BIBUS AG – The system specialist with dynamic
Customer-specific conversions of electric motors are among the core competencies of BIBUS AG.
Transfer, change and record movements – Bibus AG covers the entire spectrum of dynamic products, including the transportation and treatment of air, gas and water. They are specialists for processing technology, linear technology and rotational technology with a focus on mechatronics and pneumatics. If you want to generate forces, accelerate, brake, measure, regulate and monitor forces, you will find what you need in their wide range of products. The family-owned company based in Zurich also offers needs-oriented services drawing on their many years of expertise.
BIBUS not only sells components from well-known manufacturers, but also assembles and modifies them within a short period of time to suit customer requirements. For example, gas springs for haptic height adjustment of swimming pool hair dryers, high-performance rotary transmission for machine tools or electric motors with custom paint finishes. Their customers come from the medical technology sector, machinery, vehicle and furniture industries and plant and equipment construction sector. They all share a high demand for precision, stability and reliability of movement.
Drive technology & automation
Specialist expertise and over 70 years of experience
Founded as a one-man business in 1947 by Dipl. Ing. Hans Bibus, the company has grown into a global specialist for hydraulics, pneumatics, mechatronics, electronics and electrical engineering. Multiple companies were taken over during this process and a total of 29 national companies founded. These support customers with tailor-made solutions all over the world as well as on the Swiss market. The portfolio includes renowned products such as WEG electric motors. The third-generation owners – with the fourth already on the way – employ 55 people at the main headquarters in Fehraltorf, Switzerland.
BIBUS Holding
BIBUS AG is part of the BIBUS Holding, which has 150 employees in Switzerland and 1100 employees worldwide. Along with the three subsidiaries of BIBUS Hydraulik AG, Sauter Edelstahl AG and BIBUS Metals AG, the holding also includes five other companies that work in the materials and electronics industries.
David Kehrli, Managing Director of BIBUS AG: "We deliver individual solutions within a short period of time."
Quick and at a reasonable price
BIBUS is able to supply customers directly from stock with a range of over 250,000 standard components, such as pneumatic cylinders, frequency converters, couplings or dampers. Another strength of the Fehraltorf-based company lies in ready-made products, such as switches, valves or service units. However, their true speciality is their comprehensive range of motors. This includes a variety of types such as electric, transmission or linear motors, that can be modified as required. Whether changing a flange, installing a special shaft or installing heating – these and many other adjustments are made to measure. The same applies to products, such as adapters, supports or sleeves, that are manufactured and tested in the company's own workshop. David Kehrli, Managing Director of BIBUS AG, explains: "We aim to ensure that our customers find a solution that precisely meets their wishes as easily and quickly as possible." As a logical consequence, the company has recently entered into the e-mobility sector and also offers quick charging stations for electric cars.
Engineering, logistics and service
If individual adaptations that go beyond packaging are required, the engineers of the technically qualified trading company will also handle the development of special components and assemblies. Specialists are brought into play as needed to plan, design and manufacture customer-specific articles, such as spindles, rack and pinion drives or buffers, and to assemble, test and commission entire system solutions and assemblies. BIBUS employs experts with many years of experience for every field of technology. "We serve our customers throughout the entire product life cycle," explains David Kehrli. Along with maintenance, service and repair, the specialists also provide training and replacement parts. Systems are often developed in co-operation with the customers from prototype design to series production. Against the background of Industry 4.0, the current focus is on the automation, backup and monitoring of various industrial processes.
Development and construction of customer-specific assemblies and subsystems.
One-piece flow principle in the refurbished medical technology assembly department in Fehraltorf.
From prototypes to series production: Ready-to-install, prefabricated pneumatic cylinders.
Spacious and modern: BIBUS AG headquarters.
Co-operation with Brütsch/Rüegger Tools
Two years ago, David Kehrli became convinced of the benefits of lean management methods at the SmartFactory in Urdorf. Since then, Brütsch/Rüegger Tools has accompanied the step-by-step implementation of this approach in the company: In 2019, the Logistics department and workshop were converted; in 2020, the administrative processes in the office were switched to this new method. Both these areas are currently being synchronised. It goes without saying that this implementation is not something that can happen overnight, especially in a company that has a vast variety of products, including a considerable proportion that are custom-made. Nevertheless, the conversion of the first assembly areas to the one-piece flow method are already yielding positive results: For one product, throughput time was reduced by 20 percent. Despite having initial reservations, employees now actively participate in and have recognised the benefits of Lean Management. "Once someone considers how they load the dishwasher at home to make it easier to empty, they are able to understand the concept," says David Kehrli, on the subject of lean culture.