Innovation with the wow factor

The innovator behind the touring binding celebrates its 50th birthday.

FRITSCHI IN REICHENBACH IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE WORLD’S LEADING MANUFACTURER OF TOURING AND FREERIDE SKI BINDINGS.

With a global market share of 65 to 70 percent, Fritschi in Reichenbach i.K. is far and away the world›s leading manufacturer of touring bindings. Slowly but surely, the

Bern-based company has established its undisputed pole position in a technically demanding segment. Its policy of systematic technical innovation has made an enormous contribution to the continued development of ski touring. However, to enjoy this most beautiful and natural win-ter sport to the full, skiers need the very best binding available. A genuinely outstanding touring binding de-mands all the expertise of creative engineers and top-class craftsmen. Fritschi has both: talented engineers and high-quality craftsmen. At Fritschi, they work to-gether as a team. Fritschi not only adheres to the Swiss philosophy of quality craftsmanship. It is also commit-ted to the Bernese Oberland and has been faithful to Reichenbach in the Kander valley for 50 years. In statistical terms, Fritschi is simply a niche product that has won itself a global market. However, this is a global market in the truest sense, covering ski regions

from the Alps to the Andes. And this includes up-and-coming winter sports areas such as the Tatra Mountains, the Caucasus, the Himalayas and the Rockies. Fritschi has surmounted the enormous challenge of becoming a reliable and attractive partner for touring skiers world-wide. How could it be anything else considering that ex-ports account for 85 percent of its output?Fritschi bindings are also the fi rst choice for military purposes. Only recently, the French army ordered Fritschi bindings for its Alpine troops. In Switzerland, it is only fi tting that Fritschi has been able to grow and achieve the recognition it deserves thanks to its mili-tary supplies. Touring ski bindings must be able to fulfi l completely contradictory requirements. They need to be light and permit easy, comfortable movement while simultane-ously ensuring optimum stability, solidity and safety. To avoid serious injuries such as broken bones in the event of a fall, they have to be equipped with a mod-ern release system. The design of modern touring ski bindings demands complex engineering skills. In this fi eld, a thorough un-derstanding of modern high-tech materials is every bit as important as outstanding design expertise and long-standing production experience. For 30 years or more, Andreas Fritschi›s professional activities have concen-trated exclusively on touring bindings. The fact that he has successfully patented a number of his innovations testifi es to his intense desire to fi nd new, successful solutions and his readiness to explore new avenues.

THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF A MODERN TOURING OR FREERIDE BINDING TODAY IS A COMPLEX ENGINEERING PROCESS.

INTEGRATED,

STATE-OF-THE-ART

PRODUCTION IN AN

UNCOMPROMISINGLY

MODERN BUT BY NO

MEANS DOMINANT

ARCHITECTURE. FRITSCHI

HAS REMAINED TRUE

TO REICHENBACH

(BACKGROUND) AND IS

GEARING ITS OPERATIONS

TO FUTURE NEEDS.

THE FOUNDING FATHERSince it was founded 50 years ago, Fritschi›s most dis-tinctive characteristics have been its innovative spirit and entrepreneurship based on self-confi dence. At the age of only 27, Albert Fritschi launched his own engi-neering shop in Reichenbach (canton of Bern). Coming from a farming family based in Teufenthal in the Aar-gau, he fi rst completed an apprenticeship with Injecta in Teufenthal before working in French-speaking Swit-zerland and Milan and then becoming works manager at Wandfl uh AG in Kandergrund. With a talent for business, this gifted precision engineer fi rst of all dedicated his workshop to the construction of prototypes and the development of machine tools for the production of the jewelled bearings used in watch-making. After moving to new company premises in 1966, Albert Fritschi extended his production capacity. Alongside the manufacture of Gertsch ski bindings, Albert Fritschi also developed and produced newspaper folding machines and precision drawing boards. In 1972, the company employed 65 people. During the seventies, Albert Fritschi further developed these boards to create a wide range of drawing systems. Before the age of computers and plotters, these draw-ing systems were an indispensable tool for all designers. Thanks to their acknowledged accuracy in precision en-gineering applications, Fritschi was able to make a name for himself in this sector. The silver medal awarded to Fritschi’s drawing boards at the 1979 Inventors› Fair was a fi tting reward for the company’s efforts.

ALBERT

FRITSCHI

WITH SONS ANDREAS

AND CHRISTIAN AT

A TRADE FAIR IN

MUNICH.

CHRISTIAN FRITSCHI

BUSINESSMAN BY TRADE, ARTIST

OUT OF PASSION, HE CO-

MANAGED THE COMPANY WITH

HIS BROTHER.

ANDREAS FRITSCHI

A TECHNICIAN BY TRAINING, HE

DEVELOPED THE BIG FREERIDE

AND TOURING SKI BINDINGS.

STEFAN IBACH

APPOINTED GENERAL MANAGER

IN 2004, HE HAS IMPOSED A

CLEARER STRUCTURE ON THE

PIONEERING COMPANY.

THE SON OF A FARMER IN AARGAU, HIS FIRST JOBS WERE IN FRENCH-SPEAKING SWITZERLAND AND MILAN.

THE HUGE LEAP TO GLOBAL MARKET LEADER STATUS (1995-2010)Since 1981, Fritschi has been a regular exhibitor at IS-PO, the Munich-based international trade fair for sports products. Here, using the slogan «Touring bindings for safety-conscious skiers», Christian Fritschi presented the Fritschi-Tour FT88 binding for the fi rst time at a modest stand measuring just fi ve metres by three with a small table for receiving visitors at the back. The great technological advance came in 1995 with «Di-amir». Diamir means «King of the Mountains» and it rep-resents a new generation of lightweight, safe and easy-to-use bindings. With a completely new design based on the philosophy «ingeniously simple – simply ingenious», Diamir revolutionized the design of touring bindings. With Diamir, Fritschi was very quickly able to open up the market and establish a position for itself as a leading manufacturer of touring bindings. In 2000, the growth generated by this product enabled the company to build new premises in Reichenbach›s Hauptstrasse where production, development, sales and warehous-ing are now housed under a single roof.

THE PATH TO AN IN-HOUSE BINDINGIt was with the same high commitment to quality that Fritschi produced the first Gertsch plate bindings in 1966. What started out as a one-off commission was gradually to develop into a long-term business activity. In 1979, Fritschi acquired the production and marketing rights as well as the patents for the ski bindings from Gertsch. Andreas Fritschi, the family›s oldest son and a qualifi ed engineer recognized the development potential of touring bindings. Together with his brother Christian, who was responsible for com-mercial matters, and in cooperation with his supportive father, he gave careful consideration to possible design improvements. The result was a new binding that was safer, lighter and more stable. The reward for all these efforts came in 1984: the fi rst major order placed by the Swiss army for the new Fritschi touring binding. Between 1984 and 1989, Fritschi supplied the army with a total of 70,000 pairs of touring bindings. For Albert Fritschi, this was fi tting recognition of his hard work and achievements. Looking back, however, Fritschi was just at the start of its work on the perfect binding for the «Perfect Day». Parallel to its touring binding activities, Fritschi also in-vested in other winter sports fi elds with the development of snowboard bindings. This was in 1986 and met with outstanding success, The Fritschi brothers now had to de-cide whether to concentrate their strategy on the snow-board sector or to develop a new touring binding. Andreas and Christian opted for the second of these alternatives.

BETWEEN 1984 AND 1989, FRITSCHI SUPPLIED THE ARMY WITH A TOTAL OF 70,000 PAIRS OF TOURING BINDINGS.

QUANTUM LEAP

THE FT 88 TOURING

BINDING (LEFT) AND THE

REVOLUTIONARY DIAMIR

(BELOW) UPHOLD THE

COMPANY’S MOTTO:

“INGENIOUSLY SIMPLE –

SIMPLY INGENIOUS”.

est generation of Diamir bindings possesses all types of high-tech sophistication – ingenious and simple at the same time. They are exceptionally comfortable when touring and offer outstanding downhill performance.

DEMANDING ASSEMBLY WORK AND EXACTING PRACTICAL TESTSWith 166 separate parts, Fritschi bindings are now as complex as a mechanical timepiece. Fritschi commis-sions all the components, which are made from a wide range of materials such as aluminium, plastics and stainless steel, from manufacturers in Switzerland. The actual assembly is broken down into a series of care-fully planned steps. Following assembly, every binding is subjected to an individual system test. In ski sports applications, operating safety is the highest priority and all the binding models therefore comply with DIN/ISO requirements and have been certifi ed by TÜV, the Ger-man safety testing organization.Fritschi products owe their success to their superior design. This results from intensive testing of new ideas on CAD systems and in practice. Andreas Fritschi and Stefan Ibach test every new development personally following the laboratory phase. Testing of the proto-types in the snow involves cumulative altitude changes of at least 100,000 metres and makes it possible to as-sess the reliability of the design. In everything he does, Andreas Fritschi remembers his father›s words. Albert would constantly ask: «Will it hold?» For this practical engineer, a simple, stable design was always the high-est priority.

COMMITMENT TO SWITZERLAND AS A PRODUCTION SITEFritschi in Reichenbach is an excellent example of a competitive Switzerland succeeding on the global stage. Fritschi also chooses Swiss companies as its suppliers. «Using lean production techniques, it is perfectly pos-sible to be competitive in Switzerland,» says Stefan Ibach who has been working in this family- run com-pany since 1999.

ENGINEERING IN THE SERVICE OF FREERIDERS AND TOURING SKIERSThe development of the fi rst genuine freeride bind-ing with a walking function was of crucial importance for the acquisition of this leading position. Since then, Fritschi has worked hard to optimize its products in or-der to give touring skiers and freeriders an unparalleled high-altitude experience. The main focus is on ease of use and movement. Diamir users can activate the touring function without having to take off the binding. It is equally easy to operate the four-position heel elevator using the ski pole in order to adapt optimally to the slope of the terrain. The lat-

USING LEAN PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES, IT IS PERFECTLY POSSIBLE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN SWITZERLAND.

THE DESIGN OF THE

AXION CRAMPON

(TOP) WAS A CLASSICAL

PIECE OF INNOVATION

FROM FRITSCHI. IT IS

SAFE AND EXTREMELY

COMFORTABLE.

IN FACT, PERFECT FOR

THE ASCENT TO THE

MONTE ROSA HUT.

(RIGHT)

Managing Director since 2004, he and his team have continued to develop the Fritschi business. Team-ori-ented structures with fl at hierarchies and effi cient proc-esses based on the use of modern tools make it possible to supply these high-tech products to export markets at a competitive price. Customers worldwide benefi t from a client-oriented sales and marketing organization with top-quality service provided by skilled, well trained dis-tributors in 32 countries. A sophisticated quality assur-ance system ensures that the bindings meet their users› high expectations under the exacting conditions of use they are exposed to. Corporate Communications have developed a unique positioning for the company and provide a varied mix of advertising, sales promotion activities and practical operations that take account of local circumstances. Consequently, Diamir bindings can be presented attractively and persuasively despite the limited resources available.While the company has both adapted its existing struc-tures and created new ones, it has also promoted a team culture based on shared values. In modern premises ad-jacent to the Spiez-Kandersteg and Bern-Milan railway link, cooperation at every level forms the basis for ef-fi cient workfl ows. Everyone is welcome to think about possible innovations and make suggestions wherever they feel fi t.Above all, Fritschi believes in encouraging its employ-ees to think consciously about the processes involved and openly exchange their ideas. «Only this way can we ensure that our employees are truly motivated and committed,» says Stefan Ibach. This approach makes it possible to compensate for the high cost base through

A SPIRIT OF MUTUAL APPRECIATION AND GENERAL RESPECT RUNS THROUGHOUT THE COMPANY.

ON THEIR WAY UP:

SKI TOURING

IS INCREASINGLY

ENJOYING

RECOGNITION

AS A PERFECT

COMPLEMENT TO

CLASSICAL DOWNHILL.

FREERIDING (LEFT)

CALLS FOR ADVANCE

SKIERS AND PERFECT

EQUIPMENT.

effi ciency.In 2009, the Fritschi brothers acted in good time to se-cure the company›s long-term future and continued activity at its present site by entrusting its succession to von Nordeck, a group that shares its philosophy and values. Fritschi AG Swiss Bindings is now a typical fam-ily-owned medium-sized business.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDSWith a philosophy based on innovations that satisfy clear-cut needs, Fritschi is confi dent of retaining its po-sition as the leading supplier of touring bindings oper-ating from its Reichenbach production site.Outdoor sport in an unspoilt natural environment is a wonderful experience that is becoming increasingly popular. In some regions, ski touring is only just begin-ning to emerge. Fritschi›s list of export markets is grow-ing longer every year. Recently, the company even re-ceived enquiries from Kyrgyzstan for touring bindings from Reichenbach. The combination of stable markets, outstanding tech-nical skills, effi cient, high-quality production and a se-cure, long-term capital base provide a solid basis for the next 50 years.

THE SECRET OF FRITSCHI’S PRODUCTION IS ALL ABOUT SUPERIOR DESIGN.

A LEAN

MANUFACTURE AND

A THOROUGHLY

EFFICIENT

STRUCTURE. THE

PRODUCTION LINE

(ABOVE), BELOW: THE

PRINT SHOP.

OPTIMIZED TOOTHING FACILITATES INTERLOCKING IN ICE AND SNOW.

DIAMIR EAGLE – WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!

Fritschi has developed DIAMIR EAGLE to meet the new demands made by touring skiers. This inno-vation represents a new dimension in ski bindings,

both in terms of walking comfort and safety. A high-per-formance binding in every sense, it is astonishingly light and brings together every aspect of Fritschi’s expertise.At the heart of the design lies the newly developed Di-amir Gliding Technology. This sophisticated solution to two contradictory requirements placed on touring bind-ings unites walking comfort with safety. Thanks to Diamir Gliding Technology, it is possible to place the point of rotation at the optimum position. This allows the foot to roll off naturally. Walking comfort is signifi cantly improved. A mobile base plate guaran-tees complete freedom of movement even in extreme situations when the natural walking angle is exceed-ed. At the same time, Diamir Gliding Technology sets new standards for the integration of state-of-the-art safety technology.And DIAMIR EAGLE also boasts other new features: The wider front hinge support increases torsional ri-gidity when ascending and improves the transmission of power during descents. The larger base of the heel damping element at the rear further optimizes power transmission during descents. The new climbing aid is ergonomically optimized and easier to use.

THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE BINDING OPENS UP A NEW DIMENSION AND IS AT THE SAME TIME ASTONISHINGLY LIGHT.

DIAMIR FREERIDE PRO – PERFECTION IN FREERIDE MOUNTAINEERING

For pow(d)er freaks, there is no real alternative to the Diamir Freeride Pro with Power Transmission Control. For the ultimate freeriding experience, the

DIAMIR FREERIDE PRO’s Power Transmission Control (PTC) is the decisive element in an unforgettable deep snow adventure. Developed by Fritschi, this technology ensures absolutely outstanding direct power transmis-sion and, thanks to its stability, excellent descent char-acteristics. In the front part of the touring bindings, this is ensured by means of a stable hinge support and, at the rear, by the special PTC plate.A special bonus comes in the form of an extremely com-fortable walking function.Furthermore, DIAMIR FREERIDE PRO is the ideal choice thanks to its optimized ease of use and low weight. As you would expect, it also comes with the standard safety features for downhill bindings as well as compatibility with all standardized Alpine and touring boots.

A DISTILLATION OF FRITSCHI EXPERTISE, LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND QUALITY, ALL AT A FANTASTIC PRICE.

DIAMIR EXPERIENCE – THE PERFECT ALL-ROUND BINDING

Diamir Experience is a classic in the touring ski world and the ideal model for beginners. Di-amir Experience combines all Fritschi’s exper-

tise, technology and quality.

AXION, A TRUSTY MOUNTAIN COMPANION

In the mountains, proper equipment is crucial. And that goes all the way down to the crampons. These give tourers the grip they need during ascents or

when crossing diffi cult terrain. They also provide sta-bility in icy snow conditions. They therefore fulfi l an important safety function. The increased resistance while walking tempts many users to mount crampons on their skis only when the situation becomes a little tricky. However, fi tting crampons in diffi cult conditions can be a dangerous operation.Fritschi has found a creative solution to this confl ict between safety and comfort: the DIAMIR AXION. This crampon, which is revolutionary of its kind, remains lo-cated in the binding. Ingenious and simple at the same time, it can be deployed and retracted using the ski pole depending on the situation. The optimum position be-neath the ball of the foot combined with the crampon’s new shape increases stability and grip.

 

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING DIRECT POWER TRANSMISSION AND, THANKS TO ITS STABILITY, EXCELLENT FOR DOWNHILL.

1996 Presentation of the RA-

VE, the fi rst genuine binding

for carving, with integrated

stand height and free-gliding

heel bar.

1960 ALBERT FRITSCHI

founds A. Fritschi, Apparate-

bau, a sole proprietorship,

in Reichenbach i.K . (Bern).

The precision engineering shop

focuses on building prototypes

and developing machines for

the production of jewelled

bearings for watches.

1964 Alber t Fritschi produces

the prototypes for Gertsch

plate ski bindings.

1966 The company moves

into new production premises

in Faltschenstrasse where

it makes Gertsch plate ski

bindings (without walking

function).

1975 Fritschi develops a

universal drawing and writing

board. Production star ts up

the same year.

1977 Production of the fi rst

Ger tsch plate ski bindings

with walking function

(touring binding). The sole

proprietorship becomes a

limited company. From now

on, A. Fritschi, Apparatebau,

operates under the name

Fritschi AG, Apparatebau.

1979 The company takes

over the ski binding patents

together with the production

and distribution rights from

Gertsch.

1984 A major order from the

Swiss Army for 70,000 pairs of

the FRITSCHI TOUR FT 88/A

1988 Fritschi distributes soft

bindings for snowboarders

under the motto: «Just step in,

push down and go».

1995 With the DIAMIR Fritschi

launches a revolutionary

touring binding system. A

lightweight construction, easier

to use than any previous model,

with all the safety features

of a downhill binding.

CHRONOLOGY2000 Fritschi’s “Skyhøy” is the

fi rst telemark binding with

a safety release and is as easy

to secure as a downhill binding.

2001 Launch of the DIAMIR

FREERIDE, the fi rst genuine

freeride binding with walking

function.

2002 Introduction of the third

generation of the RAVE, the

EVO 3, with the POWERRIDE,

FREERIDE and EASYRIDE

models.

2005 Unveiling of the

innovative AXION crampon:

this can be activated and

deactivated without leaving

the binding.

2006 Introduction of the

DIAMIR FREERIDE Plus with

PTC (Power Transmission

Control) technology, which

facilitates signifi cantly more

direct transmission of power.

2009 Introduction of the

DIAMIR EAGLE with gliding

technology. A new dimension in

walking comfort and safety.

Succession agreement with the

von Nordeck Group to secure

the company’s long-term future

and continuity at the present-

day location.

1987 The world’s fi rst

manufacturer of series-

produced snowboard plate

bindings: the VERTON

snowboard plate binding

based on the FT 88 touring

binding.

2010 With the DIAMIR

FREERIDE PRO, Fritschi sets

up a new benchmark in

freeride mountaineering

for pow(d)erfreaks.

1980 Launch of Fritschi’s fi rst

binding developed in-house:

the FRITSCHI TOUR FT 88.

1997 Launch of the second

generation of the RAVE,

the EVO 2

2000 Move into modern new

premises in the Hauptstrasse

in Reichenbach. From now on,

the development, production,

warehousing, distribution and

management of Fritschi AG

Swiss Bindings are housed

under a single roof.

FROM HEADQUARTERS IN A REMOTE POCKET OF THE BERNESE OBERLAND, FRITSCHI SUPPLIES CUSTOMERS IN 32 COUNTRIES.

TODAY FRITSCHI

HAS AGENTS IN

32 COUNTRIES

WORLDWIDE.

NEW ZEALAND,

JAPAN,

ARGENTINA AND

AUSTRALIA ARE

THE MOST DISTANT

OF THESE.

EUROPE HAS

DISCOVERED

FRITSCHI IN THE

COURSE OF THE

PAST FEW YEARS.

WHEREVER WINTER

SPORTS FANS

GATHER, FRITSCHI

HAS ITS OWN

DISTRIBUTION.

FRITSCHI PRODUCES IN REICHENBACH IN THE

KANDERTAL, WHICH CONNECTS THE BERNESE

OBERLAND WITH THE CANTON OF VALAIS. IT LIES IN THE

SHADOW OF THE EIGER, MÖNCH AND JUNGFRAU

MOUNTAINS AND IS THE NATURAL BASE FOR A FIRM

SPECIALIZING IN WINTER SPORT.

FRITSCHI AG SWISS BINDINGS

HAUPTSTRASSE 9

CH-3713 REICHENBACH

TEL.: +41-(0)33-672 14 15

FAX: +41-(0)33-672 14 10

E-MAIL: INFO@DIAMIR.COM

WWW.FRITSCHI.CH