SABC Fall Newsletter 2019
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SABC Swiss National Day Reception on August 1st at the Mid-America Club.
Our annual Swiss National Day Reception was held on top of Chicago's iconic Aon Center at the Mid-America Club. Martin Dahinden, former Ambassador of Switzerland to the US, gave his farewell address to the representatives of the Swiss-American Business community in Chicago. We wish to thank the Swiss-American community for its continued strong support of this annual event as we had more than 125 attendees this year! For more pictures of the event, please visit the SABC's photo gallery at the SABC's photo gallery.
The General Consulate of Switzerland in Chicago is now open!
At the re-opening event on the top of the formerly named John Hancock Tower, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis noted, “our two countries rank among the top three nations worldwide in terms of innovation”, which reflected the need to re-open the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago. The new Consulate General will focus on economic development in 11 Midwestern States. The SABC is looking forward to collaborating with Bruno Ryff, the new Consul General of Switzerland to Chicago, on innovation and other themes to further strengthen the Swiss-American business community!
 
The first Swiss Peer-to- Peer Conference connecting Swiss Executives and Executives of Swiss subsidiaries will kick off this October.

The US economy has seen positive growth in all sectors over the last few years and as a result opportunities for Swiss companies in the US are at an all-time high. Switzerland already has a tremendously strong economic footprint in the United States being the 7th largest foreign investor and making it by far the most important destination for Swiss foreign direct investment. In order to leverage existing Swiss knowhow in the market and transform economic data into strong, and sustainable connections among the Swiss presence, the Swiss Business Hub invites all Executives of Swiss Subsidiaries in the USA to the first annual Swiss Peer-to-Peer Conference 2019 in Chicago.

This conference aims to foster meaningful conversations and connections across industries and to strengthen the Swiss-American business network in the USA through lightning talks, workshops with experts, sessions to encourage sharing of resources and last but not least, a networking reception in the evening. The focus lies in Swiss branding, innovation, collaborative solutions, site location/economic incentives and workforce solutions. Participants can expect top-notch speakers, including the new Swiss Consular General for Chicago, Jason Hickey (President of Hickey and Associates) and Marco Casanova (Founder of Branding Institute Bern and Lecturer at the University of Bern) and a Special guest speaker.

To purchase your ticket, please go to: http://www.swiss-peer.com/registration/

For more information, visit the Peer-to-Peer website or contact the Swiss Business Hub at nyc.sbhusa@eda.admin.ch

The Swiss Business Hub USA is the New York-based representative of the official international trade and investment promotion agency Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE). Part of the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York and with offices in San Francisco, Atlanta and Boston (Cambridge), it is responsible for implementing Swiss export strategies in the US and for promoting Switzerland as a business location. For more information click here.
Annual Christmas Dinner and Fundraiser

Wednesday, December 4th, 2019
Cocktail Reception beginning at 6:30pm
Dinner and Program following at 7:30pm

The Peninsula Chicago
108 East Superior Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Tickets are $165 for SABC Members and
$195 for Non-Members.

Admission includes reception, a three-course dinner and wine.
Dress code: Business

The Christmas Dinner is a long-standing tradition of the SABC and is a great opportunity for the Swiss-American business community to celebrate the holiday season, see old friends, meet new friends and to bid for unique auction items.

The event is the primary fundraiser for the SABC and vital to continuing the SABC’s overall mission. A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to a local charity.
If you wish to become an event sponsor, please send an email to events@sabcnow.com for more information.
SABC Innovation Award

The SABC’s Switzerland Innovates Initiative aspires to promote Swiss innovation in the Chicagoland area, through events, networking, information exchange and the well-received SABC Innovation Award that was inaugurated last year to much acclaim.
 
The SABC is pleased to announce a call for applications for the SABC Innovation Award 2019.

We invite all SABC members to provide to sutha.heck@sabcnow.com a 150 to 250-word description (pictures and/or videos are welcome) of any innovative product or service that your organization has launched within the last 3 years that has strengthened the US-Swiss business relationship.  All entries will be submitted to the SABC Innovates Initiative committee for review and nomination.  We will be welcoming entries until October 31st, 2019. The winner will be announced at the SABC Christmas Dinner on Dec. 6th, 2019.
 
The judging committee looks at the following criteria:
• The innovation was launched by an organization based out of the Midwest, 
  that is Swiss or US in close collaboration with a Swiss organization.
• Did the product or service meet an unmet need?
• How unique is the product or service?
• What new value has been created for the end user?
• What financial evidence or market acceptance information does the product or service have to support it?
Swiss Innovation News

Two Swiss ScientistsWin Nobel Prize in Physics
In  early  October,  two  Swiss  scientists  were  awarded  the  Nobel  prize  in Physics for their discovery of the first exoplanet. The two Swiss scientists jointly received one half of the price, with the other half going to a Canadian researcher -John  Peebles -for  his  theoretical  discoveries  in  physical cosmology.   On   October   6,   1995,   Michel   Mayor,   Professor   at   the Observatory  of  the  Faculty  of  Science  of  the  University  of  Geneva, Switzerland,  and  his  doctoral  student  Didier  Queloz  revolutionized  the world of astrophysics when they announced the discovery of the first planet located outside our solar system. Named 51 Pegasi b, this very first exoplanet had a huge impact on the astrophysicist community. Since that day, roughly 4000 exoplanets have been discovered. Both, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz were awarded the Nobel prize in Physics.http://swissinnovation.org/news/web/2019/00-190930-a9

EPFL's Professor Michael Grätzel is Top #1 Scientist
A study conducted by Stanford University, places EPFL Professor Michael Graetzel on the first place on a list of 100,000 scientists. Professor Grätzel directs the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces and is best known for inventing  the  dye-sensitized  solar  cells,  so-called “Grätzel cells”, which contributed hugely to the current development of perovskite photovoltaics. The ranking developed by StanfordUniversity used a novel method which considers  citations  as  well  as  other  metrics.  Unlike  previous  ranking methods,  the  new  approach  does  not  fall  prey  to  common  citation manipulations such as self-citation or “citation farms” –groups of scientists whichdisproportionately often cite each other. So far, the database includes over 100,000 scientists across various fields.http://swissinnovation.org/news/web/2019/00-190826-8e
New Application Center Coming Soon
Coming soon is a new milestone in the NGL Inc development. We will open a new space dedicated to trials for customers where you will be able to develop your own cleaning process with the support of our application engineer. Understanding your requirements is the first step towards defining the appropriate products and processes.
The NGL Application Center is a unique concept where customers can learn about our chemicals, test any chemical process through our cleaning lab, and apply our cleaning knowledge in a vibrant and dynamic environment. This will be a place for technical exchange and this customer-oriented space will be dedicated to the implementation of tailor-made cleaning solutions for each visitor.
GF Machining Solutions invests in new facilities both in the US and in Switzerland

On September 13th,  GF Machining Solutions opened the doors to its new innovation and production center in Biel, Switzerland with over 300 guests in attendance. The new building will serve as the division’s new headquarters. GF Machining Solutions invested two years and nearly 100 million Swiss franc ($100 million USD) in the construction of the new 44,000-square-meter facility, which unites three former locations in Nidau, Ipsach and Luterbach, Switzerland and brings the Swiss milling and laser production divisions together for the first time. Read more here: https://www.gfms.com/country_US/en/about-gf-machining-solutions/press-room/press-releases/2019/gfms-inauguration-center-machine-tools-biel.html
 
GF Machining Solutions in Lincolnshire and Chicago, Illinois celebrated Solutions Days On June 27th and 28th where it demonstrated its wide range of advanced manufacturing technology to more than 250 visitors. In addition to the innovative Milling, EDM, Laser texturing, Additive Manufacturing and Laser micromachining technologies on display with a full range of automation, tooling and connectivity solutions at the company’s U.S. headquarters, visitors attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony, facility tour, machine demonstrations and several technical discussions at the rededicated Microlution production facility. Read more on the re-dedication of the Microlution facility: https://www.gfms.com/country_US/en/about-gf-machining-solutions/press-room/press-releases/2019/Microlution_Celebrates_New_Chicago_Production_Facility_Expansion.html

Gary Brown, president of HEULE Tool Corporation in Loveland, OH, recently celebrated his 30th anniversary at HEULE Tool Corporation.

Brown began working for HEULE in August of 1989, shortly after earning his engineering degree from Miami University in Oxford, OH. At that time, HEULE Werkzeug AG had just established their first subsidiary in North America, which was located near Detroit, Michigan (until 1994, when it was re-located to the Cincinnati area). The subsidiary was established in order to better serve their customers with local technical support, as well as to grow sales of their automated deburring tools to manufacturers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Under his leadership for the last 30 years, HEULE Tool Corporation has grown from Brown as the only full-time employee to a sales organization with 11 full-time employees and 16 independent sales agencies representing the HEULE line of tools in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
American Lamprecht Transport Inc.
moves your goods to any place – worldwide

American Lamprecht Transport Inc. was incorporated in 1969 under New York state law as a subsidiary of Lamprecht Transport Ltd., founded in 1945 by A. Lamprecht. Since then, the Swiss company is family owned. Many years of hard work and the tireless commitment of our employees have brought one success after another.

The specialists at our strategically located branches in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Duncan S.C., Denver, Baltimore, Miami and San Francisco know what matters in today’s shipping business. That is why we believe in a partnership based on mutual respect among all parties – the cornerstone of a lasting and successful business relationship. More information can be found at www.lamprechtusa.com.
U.S. Department of Justice Uses Novel approach to Resolve Merger Challenge

The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice recently broke new ground by invoking its authority to use binding arbitration to resolve a dispositive issue in its challenge to the proposed acquisition of Aleris Corporation by Novelis Inc. While the Department of Justice has in the past included arbitration clauses in consent decrees to resolve disputes over compliance with the terms of a settlement, this marks the first time it has used arbitration as an alternative to settlement or litigation to resolve a merger challenge or conduct case.
Steptoe & Johnson has prepared a notice with more information on this development: https://bit.ly/2kpUDyj
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington.
If you have questions about U.S. antitrust law or Steptoe’s capabilities, contact SABC board member Will Turner. Will has more than 20 years’ experience advising domestic and international companies in a wide range of industries on U.S. commercial and transactional matters.
As an integrated professional services firm, Rödl & Partner is active at 111 wholly owned locations in 50 countries. Rödl & Partner USA has specifically tailored our accounting, auditing, tax and business consulting services to the unique needs of your foreign owned business in the United States of America. For more than 40 years our core practice has been serving the accounting and tax needs of primarily German speaking and other foreign owned “Mittelstand” companies operating in the U.S. As the preferred accounting, auditing, tax and business consulting professional services firm of German speaking entities, you will benefit from the extensive experience of our U.S. certified public accountants as well as our bilingual staff of professionals, many whom also carry international certifications (StB, WP, CA). Whether you are just starting up in the U.S. market or you have an established presence here, our services are designed to efficiently assist you in dealing with the often complex matters facing today’s foreign owned business operating in the U.S. Our approach is simple, it is designed with your needs and expectations in mind, with a single point of contact and a professional team formed around your professional services and language expectations.

Are you representing a Swiss company thinking of buying property in Chicago? Are you relocating to Chicago from another country or city and in need of a new home?

As a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS)® I am your local resource for everything you need for a successful real estate transaction.

Buying property as a foreigner in Chicago can be overwhelming – you need a trusted advisor who speaks your language and who is familiar with local laws.

If you would like to find out more about special requirements for foreigners buying property in the U.S. or need practical advice how to move a household from one continent to another, I have the resources to guide you.

To read more about the services I provide, visit www.GlobalChicagoRealEstate.com or contact me for a free consultation!

More information: 
Andreas Holder
Advisor
Engel & Völkers Chicago
Andreas.Holder@evrealestate.com
     
EROWA Technology, based in Arlington Heights, IL., is a full service supplier of palletization and automation systems for the North American manufacturing market. Our goal is to provide complete turnkey solutions for precision parts handling through most any group of manufacturing processes (from one type of machine to the next). We are capable of providing a simple manual palletization system or a fully integrated, custom designed workholding and automation system to meet the current needs and expectations of our customers.

In the market segments of precision mechanics, tool- and mold-making, as well as chip-cutting production, we offer concepts and products that provide customers with considerable optimization possibilities throughout the whole range of machining processes. Primarily, we achieve this through comprehensive knowledge of the application of our products, through individual and customized consultation, and through the use of our Flexible Manufacturing Concept (FMC), which cover the following four areas:

- Standardization (tooling system, tooling technology)
- Organization (setting-up, presetting and measuring technologies)
- Automation (loading/unloading technologies)
- Integration (process sequence, process control and planning technologies)

EROWA Technology, Inc.
2535 S. Clearbrook Dr.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
www.erowa.com
info.usa@erowa.com