History of INFORS HT
History of INFORS HT
Where it all began
INFORS HT is a company driven by a powerful history that honors innovation and customer collaboration. To understand this remarkable culture, one must look to the story of its founder, Alexander Hawrylenko.
Alexander was born in Kyiv, Ukraine in 1932. As the son of an opera singer and a composer and grandson of an engineer, his early exposure to creativity, problem-solving and collaboration proved an early stimulus to the company we now know as INFORS HT.
The 2nd World War made a brutal interruption to his childhood, forcing a resettlement and an early lesson in humility, as the family had to start over with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Alexander completed his entire school education in Germany, including studies in mechanical engineering.
“One of us went to the lectures and made transcripts for everyone while the others organized the day. Got a job done and bought food for everyone with their wages. That was just the way it was. We looked out for each other, not just for ourselves, because everyone was in the same boat back then.”
Early life of Alexander Hawrylenko
In the late 1950s, Alexander began to model a behavior that would be repeated for decades and drive a global company’s culture: listen to a problem & innovate a solution. “There were never enough clean bottles for the newborns. So, without any further ado, I developed a plastic bottle for one-time use.”
In 1958, Alexander married his wife Inge, who always stood by his side, supported him and had his back so that Alexander could realize his ideas and creations. Four years later, their first of three children was born, who accompanied them on this journey.
Foundation of INFORS HT
INFORS HT was founded in Basel in 1965. This foundation marked the transition from passionate late-night tinkering in a borrowed laboratory to the establishment of a company that would eventually operate worldwide to advance the development of laboratory equipment technology. “Infors” stands for “INdustrie (industry) und FORSchung (research)”. Great idea, is it not? That later became “INFORS HT”, the HT as abbreviation for “Hawrylenko Technics”.
“I was never really in it for the money. I wanted to invent, to improve.”
“I listened to my customers, looked very closely at the existing devices, analyzed the problems from the “outside” and then I was able to get creative, perhaps precisely because I did not understand much about the subject.”
Key innovations
Based on a culture of creativity and continuous improvement, the most significant innovations began in the late 1960s with our first shaker followed by a bioreactor just one year later. The Aquatron followed in the 80s and the Multitron in the early 90s. From these humble beginnings, our company has grown into a global manufacturer of shakers and bioreactors, making significant contributions to scientific research and development.
This innovation and commitment to continuous improvement has enabled us to become an industry leader. Through constant research and development, we have continuously developed our products and adapted them to the needs and requirements of our customers.
Today, our shakers and bioreactors can be found in laboratories around the world, playing a crucial role in the research and development of new drugs, vaccines and biotechnology applications. We are proud to be part of this progress and to support our customers in their pioneering projects.
As an international company, we remain committed to maintaining our leading position in the industry and continuing to provide innovative solutions that create real value for our customers.
Company culture and philosophy
INFORS HT's principles and corporate culture have a long tradition spanning decades, from our humble beginnings to the present and the future we are actively shaping. Our primary goal is to make a positive contribution to the world.
We value teamwork, innovation, humility, courage, openness and respect. As a company, we strive to establish a self-governance that allows each team member to contribute their skills and expertise, to continuously learn, grow and improve.
By promoting these essential values and an open corporate culture, we strive to create a working environment in which our employees feel comfortable and can develop their full potential.
We are aware that continuous development and lifelong learning are essential to remain successful in an ever-changing world. That's why we invest in the training and development of our team members to ensure they are always at the cutting edge of technology and innovation.
Continuous growth and collaboration
As a proud member of the INFORS HT family, we are committed to working together, learning from each other and shaping the future together. With our clear goal in mind, we work every day to make the world a better place through our work.
Global expansion and impact
Global expansion began in the late 80s, starting with Germany. Today, INFORS HT has a presence in dozens of countries around the globe. A key component of our long-term success lies in prioritizing strong partnerships within the biopharmaceutical and biobased product industry as well as in the field of research and science.
By maintaining these close relationships, we have been able to build a comprehensive network and establish ourselves as a trustworthy partner in the industry. An important focus is on working with leading companies, research institutes and scientists to develop innovative solutions that meet current requirements and challenges. Through these strategic partnerships and collaborations, our aim is to continue to develop pioneering technologies and products that make a significant contribution to development and progress in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.
We are proud that INFORS HT, as a global company, continually contributes to driving progress in these areas of research and making a lasting impact on society. Our principles and values are the cornerstone of our success and guide us in our mission to advance the world through innovative technologies and partnerships.
Today INFORS HT has 8 subsidiaries, 2 partners and over 53 distributors worldwide. The headquarters was founded 1965 in Basel/Bottmingen.
INFORS HT subsidiaries:
- 1983: Germany
- 1987: UK
- 1990: France
- 2008: Canada
- 2014: USA
- 2016: Brazil
- 2023: Switzerland
Legacy and future
Alexander has spent his entire life leading the company as a role model for current and future generations. It is important to him that the company continues to maintain a family working atmosphere and modesty, regardless of its future growth. His motivation lies in the fact that people, their skills and their further development should always take center stage. Bringing ideas together and implementing them through creative discussions are of central importance. Open communication and listening to each other are key to creating new innovations that continue to simplify work processes for customers.
Alexander looks forward to experiencing the creative spirit of future generations to continue to lead the industry. He is convinced that the inspiration and commitment of the following generations will help to take the company to new heights and continue to be innovative and future-oriented.
By encouraging teamwork, continuous improvement and an open dialog between all employees, the company strives to create a dynamic and creative environment where ideas can flow and innovation can flourish.
Alexander strives to continue the company's values and vision, ensuring that the core principles of family atmosphere, humility, customer focus and continuous development are always at the heart of the business.
He is confident that the combination of tradition and innovation will allow the company to continue to be successful in the future and maintain its position as an industry leader. Looking to the future, Alexander is looking forward to continuing the company's success story and setting new milestones together with the next generations.