SFS Group
{{Short description|Company for mechanical fastening systems headquartered in Switzerland}}
{{Infobox company
| name = SFS Group AG
| logo = SFS Group logo.svg
| type = Limited company
| traded_as = {{SWX|SFSN}}
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|CH0239229302}}
| key_people = {{ubl|Thomas Oetterli|(Chairman) | Jens Breu|(CEO)}}
| industry = Fastening systems and precision formed components
| revenue = {{CHF|1.89 billion|link=yes}} (2021)
| num_employees = 10,509 (2021)
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1928}}
| location = Heerbrugg, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| homepage = {{URL|sfs.com}}
}}
The SFS Group AG is concerned with precision components and assemblies, mechanical fastening systems, tooling and logistics systems. The headquarters are located in Heerbrugg, Switzerland. SFS employed nearly 11,000 people worldwide in 2021 and generated sales of {{CHF|1.89 billion}} with around 10,500 employees worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://annualreport.sfs.com/en/berichte/finanzbericht/ |title=SFS Group 2021 Annual Report: Financial overview |publisher=SFS Group |access-date=6 June 2022}}
History
The history of SFS began in 1928 in what was then the Stadler hardware store in Altstätten, Switzerland. In 1949, a branch was opened in nearby Heerbrugg. Motivated by supply bottlenecks, Josef Stadler and Hans Huber decided to set up their own screw production and jointly founded SFS Presswerk AG in 1960. Production was carried out by cold forming (also known as cold massive forming).
Both trading and manufacturing activities were continuously expanded in the following decades. From 1971, the company built up an international network of market organizations. In 1993, the activities were combined under the umbrella of SFS Holding AG, and in 2014 the name was changed to SFS Group AG. Today{{when|date=May 2025}}, the activities are divided into the three segments Engineered Components, Fastening Systems and Distribution & Logistics.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Group structure |url=https://www.sfs.com/ch/en/sfs-group/group-structure/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=SFS Group |language=en}}
Today{{when|date=May 2025}}, SFS operates more than 100 trading, logistics and manufacturing locations worldwide. Through various acquisitions, SFS has been able to include plastic injection molding technology and deep drawing technology.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=SFS Group on your side, 24/7 |url=https://www.sfs.com/ch/en/sfs-group/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=SFS Group |language=en}}
On September 1, 2012, SFS acquired Singapore-based Unisteel Technology Group, which operates in the field of miniature fasteners (for smartphones and hard drives, for example) and has production facilities in Malaysia and China.[http://in.reuters.com/article/us-unisteel-kkr-idINBRE87Q03820120827 Reuters]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Reuters, called 29 July 2015http://media.kkr.com/media/media_releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=702342, Website KKR, called 29 July 2015 Although SFS itself also produces miniature screws, which with a diameter of 0.5 mm are among the thinnest in the world, it was increasingly losing market share in this area of application due to the continuous exodus of the cell phone industry. By acquiring the Unisteel Technology Group, SFS consolidated its position in this market segment. With the expansion of production capacities in Nansha (CN), the company is further increasing component production in Asia.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131101110818/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/27/idUS28015+27-Aug-2012+BW20120827 Reuters] Reuters, called 3 July 2015
Since 7 May 2014 SFS is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange ({{SWX|SFSN}}).http://www.bobsguide.com/guide/news/2014/May/7/shares-of-sfs-group-ag-sfsn-open-at-chf-67-00.html Bobsguide, web resource for financial technology, called 29 July 2015
With the 2016 acquisitions of Stamm (Switzerland) and Tegra Medical (USA), SFS has expanded its position in the growing medical technology industry. This gives SFS access to a large, largely complementary portfolio of customers.http://annualreport.sfs.biz/fileadmin/user_upload/redakteure/gb2016/pdf/en/SFS_GB2016_Vollbericht_EN.pdf Annual Report 2016, SFS Group, called 15 March 2017
In 2018, the brands SFS intec and SFS unimarket merged and now appear as SFS.
With the acquisition of Hoffmann SE, headquartered in Munich (Germany) in 2021, SFS is expanding its range of tools and creating new development opportunities through the internationalization of its trading business.https://www.sfs.com/ch/en/media-newsroom/SFS-completes-transaction-with-Hoffmann.html, Website SFS Group, called 23 September 2022
Facts and figures
| class="wikitable" | |||
| !2021 (Swiss GAAP FER) | 2020 (Swiss GAAP FER) | 2019 (Swiss GAAP FER) | 2018 (Swiss GAAP FER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales SFS
|1,893 million CHF | 1,704.9 million CHF | 1,781.4 million CHF | 1,738.6 million CHF |
| EBITDA
|407.1 million CHF | 327.6 million CHF | 331.7 million CHF | 332.8 million CHF |
| Operating profit (EBIT)
|301.7 million CHF | 227.4 million CHF | 236.3 million CHF | 243.1 million CHF |
| Net income
|248.0 million CHF | 184.8 million CHF | 206.5 million CHF | 193.9 million CHF |
| Employees
|10,509 | 10,692 | 10,571 | 10,231 |
Source: SFS Grouphttps://annualreport.sfs.com/de/ Annual Report 2021, SFS Group, called 23 September 2022