool off a bit on hot summer days. There were already swimming pools, but the adventure in the river was more fun and we got there faster. Basically, it’s not bathing. Rather, you let yourself drift on the water for a few hundred metres downstream and then get out again.
Water is very important to you. How concerned are you that so much plastic waste ends up in water?
In my view, the problem consists of two different issues. On the one hand, there’s the plastic waste that ends up in the sea, and on the other, the microplastics. When it comes to plastic waste, we as a society have a responsibility that we must recognise. We must teach our children to respect nature and to follow proper waste management practices. As adults, we must set a good example for them. As far as the microplastics in the water are concerned, I see the task as one for us toolmakers. As part of the plastics industry, we should try to contribute to the solution with our know-how. We can do that if we all pull on the same rope.
Do you see an approach to solving the plastic waste problem?
First of all, in order to undertake effective measures, reliable information about the origin of the problem is necessary. Simply running off and changing something is not going to be effective. Unfortunately, discussions about this issue are often conducted in a subjective manner, with different parties pursuing different interests. I am convinced that if there is reliable data on the origin of microplastics, the industry will come up with solutions within a reasonable period of time. It’s in our own interest. The advances made in cleanroom production show what is possible. But, of course, this will come with higher costs.
What about the water quality of the Linth and the cleanliness of the Grynau?
In this regard, I can only praise the users of this unique landscape. They respect its qualities and keep it clean. Plastic waste is extremely rare and, if there is any, it’s usually just a plastic bag with dog waste. Because of the people’s attitude, I’m confident that I’ll be able to enjoy many more carefree walks through the Grynau together with my wife.
How do you see your future at Otto Hofstetter AG?
Artificial intelligence will eventually take over part of my work. Until then, I will use my knowledge and experience to support the projects of Otto Hofstetter AG’s customers. When AI has found its way into everyday work, I will deal with it and, with my colleagues, figure out how we can use it to get the best results for our customers.
Thank you for the interview, Mr Petrizzo.
