.svg)
Innovative concept for reindustrializing Switzerland
In July 2023, Antrimon Group AG (Antrimon) was acquired by Swiss Factory Group AG (SwissFactory.group), thereby achieving an additional strengthening of the Swiss manufacturing sector. This premier provider of innovative, sustainable mechatronic systems is now well-positioned, as part of SwissFactory.Group, to better meet customer expectations and needs, and to continue its development. Throughout the entire sales process, Dipl. Ing./EMBA Stefan Schimon, the founder and owner of Antrimon, was supported by IFBC as an exclusive financial and M&A advisor. IFBC particularly developed an attractive transaction structure and supported contract and purchase price negotiations. Together with the buyer, the potentials and synergies were identified, bringing SwissFactory.Group significantly closer to its vision: "We are the factory of Switzerland for appliances, devices, and machines in the B2B sector!"
In the future, Stefan Schimon will contribute his extensive knowledge and experience as a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors. In the following interview, he provides insight into the ambitions and considerations that led him to take this step.
The SwissFactory.group stands for an innovative merger of SMEs with complementary manufacturing and assembly technologies as well as excellent engineering know-how. The culture and DNA of SwissFactory.Group align with Antrimon's values, bringing together like-minded entrepreneurs.
Switzerland is an innovative leader in many areas and has excellent educational institutions such as ETH and numerous “hidden champions” among SMEs. I am personally involved in several start-ups as a board member, a commission member of the Research Fund of the Canton of Aargau and President of Swiss Mechatronics. We should position ourselves as a DeepTech nation and strongly integrate the thinking sector with the manufacturing sector. This vision and the overcoming of deficits, such as the strength of the Swiss franc and the shortage of skilled workers, form the basis for a reindustrialization of Switzerland.
As founder and previous owner of Antrimon, I have a strong attachment to my company, which is why I am also active as a shareholder and member of the board of directors in the new group. As a member of SwissFactory.Group, Antrimon will continue to offer all services for project and innovation management, mechatronic development and laboratory, procurement, industrialization and product life cycle management. Together, we will continue to evolve and strive to even better meet the expectations and needs of our customers in the future.
Antrimon is a highly motivated and closely-knit team that continuously seeks to further develop. We all share a passion for mechatronics and the drive to turn ideas into something exceptional. Antrimon is involved in pioneering topics: Cargo Sous Terrain, Human Machine Interface, Smart Doors and other promising B2B projects in the areas of e-mobility and MedTech. The ambition to become the “factory of Switzerland” shows where the journey is heading. Together with SwissFactory.Group, we create top performances for our customers. This leads to additional growth, which in turn creates attractive career opportunities for our employees.
As a member of the Board of Directors, I can focus on long-term and strategic issues. Among these, company-wide development of synergies and targeted knowledge transfer is considered one of the most complex tasks. The corporate group is very well positioned and deeply understands the business models, value chains and customer needs. We are the go-to destination for delivering sustainable mechatronic systems comprehensively. I see the greatest challenges in long-term talent management and consistent strategy implementation.
Selling one's own company is typically a once-in-a-lifetime event, which is why this is an extraordinary situation per se that raises questions on many fronts. The transaction process was correspondingly complex and a heavy burden. Even though I'm used to pressure as an entrepreneur, it was very valuable for me to have discussions with a sparring partner like IFBC, who brings a fresh and external perspective.
On the one hand, there was the structuring of the transaction at the beginning, which was handled very well by IFBC and addressed all my needs. Additionally, I appreciated their guidance in the negotiation process and the effective involvement of stakeholders. The latter was of central importance for the success of the merger.
Stefan Schimon, CEO of Antrimon Group AG, brings over 20 years of experience in engineering, operations and product marketing. He holds a Dipl. Ing. FH in Electrical Engineering and an Executive MBA in Strategic Management. He is the founder and president of Gotthard 3 Mechatronic Solutions AG, a concept and a technology park promoting innovation in mechatronics. Additionally, he holds various board positions and serves as the president of SWISS MECHATRONICS, a professional association dedicated to advancing mechatronics.
%202.webp){kind=logo}
