ANNIVERSARYEDITION50YEARS

Editorial

SISTAG AG − 50 YEARS

Anniversary edition

Number of copies: 600

Editor / Address of the editorial office:

SISTAG AG

Alte Kantonsstrasse 7

CH-6274 Eschenbach

Switzerland

Phone +41 41 449 9944

www.weyvalve.com

Design: Kobalt AG, Lucerne

Editor: WÖRTERBUCHER Dany Bucher, Lucerne

Editorial staff: Hans-Jörg Sidler,

Ambros Aschwanden

Print: Multicolor Print AG, Baar

Like that, SISTAG AG promoted its Wey products, made

in Eschenbach, for 50 years. It is therefore time to look

back, assess the current situation and examine future

prospects.

In the 50’s of the last century, Joseph Wey (†) tested

the ingenious Wey sealing system for knife gate valves

at the Hans Sidler & Co. workshop. At the beginning of

the 60’s, stricter regulations for water pollution control

accelerated the development of wastewater treatment

plants, and our company was establi shed as a result.

Hans Sidler and Hans Stalder decided to acquire all

of Joseph Wey’s patent rights and founded SISTAG

in 1964.

Meanwhile we are 50 years successful in business. The

need to prove ourselves as the market’s top niche sup-

plier of knife gate valves motivates us daily to guide our

company into a prosperous future. Our new infrastruc-

ture, which architecturally reflects our corporate identity

in distinctive black and red, is proof of our drive and a

sign of our faith in the future. And, due to increasingly

stringent pollution regulations, climate change, amen-

ded standards and new industrial applications, there is

great potential for long-term company success.

Our faith for another prosperous 50 years at SISTAG

is based on the fact that the next generation is already

wait ing in the wings. My son Samuel is currently earning

his stripes as CEO of our US subsidiary.

Finally, I would like to express my thanks. First of all to

you dear customers who put your trust in us. Through

this partnership we are constantly motivated to per-

form at the highest level possible. Then I would like to

thank our many employees all over the world for your

consistently high commitment and loyalty to our com-

pany. And a big ‘thank you’ goes to the two founders of

SISTAG: it is due to you that we can celebrate a proud

anniversary today.

We promise you, our esteemed partners and customers,

that SISTAG’s performance will continue to impress you

in the future.

Kind regards

Hans-Jörg Sidler

Traditional, dynamic and innovative.

3

Out into the worldWith the signing of the first production licence agree-

ment in 1966, SISTAG crossed borders for the first

time. And, as the Wey sealing system was so suc-

cessful, SISTAG kept on expanding. The patent app-

lication for the sealing system in Japan, Germany,

France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, England, the USA,

Canada and Australia marked the starting point, as it

were, of the SISTAG journey around the world.

1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973

SISTAG (Maschinenfabrik Sid-ler Stalder AG) is established and now owns all Joseph Wey patent rights. The Swiss mar-ket is served first, with knife gate valves and sluice gates.

A new assembly plant is built in Eschenbach and, as a com-pany already taking its res-ponsibilities seriously, SISTAG establishes its own employee pension fund.

Due to increasing export de-mands, SISTAG concludes its first production licence agreement. Within Switzer-land, wastewater treatment plants from eleven municipali-ties start using Wey products.

The newly built administrati-on building provides the ad-ministration department and sales team with modern pre-mises, and plans are drawn up for the new sawtooth-roof design manufacturing facility.

The opening of the sales of-fice in Vevey in the French speaking Switzerland enables SISTAG to meet the stead-ily growing demand for Wey products in that part of the country.

The highly satisfactory level of new orders ensures that the sawtooth-roof design manu-facturing facility, planned two years earlier, can now be built and put into use. Many new products are developed.

Double transverse sealing, op-tions for valve gates, vacuum and high-pressure applications were developed in the previous year. Now additional products are singled out to complement the Wey product range.

The implementation of a new production planning and con-trol system serves as a mile-stone in work scheduling.

SISTAG decides to incorpora-te a valve trading programme into their portfolio and patents for the Wey sealing system are applied for in many coun-tries (including overseas).

The business began with 35 employees and now this num-ber has grown to 81. SISTAG is well on its way and set to expand.

54

1964 – 1973

Before our company was established, Joseph Wey, a

paper engineer, was compelled to carry out his projects

by using pulp & paper valves with inadequate sealing

performance. So he got down to work and made count-

less drawings, based on the ingenious Wey sealing

principle which were already in the 1950s turned into

real products at the Hans Sidler & Co workshop. More

stringent regulations for wastewater treatment plants

subsequently prompted Hans Sidler and Hans Stalder

(formerly Joseph Wey’s first employee) to acquire all of

Joseph Wey’s patent rights, and so the SISTAG of today

was created. The decision by the two founders shows

both courage and pioneering spirit. Out of the mechani-

cal workshop established by Johann Sidler in 1908 they

formed a company which conquered the national pulp

& paper and wastewater market with its Wey knife gate

valves within a very short time. Thanks to high quality

products and a reliable service, neighbouring countries

also quickly became aware of the products.

What got the founders goingHans Sidler, born in 1925: “Thanks to our youthful enthusiasm,

good communication skills, careful planning and realistic targets we

had a very successful beginning. Production was hectic from the start,

but we found it very exciting and interesting at the same time. We were

prepared to take risks from the word go, expanded our production and

office areas quickly and automated many manufacturing processes.”

Hans Stalder, born in 1930: “It was a turbulent start! We were

finally able to come to a long-term agreement with the owner of the

first patent of our today world-renowned Wey valve, as we were sure

that only with this in place would we have any chance of success. We

then forged ahead and turned our vision into reality with great energy,

underpinned by a contractually perfect setup. We never thought that it

would take off like it did, but in retrospect it is clear that we brought our

products onto the market at exactly the right time and could therefore

build a solid foundation for the SISTAG of today.”

INTERVIEW

81SISTAG had

employees as early as 1973.

1967

Success storyThe development of wastewater treatment plants

gained momentum again in 1979 and product in-

novations meant that SISTAG could benefit from

this. With Wey features such as zero leakage,

bi-directional tightness, a transverse seal that

can be repacked under pressure and a jam-

ming-free passage etc., we set ourselves well

apart from the competition. This was all lin-

ked to a high level of customer satisfaction

and people recommending us to others. At

the same time we were also able to de-

velop the company further and serve new

segments of the market.

1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

SISTAG celebrates its 10th an-niversary and not just with an event: investments in new ma-chines are made, as, despite the slowdown our outlook for the future is positive.

Orders decreased by 13 per cent due to the recession in the previous year. SISTAG does not introduce short-time working, however, and instead uses the available capacity to boost stock levels and optimise products.

Production of the VR knife gate valve range (ECO type with straight gate and circular flow passage) gets under way. SISTAG continues to develop in other areas and broadens its base.

Production of the TZ butterfly valves begins this year. The production licence for this product is taken over by SIS-TAG.

The computer age begins at SISTAG with the use of the Burroughs B800 computer system. We receive a major order from South Africa for around 500 knife gate valves for a gold mine.

Our knife gate valves are beco-ming increasingly well-known and popular. A large number of small and medium-size orders boost our output by a sub stantial 28 per cent.

Wey Valve International, the marketing and sales organi-sation, is established so that SISTAG can target individual markets and maintain a global presence.

This year SISTAG’s sales exceed the 10 million mark and a major contract from the biggest purifi-cation plant in Switzerland, the Werdhölzli wastewater treatment plant in Zurich, delights the ma-nagement and all the employees.

The second generation joins the company in the person of Hans-Jörg Sidler, and a special project for DN 1200 high-tem-perature knife gate valves is successfully concluded.

A project from Norway causes quite a stir at SISTAG as we secure a major contract for the offshore industry there.

76

1974 – 1983

At the start of the 1970s, other industries succumbed

to the recession. We watched these events closely and

at the same time asked ourselves how we might react if

this happened to us too. Even then we took the view that

safeguarding jobs was very important to us. Ours is not a

hire-and-fire culture; after all, we have deep roots in the

region along with our families and employees. Offering

high-quality products at competitive prices was actually

always a good formula for maintaining full employment.

But in 1975/76, the recession caught up with us, too,

and a 13 per cent decline in sales made things quite dif-

ficult. However, as we were still able to see and evaluate

opportunities for the future after assessing the market,

we thought outside the box and decided to restock du-

ring the slump so that we could deliver even faster in

the future. By upgrading machines, renovating buildings

and optimising operations we were able to do without

short-time working and staff cuts. What we learnt was

that even in difficult times it is worth making plans for the

future and motivating employees by being confident and

having a sense of social responsibility.

Working 45 years in engineering

Fredy Baumli, which events from 1974 – 1983 do you have particularly fond memories of?“Well, I was young and carefree. Shortly after my basic military training many

things were at least as important to me as work! This is why I remember the many litt-

le fun office parties in the woods and how we marched through the workshop on ‘Fat Thursday’ with an in-

house carnival band. Of course, a number of memorable events also happened at work and I fondly recall

the collaboration with many renowned engineering consultancies. I also remember the 50” valves (1,270 mm)

which we manufactured for the American market, at a time when 500 mm was

quite something, and the earthquake-proof valves that we manufactured for the

Leibstadt nuclear power plant.”

INTERVIEW

SISTAG generates sales of

10 millionin the second

decade.

Hans-Walter Strang, Burbach Grödig company, Austrian SISTAG represen-tative since 1968“At the start of the 1960s I got to know Hans Sidler, Hans Stalder und Joseph

Wey. I was just as impressed with the product that they presented to me at

that time as I was with them personally. We then succeeded in obtaining a

licence for Germany, Austria and Holland and as a result we were able to build

up the markets in these countries. In 1968 I was instructed to set up an office in Austria. In 1988, I

acquired a 100 per cent stake in it. I successfully distribute Wey products in Austria to this day. Even though

a great deal has changed in the last few years, my enthusiasm for the Wey products is undimmed, and the

honest and fair cooperation with the managers still impresses me.”

INTERVIEW

1984 – 1993

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

In the company’s 20th year of existence technology makes itself felt and the IT system is upgraded and the latest gene-ration is installed. We are now working on IBM computers.

The falling sales in North America prompt the manage-ment to thoroughly review the production licence for Wey knife gate valves.

The major fire in Schweizer-halle also boosts SISTAG. A number of orders are recei-ved for valves to be installed in fire-fighting water-reten-tion basins in the chemical industry.

The US subsidiary Wey Val-ve Inc. is established in order to serve the North American market even better. In Switzer-land, production begins on the Wey knife gate valve MF.

From the beginning, SISTAG has placed great emphasis on extensive apprentice trai-ning. To this end the first CNC milling machine is put into operation in the apprentice training department.

SISTAG marks its 25th anni-versary. Meanwhile SISTAG, based in Eschenbach, is pro-cessing 165 tons of cast parts and 132 tons of stainless steel on a total of 5,200 m2.

SISTAG’s engineering depart-ment and technical office is upgraded: the 2D CAD sys-tem is introduced, thus further optimising work processes.

Social awareness and chan-ging social demands prompt the SISTAG management to introduce the RBS employee participation system.

Hans-Jörg Sidler takes the position of managing director and repositions the compa-ny. The company is renamed SISTAG Absperrtechnik and receives a new corporate identity.

Ever more quality standards must be met if a company wants to remain successful, which is why intensive pre-paratory measures are being taken to obtain the planned ISO certification.

98

At this time, the name SISTAG was just an abbreviation

for Maschinenfabrik Sidler Stalder AG. When we realised,

however, that we needed to be more customer focussed

and achieve greater customer proximity, we decided that

the term “Maschinenfabrik” (machine factory) was not

specific enough and some sort of an irritant. We wanted

to position ourselves ready for the future in an internatio-

nal market with the help of clear and direct statements.

As a result, we decided that from now on, SISTAG would

be the stand-alone name, without reference to the two

surnames. With the addition of “Absperrtechnik” (flow

control technology) we were also highlighting the variety

of products in our portfolio. In this way, the entire SISTAG

team and its representatives were committed to the new

targets for export development and motivated to offer a

wider variety of specialty solutions for the industry. With

this different positioning and the concurrent newly de-

veloped corporate identity, the new management under

Hans-Jörg Sidler sent out clear signals for the future. This

provided reassurance for the employees, particularly as it

was also made absolutely clear that the new generation,

too, would remain at the Eschenbach site.FocusIn late 1986, a fire in a storage facility at the former

Sandoz chemical company in Schweizerhalle caused

one of the worst environmental disasters in Europe.

Fire-fighting water, which had flown into the river

Rhine over the course of a few weeks, killed a huge

amount of fish. As a result, the Schwei-

zerhalle-based chemical companies

decided to act, and built a large mul-

ti-chamber basin and several smaller

retention basins, as well as collecting

tanks and fire-fighting water reser-

voirs. Our Wey products allowed us

to make a major contribution to the

future safety of human and nature.

Unbelievable but true: the fastest Wey knife gate valve, our SpeedWey HSI shuts in a

near record time of

17milliseconds.

1987

MasterpieceSISTAG apprentices are supported and challen-

ged. From the beginning, SISTAG has offered

apprenticeships for poly-mechanic technicians,

and design draftspersons. Apprentices are provi-

ded with modern facilities. We expect high levels

of motivation from these young people and we

provide thorough training. It is particularly plea-

sing therefore when SISTAG apprentices finish

their training and come top of the whole canton,

as has happened on occasion.

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

SISTAG receives the SQS cer-tificate ISO 9001/EN 29001: an industry first, triggered by international demand for cer-tified services.

The production start of the Wey knife gate valve VN signals the further development of the VR series as a low-cost alternative as well as compliance with the latest requirements in terms of standards and markets.

The growth of the business is also reflected in sales. For the first time, SISTAG turns over more than 15 million Swiss francs, and a multi-million-franc contract for an aluminium plant in Iran opens up new horizons.

In order to better serve the important German market, SISTAG GmbH is established in Germany. Wey Valve Inc. USA celebrates its 10th anni-versary.

Just one year after it is establis-hed, SISTAG’s German subsidiary company is integrated into the QM system according to ISO 9001. In Eschenbach, a two-pallet CNC processing centre for large knife gate valves comes into operation.

Shortly before the new millen-nium, SISTAG starts using a state-of-the-art DN 50 to 400 valve test bench with docu-mented test tracking.

The new millennium gets off to a very good start with a major order being placed by the Per-len paper mill. We also break into the oilsands business with a major order from Canada.

Our success continues, as we once again are able to comple-te a major order, this time for the waterway intersection in Magdeburg (Germany). Eight Wey knife gate valves MFE DN 1400 are supplied.

The engineering department and technical office now work with a 3D CAD system, the com-puter-aided (FEM finite element method) is introduced and SIS-TAG produces the 50,000st VN knife gate valve.

The organisational structure of the company is adapted. By dividing up the marketing and sales departments into Swit-zerland and export depart-ments, we take account of the ever-increasing demand.

1110

From the beginning right up to the present day, the

demands on both staff and products at SISTAG have

continuously grown. The challenges faced by SIS-

TAG change along with the times, and so ongoing in-

vestments in personnel, infrastructure, production

technology and process optimisation are vital in or-

der to remain successful. Various aspects must be

repea tedly considered and challenged to achieve this.

For example, it is important to constantly increase flexi-

bility, to be able to use same parts for several models,

to streamline the range from time to time and to meet

very short delivery deadlines, as today’s customers want

their capital to be tied up for as short a time as possible.

Our modern production systems are now in use 7 days

a week, 24 hours a day, partly by unmanned ‘ghost’

shifts. Our motivated and committed employees are al-

ways willing to take special tasks, to participate in inter-

departmental job rotation and to work overtime during

times of capacity constraints. In combination with our

very well-functioning international supplier network we

will be able to meet the demands of the coming years.

Hans-Jörg Sidler“I grew up in the house with the original workshop, right next to the milling ma-

chine so to speak, so I got an insight into the business from an early age and

was entrusted with tasks even before I qualified as a mechanical engineer. I did,

of course, also hear many discussions about market requirements and person-

nel issues and learnt a great deal about social responsibility. Well-prepared and

highly motivated, I was able to take on my father’s role in 1990 and run SISTAG

together with Hans Stalder. From 1992, I assumed sole responsibility for the busi-

ness and built up a strong management team around me. I am extremely grateful

for the confidence shown in me by the company’s two founders, for the freedom

that they granted me and for the valuable advice I was always able to obtain.”

INTERVIEW

1994 – 2003

In the meantime, Wey product exports

account for an amazing

70per cent.

2014

Records set to be brokenThe 150,000st VN knife gate val-

ve is produced, the number of

employees is higher than ever

before, new capacities are

being created, the record le-

vel of sales is equalled and

steps for the future have

been taken in a way that will

enable us to tackle the next

50 years confidently, yet

still responsibly and with

great respect for our em-

ployees and the partners

who accompany us on

our journey.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

The administration building needs to be extended, a ma-jor order is received for flood prevention and production of the Wey knife gate valve MG PN 16 begins.

Employee numbers have now risen to 101. An intensive and instructive management seminar for prospective SISTAG managers, lasting several days, takes this into account.

A new partially automated DN 450 to 1200 valve test stand is used, we put a new Oracle server into operation and we achieve Pressure Equipment Directive certification.

The management makes ano-ther far-sighted investment decision. Hall 100 is built, increasing storage and ma-nufacturing capacity by an additional 1,300 m2.

We move into Hall 100 and state-of-the-art high-bay bar racking with an integrated sa-wing system can be put into operation. Production of the Wey knife gate valve MH PN 25 also begins.

The 100,000st VN knife gate valve is produced. Despite the ailing economy, there is full employment in the plant due to the completion of pending tasks as well as process and product optimisation.

The new 24-hour production system with a high-bay ware-house and processing centre doubles our capacity. A third parallel planing machine is now also in use.

SISTAG makes a commitment to the future – due to a new con- struction project another CHF 6 million is invested in the Eschen-bach production site. Major orders from Poland and China show that this is the right course of action.

SISTAG AG achieves another sales record of CHF 29.5 million and moves into the new office building. The new corporate identity is launched as part of the Big Bang event.

Moving into the extension with its new showroom, meeting rooms and canteen as well as changing facilities and a spacious work-shop for apprentices makes the working environment more com-fortable for employees.

SISTAG celebrates 50 years and looks forward to the future! The third generation is now also at the helm: Samuel Sidler holds the position of CEO & President at Wey Valve Inc., USA.

1312

Records tumble and time passes more quickly – at SIS-

TAG too. It is therefore important to plan the future of

the business carefully and with due consideration. The

signs of the times need to be recognised and it is just

as essential to act with foresight and anticipate custo-

mer needs with regard to processes and applications as

it is to come up with product innovations or to make

anti cyclical investments. SISTAG also sees itself in the

future as a responsible, innovative family-run compa-

ny. The third generation is already earning its stripes in

the US subsidiary. We can therefore be certain that the

values which we have adhered to since the very begin-

ning will also be upheld in the future. Of course we want

success, but it must always come with sound growth,

as sustainability is more important to us than sharehol-

der value at all costs. Job security will also continue to

be extremely important in everything we do; we see our

employees and the subsidiaries as part of the family,

because we can only continue SISTAG’s success story

together, with mutual trust.

Manuel Schmidlin completed his apprenticeship as a poly-mechanic technician at SISTAG with honours and a grade of 5.6 in 2014.“I decided to take my apprenticeship at SISTAG, because the training programme

at this company is very well-regarded everywhere and because I very much enjoy

working as a poly-mechanic. I think that this training is a good foundation for my future professional develop-

ment. During my training I always received encouragement and support and I felt, and still feel, very much at

home here because fellowship among employees is highly regarded and fostered. SISTAG supports this by

arranging interesting annual excursions for apprentices and many other events for employees. I just find it

really fun to work here, particularly because I face new challenges every day.”

INTERVIEW

2004 – 2014

In 2014, to coincide with our anniversary year, the

celebrations continue: the

150 000st

VN knife gate valve leaves our plant.

1514

Samuel Sidler represents the third generation at SIS-

TAG. He is currently managing the US subsidiary and

preparing to join the SISTAG management team. Why

does he want this and why is he doing it? You can

read his personal reply here: “When you come from a

family of entrepreneurs with a successful father, grand-

father and great-grandfather, of course you want to claim

this success for yourself too. However, I know that suc-

cess always comes with duties and responsibilities, and

I want to take these on in the sense and spirit of my pre-

decessors. As my father did before me, I also want to

take advantage, for the benefit of SISTAG, of the oppor-

tunities that are opened up by managing a global com-

pany and keep our success story going. Continuing to

preserve our tradition and vision is a great source of mo-

SISTAG AGAlte Kantonsstrasse 76274 Eschenbach, SwitzerlandPhone +41 41 449 9944Fax +41 41 448 3431info@weyvalve.chweyvalve.ch

Wey Valve Inc.3985 Hwy 6 NorthNettleton, MS 38858, U.S.A.Phone +1 662 963 2020Fax +1 662 963 2025information@weyvalve.comweyvalve.com

SISTAG GmbHBahnhofsplatz 1276461 Muggensturm, GermanyPhone +49 7222 7879 790Fax +49 7222 7879 7911info@weyvalve.deweyvalve.de

tivation for me, so I will also

stick to the values that have

made SISTAG big: custo-

mer satisfaction, trust in our

employees, a desire to in-

novate and quality without

compromise, plus a great

deal of real Swiss spirit.

These values will continue

to unlock great develop-

ment potential for SISTAG

on the international mar-

ket. Recognising and exploiting this

potential is my personal challenge, as well as securing

our locations in Switzerland, the USA and Germany.”

Looking into the future

North America (USA / Canada)We want to break into the wastewater market here with the new Wey knife gate valve VM and further extend our lead in the oilsands processing sector. We see new environmental requirements in the process industry as a great opportunity for Wey products.

Latin AmericaWe want to achieve a sustained market-opening in the mineral and mining applications sector. We see this as a possible way of gaining a long-term foothold from Mexico to Argentina.

Far East / ChinaWe can supply and equip upcoming manufactu-rers of semi-finished products for the pharma-ceutical and petrochemical industries in this area. The mining industry in various countries of this region offers great potential.

India / Southeast AsiaIn this region, we can support security of supply in the energy and food industries with Wey knife gate valves. Our solutions also provide a high le-vel of operational safety in the steel industry and the production of fertiliser.

Switzerland / Western EuropeWe want to supply custom solutions for complex industrial processes and alternative biogas ener-gy for European plant builders. We have identi-fied expansion opportunities in our home market of Switzerland, particularly in the power sector and steel hydraulic constructions.

… in the future.

Grüezi

Guten TagWelcome

BonjourSaluti

Bun Di

добрый день

Benvenuto

Dzień Dobry Välkommen

Bem-vindoBuen día