Pierre Gandel is the CEO of the Sonceboz Group since 2010. He graduated in 1984 as an engineer, achieved a DEA in preparation to a PhD in 1985, and started his career with the Swiss company Portescap in 1984. In 1990 he was one of the co-founders of MMT, a pure R&D company bought by the Sonceboz Group in 1995. He was in charge of MMT, until he took the position of Director of the Automotive Division of Sonceboz in 2004. His background is all linked to the technologies of electromagnetism, electronics, actuators, motors and sensors. Driving Vision News asked him a few questions to better know his company.
Driving Vision News: Who are the financial shareholders in your company?
Pierre Gandel: Sonceboz is a 100% family owned company since 3 generations. Mr Edouard Pfister is the President of the Board of Directors, and we have been working together for 20 years now.
DVN: And who are your main customers?
P.G.: Our main customers are the major Tier 1 to the worldwide automotive industry: Bosch, Continental, Delphi, Valeo, Hella, Magna….And we are also a direct Tier 1 to OEMs, like BMW, PSA, Daimler, Chrysler, Volvo…
DVN: What is your position in Europe on automotive stepper motors?
P.G.: Our strategy is to be number 1, 2 or 3, in strategic applications we focus on. We recently defined 12 strategic applications in the automotive industry, and on each of them we apply deeply this strategy.
DVN: Could summarize some of these strategic applications?
P.G.: Sonceboz is active in applications related to driving assistance, driver comfort, active security and emission control. Our mechatronic systems are moving in adaptive lighting, instrumentation, EGR valves, Variable Valve Actuation…Due to our Swiss heritage of innovation and precision, we like challenging specifications of the on- and off-highway vehicles!