Success Stories
Eugen Seitz AG: running at full capacity up to Korea
Nov 4, 2025
Family-owned and specializing in valves, Eugen Seitz AG employs 120 people in Wetzikon (ZH). Its high-tech components are sold worldwide in six industrial segments, including PET bottle production, where the global leader helps its customers reduce their environmental impact. Seitz valves are also used in future-oriented sectors such as hydrogen stations to enhance safety and efficiency. To establish itself in Korea, Seitz reached out to Switzerland Global Enterprise to identify distribution partners in hydrogen.
Briefly describe your activities in Korea
We aim to contribute to a greener future in Korea by developing the Korean hydrogen market. Our mission is to find a well-established local partner to distribute our innovative technology.
How did S-GE help you enter international markets?
First, S-GE helped us analyze the potential by conducting market studies in Korea and Japan. The second step was finding the right distribution partner through S-GE's local network. In the third step, we traveled to Korea with our team, and S-GE opened doors for us on the ground. This allowed us to establish ourselves in Korea very quickly.
What differences have you noticed in terms of business culture?
Brazilians want to please everyone. So they make a lot of promises, and their foreign contacts take them at their word. As a result, you might receive five different answers to the same question from five different departments! Each response was correct, but none completely answered the question.
What personal advice would you give to a company looking to enter Korea?
It's essential to find the right partner on the ground. I can genuinely recommend working with S-GE to bridge Korea and Switzerland. It's also important to be patient in building trust with local business partners, with a significant role played by sharing meals together. Look forward to enjoying delicious Korean barbecues!
How has the collaboration evolved?
Trust has strengthened, although we had a slightly less favorable experience with a supplier recommended by the Swiss Business Hub. But since then, everything has been going well, and we reach an agreement over the phone with partners recommended by S-GE in 80% of cases.
Sustainability is a top priority for us. S-GE and the Swiss Business Hubs help us build bridges internationally and, as a link in the hydrogen value chain, make the world a little greener and more livable.
Andreas Bircher
CSO, Eugen Seitz AG
In which areas does sustainability play a particularly important role in your company? Has S-GE helped you to advance sustainability? If so, in which area?
Sustainability is a top priority for us and is firmly embedded in our vision and strategy. The preservation of natural resources, in particular, is at the forefront of our priorities to make life more pleasant for future generations. For instance, we have just received EcoVadis certification. We are deliberately investing in the hydrogen market to make the world a little greener. S-GE supports us in this endeavor. Thus, during market analyses in Asia, S-GE's local presence allowed us to save a few flights and accelerate the hydrogen market.
Would you say that sustainability is an opportunity to gain an international competitive advantage in exports?
From my point of view, all companies should address this without delay. We only have one world, and we must take care of it. I am firmly convinced that Switzerland has a role to play in contributing to sustainability through its innovative strength. For example, if we can ensure that a machine manufacturer in the beverage market consumes less energy thanks to our solutions, that's a real competitive advantage. We are an important link in the value chain and contribute to greater sustainability.
What goals must be achieved and challenges must be met today?
In recent years, we have experienced double-digit growth. We will continue on this path consistently and pursue a clear growth and investment strategy according to our "Ambition 2030". Our goal is to become the most attractive company in Switzerland. This will enable us to attract other talents who contribute to shaping our success story and winning over more clients worldwide.
Which other markets are you targeting as part of your expansion?
We are targeting other Asian countries in addition to Korea. To strategically advance the internationalization of the Seitz group, certain conditions had to be met, particularly giving the team intercultural skills to acquire the right mindset. We are privileged to have successfully established this team within a few years.
Would you recommend S-GE's services to other companies?
Absolutely! Their services are very useful, especially in the initial phase of market entry, thanks to S-GE's local network. The process was conducted with great momentum by S-GE, but always in collaboration with us. Everything worked well. I strongly recommend collaborating with S-GE for international development.
Hydrogen as an energy carrier is one of the major current trends in Korea, creating exciting opportunities for Eugen Seitz. With intense competition in the Korean industrial market, it was crucial to choose a business partner carefully. We are pleased to have successfully connected Eugen Seitz with an experienced partner, enabling them to expand their market presence.
Michela Giuliato
Consultant Japan + South Korea, S-GE Zurich