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About US
Victorinox is a traditional Swiss Company existing for over 100 years wherin “Our efforts to offer consumers around the world functional and practical high quality products at affordable prices, gives our lives deeper meaning and adds joy and satisfaction to our work” which is the core philosophy of the company.
The company represents high quality products inspired by the ingenuity of the Original Swiss Army Knife.
Our product category ranges from Pocket Multi-tools, Fine cutlery, Time- Pieces and Travel Gear. Victorinox India (P) Ltd., has an established network of 600 to 700 retailers in the country.
Awards and Achievements
The Victorinox Swiss Champ pocket Multi –Tool has been selected with the New York Musuem of Modern Art and the State Musuem of Applied Art in Munich for inclusion in their collections of excellence in design. The Central Switzerland Chamber of Commerce awarded its Innovation Prize to Victorinox for “its Company Policy which has proved itself over decades, for its continuous realignment to new markets and products, for its ecological manufacturing philosophy and its systematic maintenance of stability even during years of recession” |
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Milestones
| 1884 |
Following his apprenticeship in Paris and in
Tuttlingen in South Germany, Karl Elsener opens
his own cutler's business in Ibach-Schwyz. The
energy for the grinding and polishing machines
is supplied by a waterwheel driven by the
Tobelbach brook. |
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| 1891 |
The Swiss Army is supplied with
soldiers' knives for the first time. |
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| 1897 |
On June 12, the Swiss Officer's and Sports
Knife is patented. |
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| 1909 |
To distinguish his knives from copies, the
company founder decides to use the cross and
shield, today's Victorinox emblem, on all pocket
knives from this date
on. |
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| 1909
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After the death of his mother, the company
founder chooses her first name "Victoria" as the
company name. |
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| 1921 |
Stainless steel is invented (also known as
"inox"). The new brand name "Victorinox" is
produced by combining "inox" with the name
"Victoria". |
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| 1931 |
The company Brown Boveri sets up the world's
first fully electric hardening stove at
Victorinox. |
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| 1945 |
After the Second World War, the PX
shops of the US Army, Marines and Air Force sell
the "Swiss Officer's Knife" in large quantities
to their officers and soldiers. The Americans
call it the "Swiss Army Knife" for short, a term
that has stuck in all English-speaking
regions. |
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| 1969 |
Part of household and professional knife
production is housed in a new five-storey
building. |
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| 1980 |
The largest expansion project so far
increases the size of the production,
office and storage areas from 11,000 to 27,000
mı.
A workforce of 730 achieves sales of over CHF 65
million. |
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| 1989 |
The launch of Swiss Army watches in America
is highly successful. |
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| 1992 |
The company opens the first of its own sales
offices in Japan. In the years that follow,
further subsidiaries are founded in Mexico,
Brazil, Poland, Hong Kong/China, Vietnam and
Chile. |
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| 1999 |
To strengthen the Victorinox brand and
broaden its appeal, a range of luggage is
developed. This is manufactured under license
and following strict quality
regulations. |
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| 1999 |
The founding of Victorinox Watch SA in
Bonfol expands the watch division. |
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| 2000 |
The Victorinox Foundation is established.
Its aim is to secure jobs for the long term and
maintain financial independence. |
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| 2001 |
A leisure and business clothing collection
is developed for the North American market.
Offering the same high quality standards as the
"Swiss Army Knife", it meets with considerable
acclaim. |
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| 2001 |
All five Victorinox product categories -
pocket tools, household and professional knives,
watches, luggage and clothing - are presented
together for the first time in a flagship store
in Soho, New York. |
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| 2002 |
Victorinox becomes sole shareholder of Swiss
Army Brands Inc. in the USA. Its sales therefore
exceed CHF 400 million for the first
time. |
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| 2005 |
The takeover of Wenger SA, Delımont in the
Jura region, knife manufacturer since 1893 and
also a supplier of the Swiss army, is intended
to secure the ongoing further development of the
"Swiss Army Knife" and the future of its
Swiss-based production. |
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| 2006 |
Relocation of Watch factory to
Porrentruy |
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| 2007 |
Repositioning of Victorinox Swiss
Army Fragrance with Victorinox
Emblem | |
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