SIGA invests 30 million in the Schachen site

The groundbreaking ceremony for Siga’s 30 million Swiss franc construction project took place today, Wednesday 27 September, at the Schachen site in the municipality of Werthenstein. In addition to CEO Patrick Stalder and company owners Marco and Reto Sieber, Cantonal Council President Vroni Thalmann and Councillor Robert Küng were also in attendance to mark the event. And for good reason: SIGA’s expansion demonstrates a clear commitment to the location of Luzern.

Completing the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the Schachen site (from left): Company owner Marco Sieber, Councillor Robert Küng, Cantonal Council President Vroni Thalmann, company owner Reto Sieber, CEO Patrick Stalder and Project Manager Rafael Hunziker.

By February 2019, SIGA’s site in Schachen will have increased by 5000 square metres and more than doubled in size. The company is investing a total of 30 million francs in the expansion. The current project involves an investment of 16 million francs for the expansion of production and the construction of an innovation centre. A further 14 million will be invested in new production facilities over the next five years. Besides new jobs in production, 40 positions will be created in the innovation centre in the areas of research, development product management, engineering and quality management. SIGA currently has more than 430 employees. Half of these work at the sites in Ruswil and Schachen, the other half work internationally in 20 different countries.

The expansion in Schachen makes this the fourth SIGA building project in the Canton of Lucerne. The first site was developed in Schachen in 1992. The headquarters was built in Ruswil in the year 2000. In 2013, the Ruswil site was extended and a guest house with 75 rooms was opened. Councillor Robert Küng, Head of the Building, Environment and Commerce department in the Canton of Lucerne, was present on Wednesday in Schachen at the groundbreaking ceremony for the current construction project. In his welcome speech, the head of commerce congratulated the company: “Each year 20 to 40 new positions are created and 10 apprentices are trained. Good work, thank you and congratulations.” He was also delighted about the commitment shown to the location: “Siga’s investment of 30 million francs in Schachen - in an innovation centre and in production - shows loyalty on the one hand, as well as confidence in the location of Lucerne on the other. As head of commerce this is very pleasing to see!”

Two reasons for the new development

It is solely due to the innovative advantage SIGA have in their products and services that the company was able to successfully negotiate the financial crisis and the euro crisis. Demand abroad increased as a result. Over 80% of products are exported to Europe, North America and Asia. In order to continue to maintain this innovative advantage in future, both research and development in Schachen as well as production are being significantly expanded. CEO Patrick Stalder knows that, “Our employees are the key to future success. SIGA offers them an optimal working environment in which innovation can occur.” A further key success factor for SIGA is the advantage in terms of efficiency. This is achieved by means of ongoing increases in efficiency. Every tenth working day, operations are stopped, in order to question, change and improve everything.

Exemplary ecological construction

Siga produces products for energy-efficient buildings. It is therefore of huge importance to the business that SIGA products themselves are also produced sustainably. Therefore, as in the case of previous buildings, emphasis is placed on sustainability for the new development. Not only is solar power supplied by a photovoltaic facility in the roof, but PV modules are also integrated in the façade. The level of self sufficiency in terms of power is therefore significantly increased. A large part of the new development is being created from wood. The existing office building from the 1990s is a model example of energy-saving building renovation. This website contains regular up-to-date information about the SIGA construction project as well as regular news on project progress.

• Climate change cannot be stopped whilst 40% of the global energy requirement is consumed on the heating and air conditioning of buildings. A sealed building envelope from SIGA is able to massively reduce the air conditioning or heating requirement. SIGA’s vision is a world with energy-efficient buildings run on renewable energy.
• SIGA develops and produces high performance adhesive tapes and membranes for sealed building envelopes. Turnover is over 100 million francs (2016) and the proportion of exports is 80%. Of SIGA’s 450 employees, 200 work in 20 countries outside Switzerland.
• Each year, 2500 customers from abroad visit the SIGA academy at the headquarters in Ruswil and live in the SIGA guest house, which has 75 rooms.
• Last year, SIGA celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Company was founded in 1966 by Paul und Trudy Sieber-Gadient in a chicken shed. SIGA has been wholly owned by sons Reto and Marco since 1990. In 2014 they handed over operational management to CEO Patrick Stadler.
• In 2013, SIGA received the Family Business Award for sustainable and value-oriented Entrepreneurship.

 For more information on SIGA, visit siga.swiss.