In addition to the well-known large companies, the sector consists of around 1'000 smaller and medium-sized enterprises, geographically spread over the whole of Switzerland, though with a concentration in the north-western region. 95% of all companies in Switzerland employ less than 250 persons; only around a dozen companies have a workforce of more than 1'000.

The smaller and medium-sized enterprises, which generally produce predominantly in Switzerland and export their products throughout the world, have succeeded in occupying market niches. Their great flexibility often makes the SME's perfect outsourcing partners for the big companies in our sector.