Das Ende einer Legende

Founded in 1876, the Oerlikon machine factory was once technologically leading with its innovations and was at the forefront of the Swiss electricity industry until the Great Depression in 1929. During the period before and especially after World War II, a decline began under the management of Hans Schindler and Rudolf Huber, which ultimately led to the takeover by competitor BBC in 1967. The main causes were primarily leadership errors. Peter Ritschard traces the company's history using protocols, archival documents, and diaries, and analyzes the context of the failed transition from a family-run to a management-led company. The MFO site continues to play a role in the global corporation ABB today—in a repurposed form—but has also become a residential area.