GEZE Switzerland equips Bürgenstock Shuttle
GEZE Switzerland has put down roots in Reiden; the subsidiary of the global family business in building solutions relies on a local supply chain, and on its employees.
The Bürgenstock Shuttle on its way to the Bürgenstock Resort 500 metres above Lake Lucerne.
Anyone looking to access the Bürgenstock resort located 500 meters above the Vierwaldstättersee takes the Bürgenstock Shuttle, a modern catamaran, to get there. The sliding door opens invitingly, with a quiet, automatic motion. It comes from Reiden, from production at GEZE Switzerland, and is especially well-suited to handle high-traffic entrances and exits. “A ship is a building too, after all” says Frank Pahlen, Managing Director of GEZE Switzerland, “a floating one”. Intelligent, beautiful building solutions adapted to specific applications is the focus of the family business.
A master turner, a mechanic and a merchant understood the opportunities of nascent industrialisation over 160 years ago - first individually, then years later together as they joined forces; their original core business focused on building hardware and ski bindings. Over time, the family business turned to building solutions. They maintained the high demands they placed on materials and processing and their attention to craft and detail, always combining it with the force of innovation of their engineers and – when digitisation came on the scene – of their specialists in building automation and networking.
The industrial area of Reiden not only produces building technology; the parent company in Leonberg near Stuttgart develops solutions with a design that blends harmoniously into a building, precisely meeting the customer's needs. “That’s what defines us” says Frank Pahlen. The Swiss branch was one of the first to be founded abroad, over 40 years ago. It has been legally independent for 20 years, and located in Reiden since 2014. Frank Pahlen explains the company's focus on customers: “Thanks to our industry expertise, we are involved in projects longer, we listen well, and we understand our customers – that is how we create an optimal solution”.
Sliding door from GEZE in the Bürgenstock Shuttle
On the path to the Smart Building
GEZE has developed into a complete solution provider that makes buildings smarter and more liveable. Today, 33 identically structured subsidiary companies with over 3,200 employees work to equip the world’s buildings with GEZE technologies. Over 1,200 patents are proof of our innovative capacity, and numerous certificates are evidence of our outstanding quality management. Our products are long-lasting and contribute to energy-saving construction. Automatic door systems, for instance, reduce loss of heated and cooled air, eliminating the need for energy-consuming air conditioning systems. This focus on sustainability also impacts our production processes, and the quality of our advising is very high, thanks to project consultants who work closely alongside architects. They can get further training in the GEZE Academy. In addition to door closers and window technology, the area of building automation is a new development. “A logical continuation of our technical expertise“, says Frank Pahlen. Four new showrooms are being created in Reiden to document this expertise and inspire customers.
GEZE Cockpit is the first building automation system for smart door, window and safety technology. It allows automated system components from the fields of door, window and safety technology from GEZE and other manufacturers to be networked, centrally controlled and precisely monitored. Such Smart Building systems are very useful for office and industrial buildings, hotels and hospitals, and reduce energy costs while improving safety and process efficiency.
We do a lot for our employees to attract them and to retain them. Above all, we maintain a family atmosphere. Our employees are the key to our success.
Frank Pahlen, Managing Director of GEZE Switzerland
Considerate employer
GEZE Switzerland quickly doubled the size of its team in Reiden. Production of automatic sliding doors for the Swiss market is handled on site, with the help of local companies: an attractive job for technicians, although suitable workers are lacking here, as in many other places. Especially service technicians. “We do a lot for our employees,” says Frank Pahlen, “to attract them and to retain them”. With an open and honest working environment, modern facilities, flexible working hours, as well as a pension scheme which is well above average, with generous social benefits and continued training programs that respond the revolution facing the entire technological sector and moving towards more networking and digitisation of processes. “Above all, we maintain a family atmosphere” says Frank Pahlen. GEZE has won multiple awards as an employer. “Our employees are the key to our success”. This will all remain true into the future as well: The majority of existing buildings in Switzerland are not yet automated, and not even smart. Frank Pahlen is committed and convinced: “We are going to change that.“
Press information
For editorial questions:
Donata Ruggiero
Tel.: +41 62 285 54 08
E-Mail: d.ruggiero@geze.com