Brand Story – Aisa × Melchers China: Over 40 years of collaboration, a remarkable milestone
Melchers and Aisa began the cooperation at the beginning of the 1980s, marking the start of a long-term partnership for over 40 years built on shared values, technical expertise, and a common vision for sustainable growth in China.
When Aisa entered the Chinese market, the industrial landscape was highly fragmented. Each province operated with its own local tube suppliers, making nationwide market access complex and challenging for international players. Establishing a consistent presence across regions required deep local knowledge, strong networks, and the ability to adapt to diverse regional market dynamics. Success in such a market demanded more than a product offering—it required a long-term strategy, strong local roots, and a partner capable of navigating regional differences with reliability and foresight.
Melchers was already well established in China at that time, with extensive experience and a strong understanding of the industrial sector and local market dynamics. With offices in multiple cities, Melchers had built a strong nationwide presence and the unique ability to reach a wide range of provinces and industrial hubs across the country. This extensive local footprint enabled close connections with customers and industrial partners across numerous regions, allowing Melchers to support Aisa not only in its market entry but also in building a sustainable and scalable long-term presence in China. Beyond its market position, Aisa chose Melchers for its shared values and long-term mindset. Demonstrating strong technical reliability, a proactive approach to market development, and a high level of adaptability, Melchers played a pivotal role in helping Aisa navigate the local cultural landscape, understand intricate customer requirements, and cultivate enduring relationships, ensuring a foundation for long-term growth and trust in the Chinese market.
The partnership’s first landmark achievement came in April 1982 with the sale of the first SAESA® 80 machine in Tianjin after intensive negotiations, by Aisa‘s former Managing Director and company owner, Engelbert Sander.
By March 1983, Aisa’s first customer successfully delivered the country’s first toothpaste tubes produced on Swiss-engineered technology. This marked a historic milestone for Aisa and marked the beginning of an impressive success story with Melchers
The SAESA® 80 machine, capable of producing 60 laminated tubes per minute, offered exceptional flexibility, enabling a wide range of tube dimensions to be manufactured on a single production line. At the beginning of the 1980s, the first Chinese delegation to visit French-speaking Switzerland travelled to Vouvry to witness the technology first-hand. This visit was followed by numerous other Chinese delegations, underlining the global significance of this innovation.
The collaboration with Melchers extended well beyond technology. A small but memorable anecdote illustrates the depth of this cooperation: at a time when individual car use was not permitted, a mini-bus—originally used to transport employees between Vevey and Vouvry in Switzerland—was sent to China to support Aisa’s technicians on site. This vehicle was used by the team of Aisa’s newly established Service Centre, and notably enabled its Head of Service Centre to obtain his driving license. This story highlights the practical, human, and long-term nature of the partnership, as well as Aisa’s commitment to supporting local teams on the ground.
During the 1990s, Aisa further strengthened its position as an innovation leader by expanding into the development of advanced machinery for extruded, seamless tubes, designed for markets where aesthetics is paramount, particularly cosmetics. In 2008, Aisa introduced Decoseam™ technology, which remains an integral part of its offering in China today. This technology is complemented by other advanced solutions, including Decoplas™, reflecting Aisa’s continuous innovation and technological leadership.
Over the decades, the collaboration expanded rapidly to meet the growing demands of the oral care, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors. Melchers has been instrumental in this journey, acting as a vital bridge that enabled Aisa to navigate local market dynamics, understand intricate customer requirements, and cultivate enduring relationships, supported by professional and loyal Melchers employees and Aisa highly competent local customer service technicians, with whom we have not only implemented many projects but also built personal friendships sustaining a partnership that has thrived for over 40 years.
Today, Melchers remains a partner of Aisa’s choice, aligning closely with market trends and emerging demands, ensuring that Aisa maintains its position as a global leader in innovation. Aisa’s presence in China now includes an installed base of over 150 machines operating 24/7, supported by Melchers’ proactive on-site assistance. Together, Aisa and Melchers continue to pursue shared objectives: the success of our customers, high satisfaction, and the reliable, sustainable operation of Aisa’s equipment. This enduring cooperation demonstrates a partnership built on trust, technical excellence, and mutual growth.
In 2026, Melchers marks its 160th anniversary of development in China. We are honored to have walked a quarter of this remarkable journey hand in hand with Aisa, and we look forward to embarking on a new chapter of the future together.
