"There was a workforce, office space, tax legislation for international finance companies and a desire for renewal throughout the Canton. We joined forces to do everything we could to convince new companies to come to Schaffhausen," says Thomas Holenstein, Schaffhausen's first business promoter, looking back on the early days. In 1998, the first company, Wunder-Baum from Germany, decided to set up a production site in Thayngen. The start was made. A few months later, Tyco (operating under the name Johnson Controls since 2016) was the first US company with headquarters functions. Today, 25 years later, both companies are firmly anchored in the Canton. They are examples of many others that have chosen Schaffhausen and are making a relevant contribution to value creation and industry diversification in the region.

The first US company arrives

In 1998, the Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen was one of the first major companies to convince Tyco of Schaffhausen's potential as a business location. In the 1990s, the company was a broadly diversified group with around 70,000 employees worldwide and a turnover of 13 billion US dollars - an international heavyweight by the standards of the time. Tyco was active in the areas of fire protection, electronic security systems, disposable medical products and electrical and electronic components. The US group wanted to further expand its European business and chose Schaffhausen as the new location for the management of brands and patents: They were convinced by the attractive cost framework, the quality of life and, last but not least, the support of the economic development agency and other official bodies, the managing director at the time explained the decision to the Schaffhauser Nachrichten (Schaffhauser Nachrichten, October 1, 1998). With one exception, the first ten employees came from the Schaffhausen region. They had the chance to start an international career "at home" with their new employer. And for the location, the establishment of the Group was a first major step towards diversifying the Schaffhausen economy and creating new added value locally.

"As a brand manager, I work in an exciting international environment - from Schaffhausen."

Evelyn Räpple, employee of  Johnson Controls

The company is growing - and dividing

Tyco grew and moved for the first time in 2002: from Schwertstrasse to larger premises directly in Schaffhausen railroad station. The team, now numbering around 30, expanded its local activities with finance and taxes. For the employees, including some expats and their families, the high quality of life and the range of schools on offer locally was a decisive reason to relocate to the region. Schaffhausen offered attractive housing options - in the city or in the countryside - and a growing international community, which made it easier to settle in and supported integration. In addition, the new International School Schaffhausen ISSH offered families the opportunity to simply enrol their children and maintain their internationally oriented education. The school has continuously expanded this offer since 1998. Today, around 300 children from over 30 countries attend ISSH - from childcare and compulsory schooling to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. 

Three new companies were created in 2007: Tyco Electronics (from 2011 TE Connectivity) for sensors and electronic components and Tyco Healthcare (later Covidien) as the new healthcare division. The Fire & Security division remained under the Tyco name. The Tyco team in Schaffhausen was split between the new companies. Tyco and Tyco Electronics remained in the city of Schaffhausen, Tyco Healthcare established a headquarters in Neuhausen am Rheinfall.

Other functions in Schaffhausen

In 2009, the headquarters were relocated to Schaffhausen. According to Tyco's media spokesperson, the positive experiences at the Schaffhausen site were important for this decision (SN of 13.12.2008). Subsequently, further highly qualified employees moved to Schaffhausen and strengthened the team. They found their workplace in the newly renovated Güterhof in the city.

Just a few months after the spin-off from Tyco, Tyco Healthcare took over the Covidien name. In 2010, the company employed around 70 people in Neuhausen am Rheinfall and was convinced by the location, so a further expansion step followed. As with other internationally active companies, the proximity to the airport played an important role, as did the availability of well-trained specialists. "And of course we also really like the view of the Rhine," explained the then Managing Director of Covidien to the Schaffhauser Nachrichten (SN of 27.10.2010). In 2014, Covidien was taken over by the US medical technology group Medtronic - the headquarters in Schaffhausen remained.

In 2012, Tyco spun off further parts of its business: Flow Control merged with Pentair. The company thus became the world's leading provider of water and fluid solutions, valves and controls. Also convinced by the attractive framework conditions, Pentair founded a branch in Schaffhausen. In 2018, another spin-off emerged from Pentair: the electrical division nVent, which is also based in Schaffhausen.

"The Economic Promotion Canton of Schaffhausen continues to support the new companies after they have settled in Schaffhausen - so that they stay."

New offices - new companies

After a further expansion phase, the company moved from the town of Schaffhausen to Neuhausen am Rheinfall in 2013 to the newly constructed office building on Victor von Bruns Strasse. There was enough space here for the growing number of employees and further expansion plans. The Schaffhausen location was convincing with its direct airport connection, attractive cost environment and high quality of life. Following several business-critical initiatives in Switzerland, various companies relocated their headquarters to other countries. Tyco announced this move in 2014. However, the plans for the company's development at the site in Neuhausen am Rheinfall remained in place (SN of 5.5.2014).

Johnson Controls is created

The next major merger in the company's history followed in 2016: the merger with Johnson Controls created a new multinational group with a focus on building technology and related services. The company became a market leader in equipping intelligent and sustainable buildings. The site in Neuhausen am Rheinfall was retained and is gradually being expanded under the Johnson Controls name.

Today, Johnson Controls employs over 90 people in Neuhausen am Rheinfall. What began with the management of brands and patents has been gradually expanded in recent years. Central functions such as the management team for the EMEALA markets (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America) and various global centers of excellence such as product and brand strategy, engineering and services have been added for Johnson Controls in Neuhausen. These functions strongly shape the innovation and future of Johnson Controls and make the headquarters an important unit within the group.

Accompany to stay

To ensure that companies remain loyal to Schaffhausen, the economic development department remains in close contact even after they have settled here. Questions need to be clarified time and again, the new companies need contacts to the local economy, the administration or information for new employees. In the event of changes such as expansion projects or restructuring, the exchange is intensified again. The aim is always to convince the new units of Schaffhausen as a location, to exploit the development potential and to get employees excited about living and working in the region. To this end, it is crucial that the Canton of Schaffhausen has remained true to its location policy for 25 years and continues to invest in the framework conditions.

From the settlement to a part of Schaffhausen

The relocation of the Tyco conglomerate in 1998 gave rise to numerous new companies in addition to Johnson Controls, which are still active in Schaffhausen today. They are called nVent, Medtronic, Pentair or TE Connectivity and employ over 250 people here. In more than 25 years, they have left their mark. Together with several hundred other companies based here, they have brought sustainable added value to the region and created over 2790 jobs (as at 31.12.22).

It is not only the new companies that have become part of Schaffhausen over the last 25 years, but also their employees. The companies offer Schaffhausen residents like Evelyn Räpple attractive jobs and at the same time attract new workers. Workers who live here with their families and enjoy the combination of attractive job opportunities and a high quality of life.