Swiss National Day Reception 2026

On Thursday, July 30, we celebrated Swiss National Day at the Union League Club in Chicago, bringing together members of the Swiss American business community for an evening of networking and meaningful connections.

We were pleased to welcome Beat Schmid, Consul General of Switzerland in Chicago, and Susan Meehan, Vice President & Director at Zurich Insurance North America, as our featured speakers.

Thank you to our speakers, sponsors, partners, members, and guests for making the evening a great success and for your continued support of the Swiss American business community.

Join the Swiss Peer-to-Peer Conference 2026 at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, DC, for an afternoon designed to connect decision-makers and practitioners across the Swiss-US business ecosystem.

Join Us: SABC Christmas Dinner & Fundraiser Tuesday, December 1, 2026

The SABC Christmas Dinner and Fundraiser will take place on Tuesday, December 1st, at the University Club of Chicago, from 6:30 – 9:00 pm.

This long-standing tradition is a wonderful opportunity for the Swiss American business community to celebrate the holiday season, reconnect with friends, and bid on unique auction items. Don’t miss out!
Purchase Your Ticket Here


We are happy to coordinate the “Switzerland Cheering Station” for the upcoming Chicago Marathon scheduled for Sunday, October 11th.  The races begin at 7:20 am and the final wave of participants will start at 8:45 am. 

Both the Men’s and Women’s wheelchair division course records are held by respective Swiss!  Marcel Hug set the record in 2023, followed by Catherine Debrunner in 2024.  In addition to this, there will be 200+ athlete participants from Switzerland.

Cheering Location:  The south side of Adams St. near 200 S. Wacker Drive.    Please find a map in attachment.  This is where the athletes turn a corner near the halfway point of the race.  Arrival: 7:45 am to view the wheelchair participants.  
 
Collaborative Chambers Alliance – CCA (www.collaborativechambers.org), is organizing the International Advanced Manufacturing Expo, November 11 – 12, 2026, at Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
We partner up with AMI Plastics World Expos, one of the largest plastic expos in North America. We are anticipating the attendees 6000+, and will experience 2 powerful events in one roof.
 
If you know any company that would like to exhibit at our Expo or have any questions, please call or email Nicky Sulandari, at: 216-712-9080 – collaborativechambers@gmail.com or register at: www.internationaladvancedmanufacturing.com

APPRENTICESHIPS IN THE U.S. SERVICE SECTOR: LESSONS FROM THE SWISS MODEL

WEBINAR

October 21st, 2026, 13:00-14:00 Central Time (UTC -5)

Apprenticeships combining learning in the workplace and in school can be an efficient and effective education and training option, both for young people and for companies. Through these programs, young people acquire in demand skills and qualifications and gain access to career opportunities, while companies develop a pipeline of motivated talent rapidly contributing to productivity and innovation. Apprenticeships are a future-ready option for the service sector, especially considering the fundamental challenges ahead of the fast-past changes the world of work is experiencing.

The Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN), Zurich North America, Accenture, Aon, Harper College, the Swiss Embassy in the U.S., and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) kindly invite you to a webinar from practitioners for practitioners addressing the following questions:

♦ What are good practices to promote and implement apprenticeships in the service sector?

♦ How can you embed apprenticeships within your early career strategy?

♦ How can you create lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships between companies, educational institutions and intermediaries?

♦ What lessons can be learned from the Swiss apprenticeship system?


dormakaba to acquire Alliants, connecting hotel access with digital guest experience

dormakaba has signed a binding agreement to acquire Alliants, the guest experience technology partner behind more than 100,000 hotel rooms for the world’s leading hospitality brands. The acquisition will strengthen dormakaba’s position as a global hospitality access solutions leader. It expands the company’s hospitality offering beyond physical access control, connecting room entry with digital guest engagement to support a seamless guest journey while preserving customer choice.

Founded in 2009 in Southampton, United Kingdom, Alliants provides proprietary guest experience software and managed services that help hotels serve guests from pre-arrival through their stay and beyond. Its capabilities include concierge, contactless check-in, mobile key, payments, messaging, and agentic AI. The company operates globally and employs more than 100 people. With a strong track record of delivering hotel room keys to both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, Alliants’ digital hotel key technology was recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2025.

Click here to read the full announcement. This acquisition comes on the heels of dormakaba acquiring Azure Access, a supplier of innovative, adaptable electronic access control hardware, and Apollo Security, a leader in the development and manufacturing of access control and integrated security systems. Read more here.

Explore GISC This Fall: Open Houses & Free Maker Lab 


Looking to learn more about the German International School Chicago (GISC)? Join us at one of our upcoming Open Houses on Friday, October 2, November 6, or December 4, from 10:00 am–12:00 pm, or schedule a private school tour. GISC offers an individualized, bilingual German-English education from Preschool through High School, with no prior German experience required through Grade 6.

Learn more and register for an Open House or schedule a school tour.

High school students can also explore GISC through our free Maker Lab, open to students in Grades 9–12 from any high school. The English-language, year-round program meets Tuesdays from 3:00–4:30 pm with flexible participation.

Register for the Maker Lab.
Precitrame America Expands Its U.S. Presence

Precitrame America is taking another step forward in its development in the United States, strengthening its local team and its ability to support manufacturers across the country.

As demand for high-precision, flexible and efficient machining solutions continues to grow, Precitrame is investing in its U.S. presence with a clear objective: to be closer to its customers and provide stronger local sales, technical and application support.

The latest addition to the Precitrame America team is Brian Best, Technical Sales Representative. After completing intensive product and technical training at Precitrame Machines’ headquarters in Switzerland, Brian is now supporting the company’s continued development, with an initial focus on the Midwest market.

This expansion reflects Precitrame’s long-term commitment to the United States. Combining Swiss engineering and machine-tool expertise with a growing local presence allows Precitrame America to better understand customers’ challenges, respond more quickly and build lasting partnerships with manufacturers.

This proximity also helps shorten communication channels, accelerate project discussions and ensure that customer feedback reaches Precitrame’s engineering teams directly.

From high-production machining solutions to compact micromachining centers, Precitrame technologies are designed around productivity, precision, flexibility and efficient use of manufacturing resources.

For Precitrame America, growth in the U.S. is about more than expanding its sales network. It is about building a stronger local organization that can support customers throughout their projects while bringing Precitrame’s Swiss engineering expertise closer to American manufacturers.

Swiss technology. Local expertise. A growing commitment to American manufacturing.

Swiss Precision Meets American Manufacturing
 
Success in global manufacturing requires more than producing a great product. It demands precision, reliable partnerships, and the ability to move freight smoothly across borders. These principles form the foundation of the strong trade relationship between Switzerland and the United States.

Switzerland is globally recognized for advanced engineering, innovation, and an uncompromising attention to detail. The U.S. market complements this with unmatched scale, diversity, and a powerful entrepreneurial drive. While separated by thousands of miles, businesses in both countries share the same core values of quality, accountability, and long-term relationships.

At American Lamprecht, we see this connection in action every day. With our deep Swiss roots and established U.S. operations, we serve as a trusted bridge between these two markets. We understand that high-value machinery, industrial components, and precision instruments require logistics support that matches their level of engineering.

Our team brings decades of experience to the Swiss-U.S. trade lane. From origin planning and consolidation to customs coordination and final delivery, we provide the exactness Swiss exporters expect and the efficiency American importers demand.

By aligning our transport strategies with your business goals, we help keep your supply chain resilient and competitive. Let American Lamprecht handle the complexities of international logistics so your team can focus on building the future of manufacturing.
American Lamprecht Transport, Inc.
https://www.lamprechtusa.com/

 
For 50 years, Fracht Group North America has been building more than logistics solutions—it has been building connections. Connections between countries, industries, businesses, and, most importantly, people.
 
Our North American journey began in 1976, when a Swiss company with a global vision established its presence in the region. What started as a new chapter has grown into a strong network across the Americas, supported by the experience and reach of a truly global organization.
 
Throughout this growth, one thing has remained constant: our belief that successful logistics begins with understanding people. Behind every shipment is a customer with a goal, a team working toward a solution, and a relationship built on trust. This people-first approach continues to shape the way we work.
 
Our culture is grounded in six core values: Positivity, Integrity, Passion, Respect, Leadership, and Empathy. They influence how we collaborate, face challenges, and build lasting partnerships across borders.
 
Reflecting this commitment beyond logistics, our recent collaboration with UNICEF USA represents another meaningful step in supporting communities and creating positive impact.
 
With deep Swiss roots and decades of experience across the Americas, we are proud to contribute to a business community that brings together ideas, expertise, and opportunities across borders.
 
As we celebrate 50 years in North America, we also look ahead. Global trade will continue to evolve, but our commitment remains unchanged: connecting people and businesses through reliable solutions, strong partnerships, shared values, and a genuine passion for what we do every day


HEULE Tool Corporation Showcases Swiss Precision at IMTS 2026
 
HEULE Tool Corporation of Loveland, Ohio, the North American subsidiary of Switzerland's Heule AG, exhibited at IMTS 2026 in Chicago this September, joining manufacturers from around the world at the largest manufacturing technology show in the Western Hemisphere.

The spotlight at HEULE's booth was on two expanded product lines: the new SOLO and BSF tools, both now available for larger bore sizes. SOLO removes burrs from bore edges front and back in a single pass, while BSF performs back spotfacing without flipping the part. By extending both tools to a wider range of hole diameters, HEULE brings its one-setup approach to bigger components, helping manufacturers eliminate secondary operations and shorten cycle times.

The week also brought the Swiss and American sides of the company together. Rik and Ulf Heule traveled from Switzerland to meet customers and host HEULE's agent network at an appreciation dinner in Chicago, underscoring the family-owned company's long-term commitment to the US market.

HEULE continues to grow across North America, recently adding David Gallegos as Technical Sales Manager for Mexico to support customers alongside distribution partner SOMOS Industria.
HEULE specializes in precision tooling for deburring, chamfering, countersinking, and back spotfacing, serving aerospace, automotive, medical, and general manufacturing customers who need reliable, repeatable edge finishing in a single setup.

Learn more at www.heuletool.com

 
Meet the Express 346 EVO: Less Setup, More Productivity
 

The LNS Express 346 EVO is designed to simplify bar feeding while helping maximize machine productivity. With its fully automatic, self-adjusting guiding system, the Express 346 EVO eliminates guide-channel changeovers, allowing operators to quickly move between bar diameters with less manual setup.

Designed for 3–46 mm bar stock, the Express 346 EVO is compatible with both sliding and fixed headstock lathes, providing the flexibility needed for a wide range of applications.

Operation is simple with the intuitive touchscreen HMI, featuring easy setup, a parts library, and QR-code troubleshooting to help operators quickly access the information they need.

The Express 346 EVO also features an automatic front stabilizer that adapts to the bar diameter, along with a rigid, robust frame engineered for reliable performance and improved stability.

Key Benefits

  • Fully automatic guiding system adjustment
  • No guide-channel changeovers
  • Intuitive touchscreen HMI
  • Automatic front stabilizer
  • Robust, rigid construction
  • Designed for reliable, high-performance operation
  • Supports unattended, lights-out manufacturing

Less setup. Greater flexibility. More productivity.

Discover how the Express 346 EVO can help streamline your bar feeding operation.

To learn more, click here:  https://lns-group.com/solutions-services/bar-feeding-systems/express-346

 

  
Global Exhibit at PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago

Herrmann Ultrasonics is bringing its global Packaging Team to PACK EXPO International, October 18–21, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago. At Booth S-3308, visitors can watch live equipment demonstrations of two technologies that are changing how food and consumer goods are produced and packaged.

Hermetic sealing for stand-up pouches. Ultrasonic sealing makes strong, leak-tight seals in a fraction of a second. It works even when product residue gets into the seal area, and it needs no heated tooling. The result is less wasted packaging, lower energy use and more consistent quality. The process also suits the recyclable mono-material films that brand owners increasingly specify to meet sustainability goals.

Precision ultrasonic food cutting. A blade vibrating at ultrasonic frequency glides through products such as cakes, cheese, confectionery and nutrition bars. It leaves clean, uniform edges with less smearing, fewer crumbs and less product loss. Manufacturers get better-looking products, higher yields and less time spent cleaning.

Herrmann's application engineers from around the world will be at the booth throughout the show. They'll talk through specific packaging challenges, review materials and explain how ultrasonic technology can improve throughput, quality and sustainability.

Visit Herrmann Ultrasonics at Booth S-3308 and see the technology in action.


Succession of Chairman and CEO

Dear Customers and Business Partners

Driven by the “FILTROX 2030” vision, our company has undergone a period of intensive transformation. Among other things, we have optimized our brand positioning, reorganized our global sales and distribution systems, and made massive investments in our production infrastructure. This process was largely completed last year with the opening of our expanded plant in the UK. Thanks to the tremendous support of our customers, employees, and partners, the company has been sustainably strengthened and is on a successful course. Two things have remained constant amid all these changes: our clear focus on depth filtration for valuable liquids and our promise to providing our customers around the world with the best solution for their filtration needs.

In light of the above, we would like to inform you today of an important personnel change. After 11 successful years as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Leo Staub has announced that he will not stand for re-election at the next annual shareholder’s meeting in spring 2027. He will stay on the Board as a regular member. It is planned that his successor as Chairman will be Cristian Rusch, who is currently Vice Chairman and Delegate of the Board as well as CEO. In order to prepare for this change, Cristian is stepping down from his role as CEO.

The new CEO of FILTROX will be Christoph Ernst. He has already been preparing thoroughly for this role. He officially joined FILTROX on September 14, 2026. Following an intensive onboarding and handover phase, he will assume full responsibility as CEO on October 5, 2026. Christoph Ernst has extensive leadership experience in various international and family-owned industrial companies. His personality, his excellent educational background and professional development, as well as his wealth of experience in CFO and CEO positions, make him ideally qualified for the task ahead. He is particularly motivated by the opportunity to continue FILTROX’s successful development and to shape the company’s long-term future together with employees, customers, and partners.

After 23 years of working for FILTROX the last 15 of which as CEO, Cristian looks forward to support Christoph Ernst and his leadership team from a strategic perspective and share his experience with them. The same is true for Leo Staub as a board member. At the same time. Cristian Rusch and his family will continue to be major shareholders of the company. Furthermore, the proven and experienced Group Leadership Team, consisting of Christoph Föhr (CMO), Gian Marco Gaudiano (CSO), Jürgen Herburger (CFO), and Thoralf Matthes (COO), will also remain unchanged and is committed to fully support the transition together with the Board. All of this ensures stability, continuity, and long-term focus on every level.

One thing is particularly important to us: Even with this leadership transition, FILTROX’s vision and focus remain unchanged. We will continue to do everything in our power to support our customers with the highest quality, reliability, innovation, and performance. The well-being of our customers, employees, and partners will remain at the centre of everything we do.

We sincerely thank you for your trust, your partnership and your support in the past, on which we count on also in the future - especially during the upcoming transition phase. We look forward to continuing FILTROX’s successful journey together with you.

Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions or concerns.
  
 

Rey Technologies – Advancing European Precision Manufacturing in the U.S. Midwest
 

Rey Technologies, Inc. is an independent U.S. sales and support company representing advanced European manufacturing technologies across the Midwest. Headquartered just outside Chicago, the company works with aerospace, automotive, medical, tool & die, gear manufacturing, and energy customers requiring high-precision solutions for grinding and hard turning applications.

Founded by industry veteran Daniel Rey, Rey Technologies brings more than 30 years of experience in precision machining and manufacturing technology. Through its AllAboutGrinding™ platform, the company focuses on advanced grinding, hard turning, and finishing technologies that help manufacturers improve process capability, quality consistency, and productivity.

Rey Technologies serves as the exclusive Midwest representative for leading European builders including Danobat, Overbeck, Hembrug, SMS Precision Machines, Stöckel Maschinenbau GmbH, SwissChuck, Meister Abrasives, Schiek Präzisions-Rundschleifen, and now Henninger GmbH u. Co. KG. By combining advanced machine platforms with deep application knowledge, the company supports customers from initial process evaluation through installation, commissioning, and long-term technical support.

The addition of Henninger expands the portfolio with precision center grinding machines, a natural complement to the company’s cylindrical grinding and finishing solutions. Accurate center holes provide a critical foundation for machining between centers, helping manufacturers achieve consistent concentricity and precision in demanding shaft and other rotational component applications.

As a corporate member of the Swiss American Business Council, Rey Technologies looks forward to strengthening partnerships with Swiss and European manufacturers seeking to expand their presence in North America.

Learn more at www.reytechnologies.com.
  

Röhlig Logistics Awarded First EcoVadis Gold Medal
 

Röhlig Logistics has been awarded its first EcoVadis gold medal, placing the company among the top 5 per cent of companies assessed worldwide by EcoVadis.

The 2026 rating reflects progress across environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Improvements include stronger sustainability reporting, increased supplier engagement, expanded ISO 14001 coverage and continued operational initiatives across Röhlig’s global network.


About Röhlig Logistics
Röhlig is a logistics company specializing in sea freight, air freight and contract logistics. Founded in 1852 in Bremen, Germany, the family-owned company stands for trusting cooperation and many years of expertise. Today, more than 3,000 employees in over 35 countries develop tailor-made solutions and high-quality services for customers worldwide. Its U.S. subsidiary operates in 13 cities, specializing in air charter, domestic FTL/LTL, and customs brokerage. Learn more at www.rohlig.com.