The positive result of the vote on 8 February 2009 – whether or not to continue the free movement of persons treaty with the EU and to extend it to the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria – is of seminal consequence for the Swiss machine industry. This was why Swiss TV decided to dispatch its reporting team to a location where export products are actually made. Representatives of Switzerland’s political parties that were in favour of the extension gathered at an appropriately industrial backdrop for the television broadcasts: a small manufacturing hall at the Ammann headquarters in Langenthal. As one of the foremost proponents, Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann had fought for Switzerland’s policy of continuing and expanding cooperation with the EU at innumerable events in the run-up to the vote. In the six live broadcasts – each lasting several minutes – prominent Swiss politicians commented on the surprisingly clear-cut result of the popular vote.

A number of Ammann employees from the burner production department were also interviewed, as were some of the Ammann trainees; the latter were also responsible for the catering for the roughly 150 guests, a task they performed exceedingly well.

The event in the Ammann production hall also generated a very positive echo in the print media: some 30 journalists were dispatched by no fewer than 15 regional, national and international media. Inspired by the authentic industrial ambience, they relayed the Ammann name to millions of people throughout the world.