Stöcklin Logistik AG is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. In 1995, Urs Grütter took over the company and successfully expanded it into an international provider of intralogistics systems headquartered in Laufen, Basel-Landschaft. On January 1, 2024, Jürg Frefel took over operational management as Group CEO, and Urs Grütter continues to actively support him as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
When Urs Grütter joined Stöcklin Logistik AG in January 1995, Stöcklin was primarily a supplier of mechanical components and had a joint venture with a Swiss systems provider. Shortly thereafter, that partner acquired a manufacturer of equipment and conveyors and abruptly ended the close collaboration. As a result, approximately 40% of revenue was lost within a few weeks, and Stöcklin no longer had access to international markets. This marked the starting point for Urs Grütter to systematically realign his company. To offer its own control concepts and equipment for the small-parts warehouse market, the control division was systematically expanded. Through the acquisition of logistics companies in Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as the opening of branches in Mexico and Brazil, the company regained its international presence.
Another milestone on the path to becoming an international system provider with its own system software was the acquisition of a software development company in Jona (CH). In addition, the company developed its own automated warehouse technologies, such as the BOXer for small-parts warehouses, the fully automated pallet storage system MASTer, and the FSP small-parts warehouse shuttle, which enabled a successful entry into high-performance shuttle systems. As a result, Stöcklin acts as a general contractor on major projects for clients such as Competec, Bell AG, Quinn Glas, Lego, Bayer, and many others.
To further ensure Stöcklin’s long-term future and drive digitalization forward, the company invested in innovative infrastructure with the construction of the new Technology Center in Laufen.
“We’re thinking about the next generation, and we saw the move to the innovative, sustainable Technology Center as a clear signal to our employees that, in line with our vision, we intend to continue growing in the future. We can only grow if we have room for innovation, and that also means a different kind of collaboration—for example, in open-plan offices—as well as bringing all our core competencies together under one roof: sustainable and innovative, including state-of-the-art machinery,” says Urs Grütter, explaining his rationale for investing in a greenfield project in Laufen.
This is the foundation that Jürg Frefel, as the new Group CEO, took over at the beginning of this year to continue driving Stöcklin forward and facilitate the transition to the next generation. In 2020, he began his role on the Board of Directors of Stöcklin Logistik AG immediately after the move, attending his first meeting at the new Technology Center, and has since actively supported Stöcklin in his capacity as a board member until the end of last year. This three-year experience as a board member of Stöcklin Logistik AG, along with his tenure at Migros (2003–2008 and 2014–2023), Antalis International (2009–2014), and his experience as a board member in family-owned companies (Zibatra Logistik, Kuratle Group, and Dreier Logistik AG), sparked his desire to further his career as CEO of a family-owned company. “Stöcklin is an exciting company with engaged employees, specialists, and solution-oriented engineers with whom one can develop intelligent solutions at a high level. Moreover, here at the Technology Center in Laufen, everything is under one roof: from planning, production, and control—including our own software—to our Long Life Services. And we do this with end-to-end solutions. For me, that’s the key: we have the best conditions here to succeed and a high degree of creative freedom. Furthermore, Urs Grütter is by my side as Chairman of the Board. I have great respect for him, both as a person and for what he has achieved professionally and personally. His commitment and dedication to the company are evident on all fronts. I am grateful to be able to shape Stöcklin’s future together with him and to learn from him as well. After all, the future always has its roots in the past. Now the next generation is ready to take the reins, and we must ensure that the company’s DNA is passed on in a way that is future-proof. In doing so, we must ensure that new cultural spaces are created for the workforce of tomorrow and that enthusiasm for the company continues to grow. Only in this way can we attract skilled professionals and build long-term expertise,” says Jürg Frefel, describing his motivation to get started at Stöcklin.
As a scientist, engineer with an MBA, family man, and CEO, ensuring a responsible transition to the next generation—one that embodies sustainability in practice—is clearly high on his agenda. Through sustainable product development, resource-efficient production, sustainable building infrastructure, and consistent internal sustainability management, the goal is to achieve a significant reduction in the company’s carbon footprint.
“It’s important that the company continues to perform as well as it has in the past. Stöcklin has grown steadily, and I intend to continue that trend. Specifically, we aim to achieve sustainable growth through increased revenue and profitability. Our vision is to compete in the ‘Champions League’ of intralogistics. I believe that, as an international logistics systems provider offering highly complex end-to-end solutions and leveraging the intelligence of our solutions, we will achieve this,” he says, describing his goals as Group CEO of Stöcklin Logistik AG.
