«Look at this freely suspended staircase. That too is a masterpiece», says Emanuel Probst in the first two minutes of the tour through the Jura Campus – before he has even explained the new building’s actual purpose. What the CEO means by pointing to the glass construction: at Jura Elektrogeräte AG, every detail counts. «We have a single philosophy: it’s found not only in the machines we develop, but also in the architecture», explains the 66-year-old. Passion, constant improvement and uncompromising focus on one subject – these are Jura’s success factors. And that’s exactly what the innovation centre embodies too, which the traditional company opened in summer 2022 on its own site in Niederbuchsiten (SO).
The roughly 5,000 m² building is dedicated to research and development of the next generation of fully automatic coffee machines, but also to improving existing ones. Its heart: 102 endurance test stations, in operation around the clock. «Before, we had about 35 test stations. With those we kept hitting the capacity limit», Probst continues as he now presents the machines lined up neatly behind the large window. And he adds: «Of course we’d have had enough room on the site for the test stations, but we wanted to create the best conditions for developing our innovations. Not least for the people who want to work here.»
The goal: by offering the ideal environment, the company manages to attract the best talent. «We’ve already been able to hire many talented people», the CEO says happily. The campus currently employs 55 people: experienced professionals, but also young talents straight out of university. «It’s important that we keep bringing in new generations», stresses Probst, who has headed the international coffee group for 33 years already. How much the Jura boss values his staff is evident, among other things, from the friendly smile he gives them whenever they cross his path during the tour. Despite the size – 280 full-time jobs on site – the mood at Jura is as relaxed as at a mid-sized family business.
Automated Digital Processes
«With the new test stations we reach results faster», Probst explains, adding: «The robot feeds the machines with two different bean varieties.» Different water hardness levels are tested too, and you can supply five different combinations of voltages and hertz frequencies. The coffee grounds from the test machines go to an organic farmer in the region, who composts them and uses them as fertiliser. The boss’s tip: «Roses love coffee grounds too. Give it a try.»
In the spirit of Industry 4.0, all processes run digitally and automatically. State-of-the-art sensors deliver vast amounts of data which, analysed by intelligent software, serve to optimise even the smallest details. What that means in practice you discover in the building’s basement, where visitors may look behind the scenes of the test stations and into the four special laboratories. Access to the upper floor, via the glass staircase mentioned earlier, remains barred to outsiders, however. There the inner circle works under lock and key on the new products. «This year, for the first time, we’re bringing to market a machine that could be developed under the new conditions», the Jura boss reveals.
Four Special Laboratories
Jura sells its automatic coffee machines in around 50 countries. So that the traditional Swiss firm can satisfy its customers worldwide, every machine series goes into the test lab. In the climate lab, Jura simulates various conditions: from hot, humid temperatures like in Singapore to the icy cold of northern Sweden. In the acoustics lab, the researchers fine-tune the right sound. «Our motto is: freshly ground, not capsuled. And we want to hear that too», Probst stresses.
The EMC lab checks the machines’ electromagnetic compatibility. Because a coffee machine isn’t allowed to interfere with other devices. And finally, in the coffee lab, the grinders are tested. «The aim has to be for the grinder to deliver 100 per cent performance for as long as possible», explains Jura’s CEO. One thing is certain: with its innovative output, the campus ensures that Jura’s coffee becomes an ever better pleasure.
This article appeared in MEN issue 1/24 (May 2024).
