Bachem innovating through virtual events

CEO Thomas Meier Celebrating Bachem's 50 Year Anniversary

On Wednesday, June 16th, Bachem celebrated 50 years of company history.

With pandemic restrictions still in place across much of the world and employees working either remotely or under strict social distancing rules in manufacturing and labs, the company still wanted to mark the anniversary with a memorable and exciting celebration for everyone at “Team Bachem”.

Virtual events still have a long way to go to achieve the same level of connection and enthusiasm with attendees, but Bachem has been investigating new mediums to ensure that the company stays ahead of the trends. Not just with customer exhibitions and webinars, but also for internal events for employees.

The project team faced this challenge head on by developing a concept that connected colleagues from Europe, the US and Asia –  crossing languages, time zones and locations – whether they were working on a manufacturing site or remotely.

The festivities were kicked off with a range of internal surprises to create anticipation in the months leading up to the anniversary. A nice touch was that every 10th week (for 50 weeks) team members received a small gift in the run up to the celebration date.

On the anniversary day itself, the team members had another gift box full of treats from each of Bachem’s geographic locations to enjoy during the , as well as branded gifts which could remind them of the milestone in future.

CEO Thomas Meier Watching The Stream
CEO, Thomas Meier, watching the final run-through

Despite being online, Bachem team spirit, a fun program and offline elements brought attendees together for a sense of community. Bachem had a professional studio set up, and the online platform featured interactive tools which were used during the event for even more engagement. For about an hour, Bachem employees shared photo snapshots, tuned in to – short – speeches, including one from the company’s founder, Peter Grogg; received congratulations from customers and participated in a history quiz.

Bachem Founder Peter Grogg At The 50 Years Virtual Event Celebration
Peter Grogg
Company Founder
Chairman Of The Board Kuno Sommer At The 50 Years Virtual Event
Kuno Sommer
Chairman of the Board of Directors

With presenters speaking in German, English and French at different points of the presentation it was a truly global and inclusive experience for team members. In a company of 1,500 people, 1,178 unique viewers turned up across two sessions – not counting some colleagues who dialed in on-site to watch and celebrate as a team.  

Innovation is a key success factor at Bachem and the company is committed to continuous improvement to increase efficiency in daily work, implementing more efficient business processes and scouting new technologies. New technologies are implemented not just in our manufacturing processes, but in all elements of life at Bachem, extending to internal activities and the desire to elevate virtual events and increase employee engagement. 

The company has been around for 50 years, but with a corporate culture that is positive and open to curiosity, creativity and change, it is clear why it continues to innovate and set standards.

About Bachem
Bachem is a leading, innovation-driven company specializing in the development and manufacture of peptides and oligonucleotides.

The company, which has 50 years of experience and expertise, provides products for research, clinical development, and commercial application to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide and offers a comprehensive range of services.

Bachem operates internationally with headquarters in Switzerland and locations in Europe, the US and Asia. The company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

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