Healthy sales growth in 2025 – Kistler makes targeted investments in growth markets

In 2026, Kistler is pushing ahead with preparations for a new, highly automated sensor factory at its headquarters in Winterthur. At the same time, the company is strengthening its presence in the Asian market with targeted investments and the establishment of new regional headquarters.

Marc Schaad, CEO of the Kistler Group, is cautiously optimistic about the current fiscal year: "My first year as CEO was challenging, but we've set an important course. One way we've done this is by adapting our regional structures, enabling us to respond even more flexibly to different market conditions. Despite the strong Swiss franc and ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties, we are cautiously optimistic about the 2026 business year. We plan to continue growing through targeted investments, particularly in Asian markets such as China."

Strategically, the Kistler Group continues to focus on its core competencies in piezoelectric measurement technology and is concentrating on four key industrial areas: monitoring and controlling manufacturing processes; applications in plastics processing, particularly for medical technology; condition monitoring of critical infrastructures such as bridges; and monitoring marine and large stationary engines. Significant growth opportunities could already be seen in these areas in 2025: Kistler expanded its portfolio last year with a cloud-based software platform for bridge monitoring. This enables continuous Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and allows integrated solutions – from sensors to data analysis – to be offered in combination with dynamic weight measurement (Weigh in Motion, WIM). Bridge operators benefit from accurate, highly available data on the actual behavior of infrastructures and traffic loads, which supports safe, efficient operation.

The regional outlook for 2026 varies. Kistler continues to anticipate stable growth in Asia, particularly in China. The company plans to establish new regional headquarters for Asia in Kuala Lumpur in order to capitalize on the strong market dynamics in the region. In the United States, Kistler has strengthened its management team in particular in order to respond to ongoing geopolitical uncertainties as effectively as possible. In Germany, the focus is on developing new applications. These measures are clearly aimed at compensating for declining sales in the automotive sector.

New products will also contribute to growth in 2026. Kistler is currently working on several promising innovations for various industries. Overall, the company will continue to invest around 9 percent of its annual revenue in research and development in 2026.

In addition, the Kistler Group plans to build a smart factory at its headquarters in Winterthur in the coming years. "For us, the smart factory is a long-term investment and a clear commitment to Winterthur as a location. It's a key part of our long-term strategy to make the Kistler Group sustainable for the future," explains Marc Schaad. "We're currently in an intensive planning and clarification phase to establish the technical and organizational foundations for a sustainable production and working environment."