Strategy

Inventing success together

Creating added value for our stakeholder groups and inventing success together in close partnership with our customers is our number one goal. A sustainable mindset and approach are key drivers of innovation that will help us reach that goal. We analyze our impact on the eco­nomy, environment and society and strive for continuous improvement. As a value engineering specialist, we develop sustainable solutions based on our employees’ high levels of application and technology expertise.

SFS has set itself the goal of holding a leading position in the market for the development, manufacturing and distribution of application-critical precision components and assemblies, mechanical fastening systems, quality tools and procurement solutions. We embrace a system­atic customer focus in everything we do. We strive to create added value for our stake­holder groups through our products and services across the entire value chain – from the initial design concept to timely delivery.

Focus on megatrends

To meet our customers’ needs, we operate within clearly defined end markets and regions and focus on selected application areas that have strong underlying innovation and growth drivers. The megatrends relevant to SFS are:

  • Digital revolution
  • Innovation acceleration
  • Economic globalization
  • Evolving consumption
  • Resource constraints
  • Demographic asymmetries
  • Growing global risks

These megatrends guide our decision-making and enable us to continuously enhance our expertise and develop both our customers’ and our own internal processes.

Strategic priorities

Implementing our strategic priorities calls for effort and engagement on the part of every one of our Value Creators. Innovative spirit and perseverance are key prerequisites for our success. We promote and acknowledge those in different ways, with one example being the Value Engineering Award, which is given to recognize innovations.

The motto of SFS’s in-house Value Engineering Award is: “We create value – for customers and us”. Teams that have successfully undertaken an innovation or improvement project can submit their project every year. Awards are presented to projects in these three categories:

  • Best innovation realized
  • Best digital innovation
  • Best production-related innovation/best improvement project

The “Abbott ProGlide and ProStyle” project from the Medical & Industrial Specials division won an award in 2024 for being the best innovation realized. These two medical devices are used to close the access site in the body after cardiac catheterization, such as a stent implantation. Pro­Style is a next-gen version of the proven and trusted ProGlide. The optimized ProStyle was developed with features such as needles with more tensile strength for improved reliability.

The stainless steel cannulas of the “Abbott ProGlide and ProStyle” project in size comparison with a paper clip.

Double materiality analysis performed for CSRD

SFS performed a double materiality analysis in 2024 in accordance with the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The results of this analysis will be present­ed in the 2025 Sustainability Report. SFS will adapt its reporting system to the new European standards, the European Reporting Standards (ESRS), in 2025. This also requires it to collect new key indicators and define measurable targets. The current Sustainability Report was pre­pared in accordance with the GRI Standards once again and shows progress made on the following topics.

List of material topics in 2024

  • Energy and emissions (GRI 302, 305)
  • Sustainable solutions (GRI 301)
  • Procurement (GRI 308, 414)
  • Employee promotion and engagement (GRI 404, 405)

List of important topics that were not defined as material topics in 2024

  • Occupational health and safety
  • Compliance and due diligence
  • Climate change and corresponding risks (see TCFD Report)

Information about how SFS identified the topics listed here in 2022 and then reviewed them in subsequent years can be found in the Sustainability Report 2023.

Clearly defined responsibilities

Sustainability is a firmly established aspect of our company’s business activities and impacts every level – from the Board of Directors as the highest governance body to the Group Execu­tive Board to the individual segments, sites and teams. The Group Executive Board defines the sustainability strategy, sets the priorities and monitors the Group’s progress in close coopera­tion with the Board of Directors and the Steering team. The Sustainability Report and the Annual Report will be presented to the 2025 Annual General Meeting for approval.