Systemized Special Machinery Construction for Global Markets
Interview with Andreas Ewald, Managing Director of K.R. Pfiffner AG
Special machines for maximum productivity, Swiss precision, and a clear stance on technological progress – KR Pfiffner AG has established itself globally as a specialist for highly automated rotary transfer machines. Managing Director Andreas Ewald talks about turnkey projects with high-quality standards, digitalization with prudence, and why energy efficiency and team spirit are crucial success factors especially in times of global upheavals.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Ewald, you have had a long career in the mechanical engineering industry. How did you come to KR Pfiffner AG?
Andreas Ewald: I am an electrical engineer with further training in software engineering and business, including an Executive MBA from the universities of Bern and Rochester. Being technically inclined, I have long been active in technology-driven companies – such as Bystronic and Rofin, where I worked extensively with application-oriented system technology and turnkey solutions. In 2019, I joined KR Pfiffner AG, initially as site manager and head of global service. Since 2020, I have been responsible as CEO for the entire group, with three locations in Switzerland and Germany.
Wirtschaftsforum: The brands Pfiffner and Witzig & Frank have a storied history. How did the current corporate structure come about?
Andreas Ewald: The current structure is part of a gradual integration under the roof of the Taiwanese FFG Group. Witzig & Frank joined in 2014, Pfiffner was acquired in 2015. Since 2017, we have formed our own mechanical engineering group, specialized in rotary transfer machines. Pfiffner focuses on smaller parts up to the size of a fist, Witzig & Frank build larger systems. Both complement each other excellently—technologically and also in market development.
Wirtschaftsforum: The automotive industry has been an important customer for decades. How are you responding to the current upheavals?
Andreas Ewald: The transformation hits many suppliers hard—including us. Investment cycles have shortened, and trust in long-term product lines like internal combustion engines is gone. This forces a broader positioning. Today, we increasingly serve industrial customers outside the automotive sector—for example, in the production of sewage pumps. There, there are stable volumes and long-term planning security. Our machines are ideal for such series production: highly automated, space-saving, energy-efficient.
Wirtschaftsforum: How sustainable is your technology in daily production?
Andreas Ewald: Our systems require on average only 20% of the energy of comparable individual machines. At the same time, we drastically reduce space and personnel requirements – without compromising on quality. Our customers can produce enormous quantities with maximum precision using a single rotary transfer machine. Especially in countries with high labor costs, this remains a key to competitiveness.
Wirtschaftsforum: Digitalization and Industry 4.0 are buzzwords. How do you specifically implement these topics?
Andreas Ewald: With a sense of proportion. Not every digital innovation brings real added value. For our customers – who often produce millions of identical parts – reliability and safety are paramount. Cloud solutions or fully networked machines often meet with skepticism, such as concerns about cyber attacks. We target where it makes sense, for example in remote services or with AI-supported tools for fault diagnosis. The customer decides which functions are activated.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you address the shortage of skilled workers, especially in the technical field?
Andreas Ewald: We focus heavily on our own training. We currently employ 30 trainees – a high proportion with a total of 220 employees. We work closely with schools, offer trial days, and promote individual further education. It's not just about expertise, but about attitude: We are looking for young people with the will to achieve – whether on the path to becoming a master or with a part-time degree.
Wirtschaftsforum: What values shape your leadership culture – internally and externally?
Andreas Ewald: We keep our promises – that is essential in special machine construction. We do not sell off-the-shelf machines, but complex solutions that must function smoothly for years. Quality, teamwork, and perseverance are at the core. We solve problems together, not through blaming. This spirit shapes our customer relationships as well as our internal cooperation.
Wirtschaftsforum: What is your perspective on the future of industrial production?
Andreas Ewald: Innovation will always prevail. Even if global conditions change – with pressure on currencies, growing competition from Asia, or shorter investment cycles. We must remain flexible, learn from countries like India, where services of high quality can be achieved at significantly lower costs. At the same time, I believe in the value of local expertise: Swiss and German engineering, combined with strategic thinking and a cooperative attitude, will continue to be in demand. That is what we stand for.