Company portrait

Striving for continuous further development

When they founded their sole proprietorship in Grenchen in 1965, Bernhard and Hans Ryf could hardly have imagined that the company would develop into a market leader in the fields of microscopy and optical measuring systems and that it would still be firmly in family hands almost 60 years later.

The trade in microscopes and optical instruments was soon supplemented with in-house developments in the field of illumination. In 1975, Hans Ryf became Managing Director and later took over the company. In 1999, his son Daniel Ryf joined the company. His father, Hans Ryf, consequently steps back into the second row.

Daniel Ryf seizes the opportunity and expands the microscopy and optical measuring systems division. Ryf AG is recognised by the public and is awarded the Solothurn Entrepreneur Prize in 2001. As the company grows, branch offices are established in Commugny/VD and later in Egg b. Uster. Daniel Ryf is now the owner and managing director. Under his management, the portfolio of agencies and trademarks grows, including Nikon, Leica, Zeiss and Chotest. The company's own brand Ryeco also gains in importance.

With its own engineering department, Ryf AG consolidates its market position in the target groups of industry, research, biology, medicine and education. 2005 to 2015 A great deal is invested in after-sales activities. Device calibrations in accordance with ISO standards as well as comprehensive service and repair services are the keywords here.  

The last ten years have been characterised by ecological and infrastructural investments. The large demo and showroom at the headquarters, a new building for the warehouse and mechanical workshop and the founding of the subsidiary RYF PROTOTEC AG as a production unit in 2023 are milestones. With around 40 employees, Ryf AG is now an attractive place to work and train and is ISO 9001/14001 certified.

In addition to patron Daniel Ryf, other family members hold various positions in the company. And father Hans Ryf can still occasionally be found at the headquarters in the stately ‘Löwen-Haus’ in Grenchen.