StarragTornos

StarragTornos Group AG
Company typeAktiengesellschaft
ISINCH0002361068
IndustryMachining
Founded1897
Headquarters
Rorschacherberg
,
Switzerland
Key people
Christian Kurtenbach
Martin Buyle
Jens Thing
RevenueCHF 494.06 million (2024[1])
Number of employees
2034 (2024[1])
Websitewww.starrag.com

The Starrag Tornos Group (official spelling: StarragTornos), headquartered in Rorschacherberg, is a Swiss industrial company operating internationally in the field of precision machine tools. The group was entered into the commercial register on 7 December 2023 following the merger of Starrag Group and Tornos. In 2024, the Starrag division (formerly Starrag Group) employed 1,396 people across nine production sites in Switzerland, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and India, and marketed its products under ten brands. The Tornos division employed 638 people at several production sites.[1] StarragTornos Group AG is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

History

Starrag Group

Starrag Group Logo
Former logo (until February 2012) after integration of Dörries Scharmann Technologie GmbH (DST)

The history of Starrag dates back to 1897 when Henry Levy founded a workshop in Rorschacherberg to manufacture threading machines for the textile industry.[2][3] These threading machines eliminated the need for manual threading of embroidery machines, a task that had predominantly been performed by child labour. By 1910, the workshop had produced 3000 threading machines and other machines for the textile industry.[4]

After the outbreak of World War I in 1914 caused a textile crisis in Eastern Switzerland, the company shifted its focus to the production of turret and parallel lathes in 1917. From 1920 onwards, the company began manufacturing milling machines, and in 1921, it was renamed Starrfräsmaschinen AG Henri Levy, later becoming Starrfräsmaschinen AG in 1925. By this time, the company had over 300 employees and relocated to a new facility within Rorschacherberg.[4]

After the death of founder Henri Levy in 1947, the company continued to grow.[4] In the post-war years, Starrfräsmaschinen AG established itself in its field with the world's first 5-axis milling machine and employed around 1200 workers by the early 1960s.[2]

In 1998, the company went public on the stock exchange.[5] That same year, Starrfräsmaschinen AG acquired Heckert Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH in Chemnitz and changed its name to Starrag.[6] In 2000, the company adopted a holding structure under the umbrella of StarragHeckert Holding AG,[7] and the subsidiary StarragHeckert AG was established.[8] This was followed in 2006 by the acquisition of a controlling interest in the company Toolroom Technology Limited and all the activities of Société d'Instruments de Précision SA (SIP).[5][9]

In January 2011, StarragHeckert Holding AG acquired the machine tool manufacturer Dörries Scharmann Technologie,[5] consisting of Dörries, Scharmann, Droop + Rein, Ecospeed and Berthiez, from the insolvent A-Tec Industries.[10] In 2012, StarragHeckert AG was renamed Starrag AG.[8] The same year, Swiss machine manufacturer Bumotec SA was acquired, a company producing machines for the watchmaking industry.[11]

Tornos

Tornos was founded in 1880 in Moutier by the mechanic Nicolas Junker and produced the first machines for manufacturing small parts for the watchmaking industry.[12] In 1886, the company, then named Junker et Cie., launched mass-produced lathes on the market. Junker also further developed the so-called Swiss-type lathe. In 1904, Junker’s son Emile took over the business, which had fallen into financial difficulties. The following year, Emile Junker filed for the company’s bankruptcy.[13]

In 1914, the Tornos company was formed from the remnants of the Junker et Cie. company and began manufacturing automatic lathes. Tornos competed with the companies of Joseph Pétermann and former Junker apprentice André Bechler.[13] In 1971, Tornos acquired the Pétermann plant,[14] and in the following years also Bechler's company, leading to the formation of Tornos-Bechler SA in 1981.[15] The renaming of Tornos-Bechler SA to Tornos SA in 2001 brought the three former competitors Tornos, Pétermann and Bechler together under a single company name.[16][17] The company was listed on the stock exchange in the same year.[18]

In 2008, Tornos acquired the machine manufacturer Almac in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.[19][20] The company also opened further production facilities in Xi'an, China, and Taichung, Taiwan, in 2014.[21] A plant with 40 employees in Poland followed in 2022.[22]

StarragTornos

The parent company of Starrag AG, Starrag Group Holding AG, merged with Tornos Holding AG in 2023 to form the StarragTornos Group. As a result, Starrag AG became a subsidiary of the StarragTornos Group.[23]

Company structure

StarragTornos Group AG was entered into the commercial register on 7 December 2023. Its share capital amounts to CHF 46.5 million. In the 2024 financial year, the company generated sales of approximately CHF 494 million, with an operating result (EBIT) of CHF 15.4 million and a net profit of CHF 11.85 million. At that time, the company employed 2,034 people.[1]

The company is based in Rorschacherberg. It is managed by Martin Buyle,[24] Markus Jäger[25] and Jens Thing.[26] Jäger is responsible for the company’s finance. Buyle is in charge of the Starrag division, which covers the field of High Performance Machining. Thing heads the Tornos division, which includes CNC sliding headstock automatic lathes, multi-spindle machines, and machining centres for complex precision parts.[27]

Shareholders (as at 2024)

Shareholder structure[28]
Shareholder Shares
Walter Fust 53.87%
Public float 28.86%
Eduard Stürm AG 9.26%
Max Rössler / Parmino Holding AG 8.01%

Activities

The StarragTornos Group develops and markets precision machines[29] for milling, turning, drilling, grinding, and the machining of workpieces made of metal, composite materials, and ceramics. In particular, the company manufactures 5-axis machining centres with high material removal rates for the production of turbine blades, impellers, blisks, and complex structural components. StarragTornos offers complete manufacturing packages, including software, clamping devices, tool-holders, and peripheral equipment.[30] These machines and products are used in the aerospace industry, power generation, transportation, and precision engineering.[31]

StarragTornos' machines produce parts that are used, amongst others, in the Airbus A380 wide-body aircraft or the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.[29]

Brand Machines/Products
Starrag 5-axis horizontal milling machining centres
Heckert 4- and 5-axis horizontal milling centres
Dörries Vertical turning machines
Scharmann Horizontal milling centres, boring and milling machines
Ecospeed Simultaneous 5-axis machining centres
SIP 3- to 5-axis ultra-precision milling centres and jig boring machines
Droop + Rein Large machining centres in gantry design
Berthiez Turning and grinding machines
WMW 4-axis horizontal milling centres
TTL Software applications for milling machining
Bumotec Milling and turning machines for very small components in watchmaking, jewellery and medical technology

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Annual Report 2024" (PDF). StarragTornos Group. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  2. ^ a b Bichsel, Fritz (2019-09-24). "Der dipl. Ing. und die Starrag". St. Galler Tagblatt (in German).
  3. ^ Müller, Peter (2007-03-14). "Levy, Henri". Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (in German). Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  4. ^ a b c Enz, Kaspar (2022-12-31). "125 Jahre Starrag: Es begann mit der Fädelmaschine". St. Galler Tagblatt (in German).
  5. ^ a b c Fischer, Bernhard (2017-06-08). "Generationenwechsel". Handelszeitung (in German).
  6. ^ Ulrich, Ulrich (1998-06-18). "Werkzeugmaschinenbauer Heckert geht an Schweizer Konzern". Leipziger Volkszeitung (in German).
  7. ^ Richenberger, H. (2000-03-01). "Die Starrag stabilisiert sich. Markante Verbesserung des Gewinns". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German).
  8. ^ a b "Starrag AG, Rorschacherberg, Schweiz". North Data (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  9. ^ Chalupny, Alice (2006-09-20). "Wir haben kritische Grösse erreicht". Handelszeitung (in German).
  10. ^ Müller, G. V. (2011-01-18). "Starrag Heckert kauft Dörries". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German).
  11. ^ Chapatte, Marie-Laure (2014-08-29). "Starrag investit 25 millions à Fribourg pour faire de Bumotecsa vitrine romande". Le Temps (in French).
  12. ^ Schilliger, Pirmin (2012-10-25). "Protokoll einer ewigen Restrukturierung". Handelszeitung (in German).
  13. ^ a b Cortat, Alain. "Junker, Nicolas". Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (in German). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  14. ^ Steiner, Dan (2018-08-02). "Mécanicien génial, mais mystérieux" (PDF). Journal du Jura (in French). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  15. ^ Richter, Anne (2020-05-25). "Drehen mit beweglichem Spindelstock". SMM Schweizer Maschinenmarkt (in German). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  16. ^ Cortat, Alain. "Tornos-Bechler". Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (in German). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  17. ^ Huguelet, Edouard (2023-02-02). "L'histoire épique des tours automatiques à poupée mobile". Le Micromécanicien. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  18. ^ "Wie ein Phoenix aus der Asche an die Börse". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). 2001-03-03. ISSN 0376-6829. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  19. ^ "Schweiz". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). 2008-03-18. ISSN 0376-6829. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  20. ^ "Tornos setzt auf Flexibilität". Der Bund (in German). 2009-03-17.
  21. ^ "Tornos weiter unter Druck". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). 2014-03-18.
  22. ^ Feldges, Dominik (2022-08-10). "Konflikt zwischen China und Taiwan: Tornos ist mittendrin". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). ISSN 0376-6829. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  23. ^ Borkert, Stefan (2023-12-08). "Starrag and Tornos – a new heavyweight in the machine tool industry has emerged". Pomona. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  24. ^ "StarragTornos Group erhält einen neuen CEO". SMM Schweizer Maschinenmarkt (in German). 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  25. ^ "Wechsel in der Konzernleitung der Starrag Tornos Group". SMM Schweizer Maschinenmarkt (in German). 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  26. ^ "Imprint". StarragTornos Group. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  27. ^ "Executive Board". StarragTornos Group. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  28. ^ "Starrag Group Holding". wallstreet online (in German). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  29. ^ a b Hirtl, Rudolf (2021-06-24). "Lehrlingsschmiede am Bodensee". St. Galler Tagblatt (in German). p. 31.
  30. ^ "Turbinentechnik fordert Qualität". Mav (in German). 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  31. ^ Bichsel, Fritz (2019-09-24). "Der dipl. Ing. und die Starrag". Ostschweiz am Sonntag (in German).
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