MEDIA / NEWS

Bertschi, a family-owned company active in chemical logistics, has grown its global business strongly and expanded also its leading position in the European markets in recent years. At the headquarters in Switzerland, a total of around 250 new, internationally active jobs were created in the areas of freight forwarding, ICT (Information Communication Technology) as well as business management. An extension, of the headquarter offices, opened on July 3 2019, creates a new inspiring and stimulating working environment for future growth.

"Bertschi is Dürrenäsch and Dürrenäsch is Bertschi", as Andrea Kuzma, mayor of Dürrenäsch, put it in her speech at the official opening ceremony for the expanded headquarters of Bertschi. The connection is obvious - since the foundation of the company in 1956, the company has remained true to its original location despite steady growth and in the meantime global activity. Hans-Jörg Bertschi, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, explained that this was not always set in stone: "After a stagnation phase in the European chemical logistics market following the financial crisis of 2008, we decided to offer our services globally. We examined various locations for the central steering of those transports. The choice was between Singapore, Rotterdam and Dürrenäsch - Dürrenäsch has prevailed". The decisive factors were typical Swiss values such as stability and high safety standards, the leading position in innovation and the excellent training of employees.

The globalization of business activities - today Bertschi is represented by branches on all continents - gave the company a real boost to growth. As a result, in the canton of Aargau alone, some 250 highly qualified jobs have been created in the last six years in the fields of freight forwarding, ICT and various business disciplines. The majority of these jobs were located at the headquarters in Dürrenäsch.

The office extension, which was occupied at the beginning of the year, includes a new parking deck and two additional office floors at the existing office building. Special attention was paid to ecological aspects. Heating and cooling are provided by an environmentally friendly heat pump with geothermal energy. Charging stations for electric cars and e-bikes enable employees to make their commuting to work CO2-neutral. In the outdoor area, a green recreation zone with seating and barbecue facilities has been created. The new office space meets the most modern requirements. Flooded with light and equipped with plants, it creates a pleasant working environment. Integrated sofa niches and an Innovation Room for creative meetings also create a Google like atmosphere - and that in rural Dürrenäsch.

The heart of the building is the staff restaurant with cafeteria and sun terrace on the top floor. The restaurant is run by the Stiftung Lebenshilfe, which offers people with limited capabilities protected jobs and learning opportunities in addition to a home. Every day, the team prepares changing lunch menus for the employees and supplies them with pastries and snacks during breaks. The more than 100 invited guests at the opening ceremony were also able to convince themselves of the outstanding work of the Stiftung Lebenshilfe and were spoiled with a delicious menu.

The extension laid the foundation for the company's future growth and at the same time added an important chapter to its shared history with Dürrenäsch as its founding location.