Working in the insurance industry offers plenty of scope for an exciting job. These are just a few examples of what we work on with our customers.
There for customers through fire and floods
When customers need Zurich the most, the circumstances are often not very happy. But that is why we are in business. Two recent demonstrations of our commitment to giving support when it is most needed were during the severe floods in the U.K. and the wildfires in California in 2007. Zurich CEO Jim Schiro was on the spot with the U.K. team to reassure flood victims that Zurich was there to help. In the U.S.A. the Zurich Cat vehicle was quickly on the scene at evacuation centres to provide help to all victims, not only Zurich customers, when fires ravaged parts of the Los Angeles area.
Zurich insures the world's largest solar power station
In June 2006, construction on the first of three solar thermal power stations began on the high plain of Guadix in the province of Granada, Spain. With a collective area of more than 510,000 square metres, this makes Andasol 1 the largest solar power plant in the world according to Solar Millennium AG. Zurich Credit, together with Deutsche Bank AG, assumed responsibility for various guarantees for the initiator and builder, Solar Millennium AG.
Solar thermal power stations generate electricity from the heat energy in solar radiation that is absorbed. In a parabolic trough power station, parabolic mirrors radiate rays on to a pipe in the caustic line of the collector. The absorption of these rays heats a heat transfer liquid in the pipe, which generates steam in the block unit of the power station by means of a heat exchanger. As in conventional power stations, the steam is used in a turbine to generate electricity. The integration of thermal storage means that the electricity can be made available in a planned manner. This makes it possible for solar power stations to generate electricity even after the sun has set.
Swiss fighter jets drive the highway, insured by Zurich
On the night of March 26 2007, two Swiss Air Force "Black & White" Mirage fighter jets were transported from Buochs Airport to the "Mirage-Center" in Stans on the A2 highway. The two jets were pulled along by two tractor units. The transport operation went perfectly in spite of the icy temperatures. "Black & White" were in position at the Mirage-Center in Stans by around 3:30 a.m.
Mirage jets were the spearheads of the Swiss Armed Forces for more than 40 years. The French fighter jets were acquired at the beginning of the 1960s and were eventually replaced by the next generation of interceptors (F/A-18) at the end of the 1990s. The two "Black & White" Mirages are especially famous and made their farewell tour at various air shows in 2003. The R-2110 is painted black on its upper fuselage and white on its lower fuselage. In the case of the R-2116, the colors are reversed.
Taking a lead in developing microinsurance
Eliminating poverty is the defining challenge of society. Insurance already provides fundamental security to many, and Zurich is working to extend this security to many more through its Global Microinsurance initiative. Microinsurance aims to help low-income families who are particularly vulnerable to the economic consequences of risk, either from natural catastrophes, illness or accidents.
Tackling climate change with market solutions
Zurich entities around the world have been actively addressing customer needs and expectations in the area of climate-related risk. Our global climate initiative brings a consistent and focused approach to the risk class globally, and facilitate economic and policy-oriented research that can then be integrated into the Group’s product development activities. It also enables us to address climate change through the management of our carbon footprint.
