Sights set on growth in life science
Valves, hoses and connectors are among the key components of the flow technology solutions avintos develops for its customers. The flow technology solutions are then used for the control and management of liquids and gases in industrial processes. The benefit for customers is the ability to shut off, manage and control flows easily and efficiently in their various industrial processes.
Customer-focused team
avintos buys in components and currently has a network of 40 suppliers to ensure access to just the right products. It then applies its own technical expertise to develop and assemble these components into bespoke flow solutions for the customer.
“The combination of technical expertise and quality products creates substantial added value for customers,” explains Jérôme Chabloz, MD of avintos.
“We also offer high service levels, both through our rapid customer support and through our work on fabrication, maintenance and repairs.”
“Another competitive strength is that we’re extremely customer-oriented and always focus on the best solution for the customer. Our many years of experience play a key role here, with almost half the team having been with us for more than a decade.”
In some ways, avintos has a very local focus. Products manufactured in Switzerland make up more than 40% of sales. Having a large part of production nearby is good for sustainability as it minimises transport. Proximity to suppliers also helps assure the quality of products and makes the business more flexible.
Sustainability and quality go hand in hand. The use of quality products that are reliable and durable reduces the consumption of resources and helps combat the throwaway culture. The company’s maintenance and repair offer also makes a difference here:
“We encourage our customers to extend the life of products with quality and preventive maintenance, which can also save them money,” says Jérôme.
Growth in life science
The business was founded more than 50 years ago and concentrated for many years on sales of valves. Indutrade acquired what is now avintos in 2011. The main market is Switzerland, where the company is a leading supplier to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It also has customers in the energy and environmental technology, food and engineering industries. avintos is working with life science and biotechnology companies, and this is where it sees the biggest and most exciting growth opportunities.
“Growth is limited in some of our other segments, so we are focusing on sectors that have traditionally been strong in Switzerland. The Life science sector is such a sector. We have a cluster of companies here that is unique internationally and is something we should naturally be looking to take advantage of”, explains Jérôme.
The company’s growth journey in life science began in 2017 via a collaboration with a number of other Indutrade companies. Their common goal was to develop a strong offer of singleuse products for customers in the sector. Through this network, avintos was able to develop its own range of single-use products which have been brought together in a new business area, avintos UltraPure. It is also home to various types of custom products and solutions for life science customers.
“The network within Indutrade opened exciting new doors that would otherwise have been closed to us. We would not have been able to move into single-use products and establish UltraPure without the help and support of our sister companies. This is Indutrade”, concludes Jérôme.
avintos has been selling single-use products to biotech and life science customers since 2020, primarily in the Swiss market. Being part of the Indutrade family has also been a strength when establishing contact with customers and suppliers.
“Networking takes a long time. Through Indutrade, we have been able to build up a network in a very short space of time, something which would otherwise have taken years or even been impossible. We have now partnered with about ten life science companies where we would have struggled to get a foot in the door without Indutrade”, says Jérôme.
“If you see opportunities to develop your business, you have countless possibilities to get in touch with people working in similar segments. And you have the guarantee that you will receive full support, he continues. This is Indutrade, people work for people and they make the difference”.
Strong portfolio
The life science market is a priority for avintos. “We now have a strong life science portfolio. With persistence, hard work and a little luck, we will be able to generate sustainable, profitable growth with the various solutions in this portfolio”, says Jérôme.
