Capacity Doubled in Sri Lanka

Variosystems doubles its production capacity in Sri Lanka

We are growing along with our global customers and securing tomorrow’s needs today. The recently opened new building in Badalgama doubles our production capacity for high-tech electronics and wire harness solutions in Sri Lanka. More than 100 guests, including many long-standing partners and the ambassador of Switzerland, celebrated the opening of the ultramodern building with us on November 24.

Sri Lanka is always worth a visit. But this time the visit to Badalgama was a particularly special event for the Variosystems team. 25 years after the opening of the first site in Sri Lanka and ten years after starting in Badalgama, the next milestone: the doubling in size of the largest Variosystems site. It now offers 30,000 square meters of space for the quick and flexible high-volume production of high-quality electronics and wire harness solutions – and thereby even more service for the global VARIOplatform.

“The location in Sri Lanka is a central component of our vision. We want to support international customers with local supply chains, competitive prices, and global quality standards – true to our motto ‘co-creating leading innovators.’ Through the expansion, we are strengthening our presence in the growing Asian market and our global electronics supply chain,” announced CEO Stephan Sonderegger at the opening in front of more than 100 guests. He thanked the approximately 1,300 employees for their trust and commitment. They will soon be receiving reinforcement. The expansion will create 600 further jobs over the next three years.

Sustainable Success Story

“The expansion of the manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka was a logical step in the development of the VARIOexperience for our customers. In this way, we can continue to meet the growing demand for first-class electronics manufacturing services in the region in the future,” added COO Stefan Walther. The foundation stone for today’s success was laid in 1998. With courage and a pioneering spirit, the three company founders Norbert Bachstein, Peter Ermish, and Peter Germann dared to take a leap into the unknown. Together with local partner Swindo Electronics, they founded a joint venture and the success story took its course. The acquisition of the business in 2003 was followed by the move to Badalgama ten years later. A high-tech facility was erected there and expanded step by step over the years.

The plant is in the middle of the countryside, surrounded by palm trees, and yet very well networked. The ideal accessibility to Negombo airport and to the international seaport of Colombo ensure short transport routes. Right next to the state-of-the-art production facility, there are vegetable fields, sports grounds, staff accommodation, library, health care station, canteen, and a training center. The water for the vegetable cultivation is prepared in an on-site water treatment plant. A huge PV system with an annual output of 1.4 megawatts provides the electricity for operations.

“With its 25 years of experience in Sri Lanka and steady growth, it is a perfect example of the economic partnership between Switzerland and Sri Lanka. As a result of its social and sustainable commitment to the region and its population, the company has become an integral part of the economic mosaic of Sri Lanka,” emphasized the Swiss Ambassador Siri Walt.

Impressions from the opening ceremony