In its anniversary year of 2023, the fischer Group of Companies is not only looking back at 75 years of success, but above all forward to the future – having becoming renowned for its innovative power, through which it continues to develop new products and areas of business, with its fischer Innovation Campus established for this exact purpose.
Although the medium-sized business was heavily focused on plastic plugs and on operating in Germany in the past, it has since successfully evolved into a global group of companies under the management of Prof Klaus Fischer, particularly in the past 40 years. The company’s success story was evident once again in the past financial year, during which fischer achieved a turnover of over €1 billion for the first time in the company’s history (€1.14 billion) – with the business pursuing further sales growth.
Starting with a patented plastic expansion plug in 1958, fischer now offers system solutions and services for planning, construction and operation throughout a building’s entire supply chain. These services now extend far beyond fixing technology. In addition to plastic plugs, steel anchors, chemical fixing systems, and screws, the range also includes façade substructures, installation systems, FireStop solutions for passive fire protection, anchor channels, solar fixings and much more. In addition, fischer offers its customers a wide range of services. With comprehensive services, the fixing expert supports its trade partners in their convincing online and offline presence. A wide range of eLearning courses, live online seminars and face-to-face training courses at the fischer Academy also keep tradespeople, dealers, planners and structural engineers up to date. As a strong and reliable partner in fixing technology, the company is always at its customers’ side, wherever they are.
Efficiency and reliability in construction
The company states it is still setting the standard for efficiency and reliability in construction with its innovations and quality standards. One of the current milestones is its fastening robot, the BauBot. The fully automatic helper takes over the drilling, cleaning and marking of boreholes, as well as the installation of fischer fixing solutions in floors, ceilings and walls at heights of up to five metres. In combination with a digital construction plan, the robot masters the complexity of a wide variety of construction sites, increases productivity, and precision, and brings safety through continuous digital documentation. Tradespeople are physically relieved by the use of the robot and their health is protected by a dust-free environment. As a result, the robot increases efficiency when working, reduces errors, saves costs and time, as well as contributing to reducing the shortage of skilled workers on construction sites, which ultimately ensures project success.
In another world first, the fischer Construction Monitoring sensor innovation allows existing prestressing forces in fastenings to be monitored at all times and from anywhere. The Construction Monitoring software solution within the myfischer portal is used together with sensor integrated fischer fixing products. With the SensorAnchor anchor rod, forces can be precisely measured from a distance and permanently monitored. The SensorDisc washer makes it possible to check the pretensioning force in various screw connections simply by tapping it with a smartphone. The data of the sensor integrated fixing products can be read out with the fischer PRO App or via web application. The use of this innovation increases the service life, sustainability, safety and maintenance efficiency of structures and plants.
Competence for construction projects
Today, fischer is a strong and reliable project partner that supports customers with any construction project through a wide range of services, from planning to on-site support until the project’s successful completion. An in-house engineering office, BIM solutions, engineering services and fischer’s FiXperience design software also provide support with project planning. Digital services, such as dowel-finder Apps, make it easier to select and use fischer products.
In its own fischer Construction Engineering GmbH, the fixing expert bundles its competences and increases efficiency, safety and precision on the construction site in the areas of project business, dimensioning, surveys, BIM modelling & CAD, fire protection and services.
The fischer BIM spectrum includes digital twins of the relevant fischer product and system portfolio including inserts (fischer anchor channels), façade substructures, as well as installation and fire protection systems. With BIM engineering services, fischer also supports customers in the selection, dimensioning and modelling of fischer fixing and system solutions – right through to the creation of digital models and assemblies optimised according to the respective customer and project specific requirements. fischer Field-to-BIM services simultaneously enable as-built surveys and modelling, including analysis and processing of the point Cloud, as well as as-built documentation for 3D representation of the existing structure. For fast construction progress on-site, fischer BIM-to-Field support ensures the transfer of planning data from the BIM model to the real construction site – by means of digital models and the use of the latest technology, such as the BauBot robot.
The FiXperience software also allows the fixing solutions of complete projects and individual applications to be planned in a targeted and cost optimised manner. The fischer PRO App for smartphones and tablets, with the Android and iOS operating systems, also gives professional users and planners access to many useful functions and information about fischer fixing technology at any time and from anywhere.
Using the product advisor, tradesmen and engineers can enter common parameters to quickly and easily find the right individual product and suitable system solution. The purchase can be completed online or at a fischer retail partner. DIYers can find the right product for their fixing project with the help of the plug finder as a fischer App DIY and as a website tool. The fischer App Craftnote also serves as a central coordination and communication point for all projects involving craftspeople’s businesses. As an interface between construction site and office, it links communication, documentation, organisation and planning of the craftspeople’s operation. With reliable data and stable processes, the company’s success can be planned.
Consistent international expansion
fischer Group operates globally with a result oriented approach for the benefit of customers and users. Around 80% of the family businesses’ turnover is generated outside Germany. With 51 subsidiaries in 39 countries, the fischer Group of Companies is successfully established in the market and exports to more than 120 countries, with new subsidiaries due to be added. In doing so, company owner Prof Klaus Fischer is consistently expanding the company’s internationalisation. He has been steadily expanding the company’s international commercial activities since becoming its general director 43 years ago. At the time, the company generated a turnover equivalent to around €50 million with around 1,000 employees.
Sustainably successful
fischer shows responsibility for people and the environment. The fischer Process-System, which avoids waste, contributes to sustainability throughout the group on a daily basis. For its commitment in this area, the fischer Group of Companies received the German Sustainability Award 2020 in the ‘Large Companies’ category.
The fixing specialist offers its GreenLine anchors, which consist of at least 50% renewable raw materials and are particularly low in emissions. In addition, there are other fastening innovations, such as the FIS V Zero injection mortar, which does not contain any hazardous substances. The innovative formulation of the label-free universal mortar guarantees user-friendly and safe processing, as well as environmentally friendly application and disposal. For the benefit of occupants and building users, FIS V Zero also meets the highest requirements for maintaining clean indoor air quality.
Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 12 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector – interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe. Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the brand is renowned.
