In Brief

Sustainable sites, a solid safety track record, the new Intranet, a celebration at one of the locations, and tips for upcoming events – news from the colorful world of GF.

Step by step to greater sustainability

The Swiss locations of GF Machining Solutions are improving their sustainability through energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. For example, apprentices at the Langnau location helped install a photovoltaic system on the roof of the assembly hall as part of a project to improve sustainability. A solar installation will also supply the headquarters in Biel with electricity from the end of 2022.

A modernized building was recently opened in Losone. The new facility attached to the existing building is now better insulated to reduce heat loss and optimize energy efficiency. In addition, the heating system has been converted from oil to natural gas.

Find out more?

You want to learn more about sustainability at GF? Click here for the Sustainability Report 2021.

Assured success

GF Central Plastics LLC in Shawnee, OK (US) is celebrating successes in safety. For 1’200’000 working hours, there have been no accidents there that have lead to downtime. One section in Shawnee has even gone five years without any injuries or incidents. Now there is a safety committee for all shifts (pictured). The site was rewarded for its efforts with the Global Employer Engagement Award at the HR Summit. It also received recertification for the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), and from the Oklahoma Safety Council came the Pinnacle Safety Award for being one of the best companies in Oklahoma for safety.

New intranet for everyone – everywhere and at all times

GF is launching its new intranet system as the central communication platform for all employees worldwide. GF is proceeding step by step and will gradually enable everyone without previous intranet access to use it from 2023. Access will be possible via app, browser and Microsoft Teams. Thanks to an automatic translation function, it will be available in all the languages spoken at GF. Access for all is intended to facilitate exchange across divisional and national boundaries.

A summer of trade fairs

After a long break, GF Casting Solutions is once again presenting itself in person at renowned trade fairs. The division met with customers in the automotive sector at Euroguss, the largest and most important trade fair for die casting, and enjoyed some lively discussions. At Cast- Forge, the team showcased solutions in the Off-Highway sector, and at the Farnborough International Airshow demonstrated its portfolio in precision casting and additive manufacturing.

Launch of ERP TranS/4mation

GF is revamping its global ERP landscape. “Enterprise resource planning” represents the core of GF business processes on digital platforms. The innovation and automation of our ERP systems will make a significant contribution to profitable growth as part of Strategy 2025. ERP TranS/4mation is a GFwide program in which all divisions are participating. It is designed to create the technological basis for new business models and will be implemented by teams from IT and Business. Stay tuned!

The Culture Movement is turning one!

Since its launch a year ago, the movement aimed at spreading GF’s new values and strengthening our Winning Culture has reached an increasing number of people and is in full swing. More than 200 change agents across divisions and regions have been trained. Together with their teams, over 1’100 employees and many teams have experimented together on how to apply our values to our daily life. More initiatives actions are in the pipeline!

Mystery Coffee talks take place worldwide

Connect with people from around the world via Mystery Coffee! Employees at GF Piping Systems have been able to do just that since last spring. They have followed the call of the Mystery Coffee talk to randomly get to know colleagues from their division worldwide with whom they have not yet had any contact in their daily work.

Mystery Coffee offers employees the chance to expand their global network. In the process, they can learn from each other and share experiences, and thus can collaborate more effectively in the future.

900 celebrate at Schaffhausen

On 29 September, some 900 employees from all divisions celebrated the Schaffhausen (Switzerland) site festival. After a two-year break because of the pandemic, there was finally once again an opportunity for personal encounters. In a joint address, Andreas Müller, Joost Geginat and Carlos Vasto welcomed guests. The Culture Movement team provided a surprising start to the evening with a team experiment in which those present enthusiastically participated.