Georg Fischer Celebrates 200th Anniversary at Southern California Gala

Nov. 1, 2002
Georg Fischer Expresses Gratitude to Customers and Partners for Successful Longevity at Bicentennial Event

George Fischer, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Georg Fischer, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, celebrated Georg Fischer‚s 200th Anniversary, welcoming industry business partners, dignitaries, and government officials at an elegant gala ceremony program on Oct. 4th in Pasadena, Calif. The event was one of many celebrations scheduled throughout the company‚s 160 corporate subsidiaries around the world to commemorate the Bicentennnial of the Georg Fischer Corp.

The event encompassed a day of celebration and recognition of Georg Fischer milestones in technology and other phases of its growth, parallel with the similar era of growth in the United States, from 1802 through 2002. With a luncheon kick-off at the Ritz Carlton in Pasadena, the afternoon included a tour of the Huntington Library, a panel discussion at the California Institute of Technology, and a cocktail party and evening banquet back at the Ritz. Participating government officials and dignitaries included Pete Wilson, former Governor and Senator of California; Christian Blickenstorfer, Swiss Ambassador to the U.S.; and Franz Hunkeler, Swiss Consulate.

George Fischer is using the occasion of its bicentenary to launch a "Community Benefit," the Clean Water program, which will target specific areas at home and abroad over a number of years with the aim of improving the quality of life for as many people as possible. The Clean Water project, in close cooperation with experienced humanitarian aid organizations, will help build installations for providing a reliable supply of clean drinking water throughout the world.

Opening ceremonies began in a birthday party atmosphere at the buffet lunch at the Ritz Carlton complete with balloons and colorful panels depicting a blending of Georg Fischer and U.S. history. Over 150 guests were greeted and thanked for their part in building George Fischer. As with any birthday party, each guest received an elegant gift bag which included a "Clean Water Bottle and Mug", backpack, Bicentennial Keepsake, and Swiss chocolates. Guests were given a brief history in synopsis of the George Fischer Corporation with some insight into the reasons for its successful longevity by Martin Huber, Georg Fischer President and CEO, which he summarized as innovation, openness to new ideas, and employees customers, and partners. Guests were then caravaned to the Huntington Library by bus where they were escorted on an Estate Tour by the Library‚s docents.

The next event included a panelist discussion with representatives from the fields of technology, academia, diplomacy, and politics at the California Institute of Technology. The panel included Steven Koonin, Provost for the Institute, Pete Wilson, Christian Blickenstorfer, Martin Huber, and was moderated by Roger Herman, noted author in world technology development and popular moderator. Panelists delved into such thought-provoking questions as "Is the speed of change too rapid to benefit from?" "How do we manage change so that all can benefit, not just a few?" "Where will we be technology-wise 200 years from now?" "What role will technology, academics, diplomacy and politics have in the future?" The panelists touched on such topics as literacy, ethics, world government, and cultural differences.

The Gala culminated with a cocktail party and dinner at the Ritz Carlton where guests, were entertained by a Swiss musical group complete with costumes and Alphorn, and a comedy act and laser show. The final ceremony concluded with an address by former California Governor Pete Wilson and gift presentation of an historical painting to Robert A. Jeker, Georg Fischer Chairman of the Board.

Georg Fischer is celebrating its bicentenary under the motto "We shape the future." According to Martin Huber, "We deliberately chose this motto because of its double meaning. On the one hand Georg Fischer is an industrial company that manufactures a variety of products that are shaped in molds from plastics. On the other hand we look consistently to the future and we have a single objective in mind: to create more value added each year."

Source: Georg Fischer, Inc.

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