Did you know that every Starbucks location around the world is equipped with Swiss-made professional coffee machines? And that these machines contain more than 50 Silac thermoset and thermoplastic components that ensure the ultimate coffee experience? Read here to find out how this successful partnership came about.

Starbucks Relys on Thermoplan

It wasn’t until twenty years after its founding that Thermoplan AG entered the coffee machine business. It was a wise decision, as the development and production of fully automatic coffee machines quickly became the company’s core business. The family-owned company, with its roots in Central Switzerland, achieved its breakthrough in 1994 with the launch of the compact and modularly designed Black & White fully automatic coffee machine.

Just four years after its market launch, the industry newcomer from Weggis won over Starbucks, the globally active American corporation worth billions. Thermoplan, then a small business, became the exclusive supplier of fully automatic coffee machines. This was a clear testament to the high Swiss quality, impressive precision, and top-notch reliability of the highly productive coffee machines from Central Switzerland. This partnership opened the door to the international market for Thermoplan and paved the way for the company to quickly become the global market leader in professional coffee machines.

Research & Development in Weggis

Resting on its laurels is not the philosophy of this Central Swiss company. In addition to its highly advanced “Made in Switzerland” products, the company stands out for its unique culture of innovation. Thermoplan AG operates its own innovation center in Weggis, where about one-fifth of the workforce works daily on new and further developments.

At the end of 2021, the latest addition to the lineup was launched: the Black&White4 neo. A professional fully automatic coffee machine designed for lower daily volumes of 20 to 100 cups. It’s the perfect choice for smaller businesses looking for an easy-to-maintain coffee machine that delivers outstanding milk foam and coffee quality.

Committed to Swiss Quality

Despite its international success, Thermoplan has remained true to its founding principles. The company continues to have strong roots in Central Switzerland. In addition, more than eighty percent of the components needed for production are sourced in Switzerland. Silac is proud to have been a part of this success story for over seventeen years.

The foundation for this successful partnership was laid by the initial demand for high-quality thermoset components. Since Silac has long been a leading designer and manufacturer of thermoset solutions in Switzerland, a collaboration was a natural fit. Their shared focus on Swiss manufacturing and Swiss quality further strengthened the partnership between the two family-owned companies.

“Despite our global focus, Thermoplan deliberately relies on Swiss suppliers like Silac. That’s because outstanding quality and quick response times are crucial to us. Silac provides us with extremely competent, flexible, and helpful support. Their enthusiasm for innovation and Swiss values is always evident!”

Sandro Hurschler, Supplier Manager, Thermoplan AG

Perfection and Precision

Today, more than 50 thermoset and thermoplastic components—such as the base plate, grinder cover, and mounting brackets—in Thermoplan fully automatic coffee machines ensure the ultimate coffee experience. Heat-resistant, dimensionally stable, and, of course, durable. Because, just like Thermoplan, we, too, rely on the highest standards of Swiss precision engineering and time-honored craftsmanship.

Quality requirements have certainly risen steadily in recent years. In addition to the highest standards of on-time delivery and quantity accuracy, there is now a demand for more specialized high-performance plastics such as PEEK , which require more complex measurement procedures. Having our own toolmaking department is certainly a major advantage for Silac. Our employees ensure that the necessary tools are precise and of impeccable quality. In addition, any necessary adjustments can be made quickly in-house. Ultimately, this benefits our customers, such as Thermoplan.

Recently, our employees have also been able to enjoy this unique Thermoplan coffee quality—made in Switzerland. That’s because Silac is the proud owner of a Black&White4 neo. Start your day with neo, too!

Silac Services

• Development Support and Consulting for New Projects and Optimization Efforts
• Production of Thermoplastic and Thermoset Components
• Pad Printing

-> Thermoplan Coffee Machine Product Sheet