Switzerland loses further attraction for textile production
Innovation and an excellent product pipeline are no longer sufficient to keep textile production in Switzerland
The high cost situation in Switzerland and the strength of the CHF (with eroding margins) pushes also very successful textile companies into a relocation situation outside of Switzerland. Today Swiss Eschler group made such a decision public. The two Swiss manufacturing sites in Bühler and Münchwilen will be moved to the already existing subsidiaries in Germany and Thailand. The Bühler site will be transferred in a centre for technology and innovation and with 15 employees also securing the R&D work for future products. Consequently of total 160 employees around 75 collaborators (a social plan will be established) will gradually lose their jobs until June 2012.
The sites in Germany and Thailand will produce in the future the niche lines sport, work wear, technical textiles and lingerie and their competence centres will be expanded.
The company states further that there were outside effects – beyond the firms control and influence – accelerating these decisions but for the sake of the company they had to be taken now.