SAMSON operates wherever there is controlled flow of oils, gases, vapors or chemical substances. Control valves used to be our main core business. Today, we are additionally specializing in the digitalization of the process industry. We see enormous potential for innovation in expanding the smart valve features that are already available. By developing new, smart systems, we are transforming the process industry to the benefit of our customers and to achieve greater flexibility, safety and reliability in industrial processes. We are continually driving technical, business and organizational innovations within our company to reach this goal.
In addition to SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, SAMSON includes other noted valve manufacturers, such as CERA SYSTEM, LEUSCH, PFEIFFER, RINGO VÁLVULAS, SED, STARLINE and VETEC, the actuator specialist AIR TORQUE as well as the digitalization experts UBIX and PRECOGNIZE. With our pilot development unit SAMSON Pilotentwicklung, the FOCUS‑ON joint venture concluded with KROHNE and other strategic partnerships, we are working on new, partly disruptive solutions for the process industry. We operate 17 production sites in nine countries to manufacture valves, self-operated regulators, actuators, valve accessories, signal converters, controllers and automation systems, sensors and thermostats as well as digital solutions.
We preserve the heritage established by our company's founding father, Mr. Hermann Sandvoss, and ensure that his philosophy lives on by continuously developing product innovations and upgrades. This is one of the reasons why we rely on the experience and expertise of around 4,500 mostly long-standing members of staff and offer them development opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills in current and new areas of competence. A willingness to make staff, organizational and technical changes is ingrained in the SAMSON culture and enables us to successfully shape our current and future markets in the long run.