Globally Deployed: Sensors for Extreme Conditions
Interview with Dr. Holger von Both, CEO and Yves Böhme, CFO of Sensor Technik Sirnach AG
Extreme conditions are their everyday reality: At STS, everything revolves around sensors that operate reliably in rocket engines, deep-sea environments, or hundreds of meters deep wells - places where errors could have serious consequences. Since 2024, Dr. Holger von Both has been leading the Swiss family business. With precision in niches, fast custom solutions, and clear internationalization, STS Sensor Technik Sirnach AG sets global standards.
Where sensors are used, there is no room for uncertainty. Launch vehicles, satellite propulsion systems, or deep-sea valves must function reliably permanently, because replacement is hardly possible or economically unjustifiable. The same applies in motorsport or on test stands for engines and transmissions: When fractions of a second and high temperatures are decisive, the signal must not be noisy or fluctuate. "This is precisely where we see our mission," says CEO Holger von Both. "Our sensors must perform wherever precision determines success or failure."
Niche rather than mass market
While many providers focus on quantities, STS has cultivated the ability to also produce very small series. A series of one to five is not an exception, but a practiced standard. Customer-specific calibrations, tailor-made cable lengths, and special solutions
are part of everyday life. Delivery times are also a strong argument: "What competitors promise for next year, we often deliver in a few weeks - and in emergencies, even at short notice," emphasizes CFO Yves Böhme. This flexibility is the core of the competitive advantage.
Analog and digital
In many highly critical applications, engineers deliberately rely on analog signal processing. Without a microprocessor, there are no clock frequencies and no additional noise, while the sensors are less sensitive to radiation or extreme temperature fluctuations. 'Not many can do this anymore - we have deliberately preserved this technology,' explains Holger von Both. For space or radioactive environments, this is a crucial advantage. Nevertheless, the portfolio is gradually supplemented digitally, especially in less extreme environments.
Global Setup
STS was founded in 1987 by four founders and has remained fully family-owned to this day. The founders' children participate in the board of directors. Financially solid and debt-free, the company operates on its own land. Internationalization started early: 1992 in Italy, later in France, Great Britain, Germany, and China. In 2022, the acquisition of a US partner took place, and since 2025 India has been tapped as a growth market. The fields of application range from aerospace and deep-sea monitoring to test stands, renewable energies, and water supply systems. “We are the only ones worldwide whose sensors can withstand the high radiation levels in fusion reactor projects in Europe and the USA,” says Holger von Both. The portfolio also includes diving and well probes with cable lengths of over 400 m.
Meaningful Digitalization
While the products remain deliberately analog in certain niches, the company is consistently advancing the digitalization of its processes. A new ERP system, central service units, automated accounting, and app-based HR processes modernize internal operations. Cash pooling and global bank integration prepare STS for the next growth steps. The external appearance has also been renewed: a modern website with its own employee portraits and an active LinkedIn channel enhance visibility and identification.
Values and Culture
As a Swiss family business, STS lives a culture with three guiding values: Trust, Courage, and Passion. "Trust accelerates, distrust slows down – that's our basic principle," says Holger von Both. Courage stands for the courage to change and an open error culture, Passion for enthusiasm in the project. Employees appreciate the diversity of applications as well as flexible working hours through an annual working time model. Fixed and joint meetings such as the international New Year's meeting additionally strengthen cohesion – an important factor in times of skilled worker shortage. Sustainability is also an integral part of the culture: Participation in the Swiss Triple Impact Program, a Minergie industrial building, and from 2026 a roof completely equipped with solar modules are part of it. "Even more crucial is the longevity of our products – 20 to 30 years of reliable operation are not the exception," emphasizes Yves Böhme.
Strategy and Growth
The future of the company is not solely in individual pressure sensors. Holger von Both describes the goal as a 'Five-Finger Strategy': Pressure, temperature, level, flow, and analysis are intended to stand side by side in the future. From single components, complete application solutions are created, offering customers a total package. Thus, STS is evolving from a specialized supplier to a system partner. Today, the group generates about 30 million CHF in sales with around 135 employees. "We aim to quickly grow to 50 million and reach the 100 million mark in the medium term," explains Holger von Both. Processes and systems are already prepared to reliably handle these scales. This growth is driven by internationalization, the expansion of the portfolio, and the consistent step from component supplier to application provider.