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Pushing the limits
Where innovation meets reality
“How does my workday start? I arrive at the office with a smile, make my first round of the labs and catch up with my team,” says Dr. Christoph Herold, Head of the ELANTAS Institute for High-Voltage Insulation in Büsserach, Switzerland. Then he pours himself a cup of coffee: “For z’Nüni. That’s what we call the short coffee break at nine o’clock. In Switzerland, we really value that tradition.” He takes a seat at his desk in his new office, which is decorated in an unusual way. “That’s all sorts of technical equipment that only high-voltage engineers can make sense of. So it’s best not to touch anything,” Christoph laughs.
You can feel this enthusiasm and sense of responsibility toward the company in our daily conversations. We’ve always been like one big family.
Ideas put to the test
Christoph joined the company in 2012 as head of the high-voltage laboratory, then still part of Von Roll Switzerland AG, which was acquired by ELANTAS in 2023. He has been leading the institute for eight years now. Here, the electrical engineer and his team develop technologies for testing electrical insulation systems used in motors, generators, and transformers. In addition to supporting group-wide product development, the institute also serves as an innovation partner to manufacturers of electrical machines. “Our internal and external customers come to us with specific technical challenges. Together, we work on solutions, develop test specimens, and conduct tests."
In the laboratories in Büsserach, both the entire production chain and real-world operating conditions can be simulated under extreme circumstances, whether at very high temperatures or under very high electrical stress. “We see ourselves as a specialized testing laboratory for both our colleagues across the ALTANA Group and customers around the world. With our state-of-the-art laboratories, we have the ideal conditions to work creatively and provide the best possible customer service,” says Christoph.
A test lab for the future
A key source of motivation for Christoph and his team is the contribution they’re making to the energy and mobility transition. “Personally, I believe that this is the only sensible way to meet our planet’s energy needs and secure our future. That’s why we also talk about the bigger picture, so that everyone can feel how important their work is.”
For Christoph, people come first. “It’s about showing appreciation and listening. Precisely because our work is so important, it’s crucial for me as a leader to provide the best possible working environment.” In addition to a safe workplace equipped with modern tools and machinery for research, this also means supporting one another by sharing knowledge and experience. Many technical challenges can only be fully understood through the diverse perspectives and valuable contributions of the team. Active listening within the team is therefore an integral part of daily interactions for him. It also includes recognizing individual strengths and fostering them in a targeted manner. “That inspires all of us and simply makes work great fun!”
“Good Chemistry” meets high energy
“At our institute, we combine chemical and technical expertise, which significantly boosts our innovative capacity. All of this is made possible by ALTANA and ELANTAS, which provide us with the resources we need,” explains Christoph. “We are proud to be part of this team.” He sees evidence of the strong chemistry within the group in both the big and the small things of everyday working life: “You can feel this enthusiasm and sense of responsibility toward the company in our daily conversations, whether within the team or at the coffee machine. We’ve always been like one big family.”