We recently had a visit from Walter Gloor, one of our founding fathers. Together with our former managing director and current chairman of the board Christian Binder, he reminisced about the beginnings of Syslogic. The two of them also went into the warehouse and unearthed some amazing treasures.
Together with Dr. Frank J. Furrer, Walter Gloor founded Furrer + Gloor AG in 1980, which later became Syslogic. The two had met during their studies at the ETH. When their paths crossed again, it was clear to both of them that they would start their own company together. At that time, computer technology was still in its infancy. Companies such as large banks and insurance companies relied on mainframe computers from IBM, Digital Equipment or Honeywell. Electronic data exchange between these systems was virtually impossible.
This is where the two pioneers Frank Furrer and Walter Gloor came in. They developed interface hardware that allowed data to be exchanged between mainframe computers. The pair quickly made a name for themselves. Before long, they were supplying workstations to some 25 banks from Rome to Oslo. These workstations were used for foreign exchange trading. They networked internal bank services with external services such as Reuters or Telekurs.
These workstations gave rise to the EUROLOG microcomputer card kit, which was sold throughout Europe and was very popular at the time. The development and production of electronics began in the Gloor family's workshop, which was located in a garage. Inevitably, we are reminded of the story of another IT pioneer.
At Stolz AG, the leading electronics distributor at the time, Frank Furrer and Walter Gloor became aware of Christian Binder, a magician's apprentice. He had a burning interest in everything to do with computers. Thanks to his employer, he had access to the best computer systems of the time. Christian learned his first IT skills on his own and began programming applications in his spare time. At the same time, the young Stolz employee had a flair for sales, which prompted Frank Furrer and Walter Gloor to bring Christian Binder into the company.
Walter remembers: "We were two engineers driven by a fascination with technology." According to Walter, they only did sales on the side. So they were happy to hand over to their new employee Christian. This was the birth of today's Syslogic. It was initially founded as a pure sales company for Furrer + Gloor. In 1997, Furrer + Gloor was transferred to Syslogic as part of a management buy-out by Christian.
Christian and Walter look back fondly. "It was ideal for both sides at the time," they agree. Christian was happy to take off with Syslogic. Walter and his co-founder Frank Furrer, on the other hand, were able to devote themselves fully to their passion for technology. Walter says: "We had achieved so much that it was a relief to hand over to Christian". While Walter became an independent consultant, naturally with his own laboratory and engineering office in his home, Frank Furrer published several books and took up a professorship at the Technical University in Dresden. To this day, the two founders and friends meet regularly to exchange ideas over a glass of wine.
During his visit to Syslogic's headquarters in Baden-Dättwil, Switzerland, Walter has a whole box of old photos with him. Together with Christian, he revels in old memories. Most of them are positive, one gets the impression. During the subsequent tour of the production facility, both are proud of how far Syslogic has come. Walter says: "I have to smile when I think back to the beginnings in the garage and see where Syslogic is today".
Finally, Walter and Christian duck into the back corner of the warehouse and come out with bright eyes and three cardboard boxes. The original boxes contain FG Eurolog microcomputer cards. Among them is an EML/CPC3 computer card, of which over 12,000 were produced and sold throughout Europe. The Eurolog product line consisted of around 40 different cards and was used in many industrial projects, for example in machine control systems in surveillance systems or in shipbuilding.
Today, Syslogic is run by the second generation, Raphael Binder. Syslogic has made a name for itself worldwide with AI-enabled embedded systems for demanding markets such as rail, transport, construction machinery and automotive.
