Emmen-based SME Technik AG has broken ground on the construction of a new company building. With the construction of the new production facilities, the CNC manufacturing specialist aims to strengthen its location in the canton of Lucerne, according to a press release. With an investment of 7 million Swiss francs, a three-storey work and production building is being constructed. It will also create 60 new jobs.
The building, with 1,200 square metres of production space and 1,100 square metres of office space, is primarily intended to optimise the CNC production of small parts or series for the aviation and railway industries. In a first step, two new CNC machines will be installed. The move is scheduled for spring 2026.
The building, planned and realised by Cerutti Partner Architekten AG from Rothenburg, is designed for sustainability and energy efficiency. A solar system on the roof and air-to-water heat pumps were installed to ensure resource-conserving operation.
“With the new building, SME Technik is creating modern workplaces that are attractive for both existing and future employees,” said Jan Kottucz, investor, owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SME Technik AG, in the press release. “At the same time, we can manufacture CNC parts for our customers with the highest precision and to Swiss quality standards in the modern production halls with new systems.” Ramona Gut-Rogger, Mayor of Emmen, sees the new investment by SME Technik as a “strong signal for the future of our business location.”
Dazzled by the sun, Bernard Illi looks out from under his flat cap over the field width in Emmen: “In 1943, the patron Alfred Friedrich Schindler initiated the Schindler-Dörfli himself.” The social housing project enabled its employees to buy their own home on extremely favorable terms. In the end there were 56 very simple single-family houses. «This place is associated with great tradition and full of history. After all, people lived here together for decades who helped the Swiss elevator company Schindler to achieve a worldwide reputation,” says Illi thoughtfully.
“We wanted to open a new chapter here and revive the innovative and sustainable spirit of yesteryear.”
The Schindler-Dörfli is gone today. It has given way to a modern settlement with 530 apartments. A project that Bernard Illi accompanied for almost 20 years. Illi has great respect for the historic residential area. As early as 1995, when he was CFO of Schindler Management, it became apparent that restructuring would no longer be worthwhile and that a new concept would have to be developed. Since then, Bernard Illi, who managed the project from the start and also after his retirement in 2009 as a delegate of the Alfred Schindler Fund, has experienced many a political tug of war: “We wanted to open a new chapter here and at the same time revive the innovative and sustainable spirit of that time to let.”
Energy contracting – a carefree package for real estate This idea is reflected in the energy system that EKZ built in one of the superstructures for 73 condominiums. A holistic, renewable energy concept in the contracting model. This means that the general contractor GENU Partner AG completely outsources the complex issues relating to energy supply. EKZ takes on the financing, design, construction and subsequent operation of the facility – a carefree package for real estate. “Especially in economically uncertain times, when the demands seem to be increasing every day, the support of a reliable energy partner relieves the burden enormously,” explains project manager Philippe Sonderegger.
Renewable energy also in the tenancy Because buyers and tenants in housing estates are also increasingly demanding the use of renewable energy technologies. However, the use of such energy systems is not a trivial matter, it requires a professional conception. David Bühler develops such energy concepts at EKZ: “In Emmen, they wanted a future-oriented overall concept for heating, domestic hot water, cooling, photovoltaic systems and e-mobility that is cleverly coordinated and enables simple billing.”
In order to be able to implement such a system, extensive clarifications are required. Test drilling was therefore carried out in Emmen to clarify the availability of groundwater. This is used today to heat the superstructure using heat pumps and to cool it passively in summer.
David Bühler, Head of Engineering and Sales.
Cleverly powered A holistic energy system for 73 apartments: Heat pumps fed by groundwater four roofs with photovoltaic systems Charging system connection for electromobility passive cooling via the groundwater in summer System optimized for self-consumption a contact point at EKZ during operation
For many years, 4B has been pursuing a corporate strategy that is based on the needs of the market and on social and ecological sustainability criteria. This makes the company successful and today it is the market leader in window production. The company traditionally focuses on the manufacture of wood/metal windows, which are developed and manufactured exclusively in Hochdorf. With the plant in Emmen and the production of plastic windows, 4B has opened up an additional market in the past. However, the demand for these products has steadily declined in recent years. Against the background of this economic development and in accordance with 4B’s focus on the production of windows with resource-saving and low-emission materials, the closure of the factory in Emmen is a logical consequence. From 2023, the 4B company will dispense with the energy-intensive production of plastic windows. On the other hand, further investments are being made in the Hochdorf production site.
Connection solution for all employees
4B is aware of its responsibility towards its employees. The company therefore offers all 27 employees in Emmen a connection solution at the headquarters in Hochdorf. 4B thus secures the know-how and broad experience of well-qualified specialists. In any case, it is very important to 4B to consistently invest in the training and further education of employees. With its own campus, 4B has developed a platform for promoting employees, which in turn benefits the internal further development of production and products. In this way, 4B secures the ability to be present as the industry leader in the market at all times with convincing and innovative solutions.
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