immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: News

  • Sika is growing at a double-digit rate

    Sika is growing at a double-digit rate

    According to a message from Sika , the Zug-based building materials group closed the first half of 2021 with new record values. In concrete terms, sales grew by 23.1 percent to 4.45 billion Swiss francs. The operating result at EBIT level rose by 67.2 percent year-on-year to 685.9 million francs. The EBIT margin reached a new record at 15.4 percent.

    "We asserted ourselves again in a market environment that remained challenging and achieved very good business results in the first half of 2021", Thomas Hasler is quoted in the press release. "COVID-19 will continue to challenge us," says the CEO. "But we are well positioned and have proven our resistance to crises under difficult economic conditions and created new growth platforms."

    All of Sika's business regions contributed to the positive development in the first half of 2021 with double-digit sales growth rates. In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa), a year-on-year increase in sales of 25.2 percent to 2.04 billion Swiss francs was achieved. The Americas region grew by 15.8 percent to 1.10 billion Swiss francs. In the Asia / Pacific region, sales increased by 26.4 percent to 960.8 million francs. Business with the automotive industry (Global Business) grew by 26.4 percent to CHF 351.0 million.

    For the year as a whole, Sika expects sales growth of between 13 and 17 percent in local currencies. The operating result is to be increased disproportionately. Sika expects the EBIT margin to be at least 15.0 percent despite rising raw material prices.

  • Baloise increases capital for real estate funds

    Baloise increases capital for real estate funds

    Baloise Asset Management AG will carry out a capital increase for its Baloise Swiss Property Fund from August 10th to 19th, announced the asset management company of the Baloise Group in a message . A maximum of 1.24 million new shares with a total value of around 135 million are to be issued on a commission basis.

    The issue price including issuing commission is stated in the notification at 110.70 francs per unit. According to her, every 19 subscription rights entitle the holder to purchase five new shares. Any shares that have not been subscribed will not be issued, Baloise informs.

    The funds raised are to be used for the acquisition of a real estate portfolio consisting of 15 residential properties, one commercial property and one mixed-use property. Baloise announced the planned purchase of this property, which is spread across ten cantons, last month.

    The property portfolio with a market value of around 185.2 million francs is currently held by Basler Versicherung AG and Basler Leben AG, which are part of the Baloise Group. The Swiss financial supervisory authority has already granted the fund management company the necessary exemption from the ban on takeovers by related parties, explains Baloise. To finance the purchase, Baloise intends to raise around 50 million francs in outside capital in addition to the capital increase.

  • Jaisli-Xamax is working on the Vechigen school complex

    Jaisli-Xamax is working on the Vechigen school complex

    The electrical company Jaisli-Xamax from Dietikon carries out all electrical installations for the overall renovation and expansion of the Stämpbach school complex in Vechigen. According to a report in the employee newspaper Brilli's News , the work will be carried out during the three implementation phases while the school is still running. “One of the challenges was to carry out the work while the school was still in operation,” the construction fitter Adrian Thürig is quoted as saying. Nevertheless, it was possible to "produce a clean performance".

    The work will be carried out in three stages. According to Jaisli-Xamax, the new construction of the kindergarten, the day school, the special wing and the intermediate wing as well as the renovation of the two gyms were realized in the first construction phase. The renovation of the east class wing and the expansion of the group rooms were implemented in the second construction phase. The work on the third construction phase is still ongoing. The West class wing will be renovated.

    According to project manager Luciano Matturro from Jaisli-Xamax, the cooperation with everyone involved in the construction and with the school went smoothly. Matturro was quoted as saying that he was proud that the on-site team did its job well while the school was in operation. Matturro: “We are now on the final spurt to successfully complete the third construction phase.” Two apprentices from Jaisli-Xamax also worked on the project in the canton of Bern.

  • Julius Baer expands real estate business

    Julius Baer expands real estate business

    Julius Baer's portfolio of real estate services has so far focused on mortgage financing. Now the banking group wants to expand its offering in "this important asset class", announced Julius Baer in a press release . In the future, advice, brokerage, financing and structuring as well as related services for investment management, valuation and management of real estate are to be offered.

    The banking group wants to implement these plans with partners and in cooperation with third-party providers. In a first step, Julius Baer will acquire 83 percent of the Zurich real estate service provider KMP , explains the banking group in the announcement. The current majority owner and CEO of KMP, Dominik Weber, is to set up a new real estate unit for the banking group under the umbrella of Julius Baer. As a future minority owner, Weber will also remain Chairman of the Board of Directors of KMP, writes Julius Baer.

    In a further announcement , the banking group is communicating its key figures for the first half of 2021. According to this, Julius Baer was able to increase net profit by 23 percent year-on-year to 606 million francs. The group’s assets under management increased by 12 percent to CHF 486 billion compared to the end of 2020.

    "We have successfully shifted our focus to sustainable profit growth and continuously strengthened the attractiveness of our performance promise for existing and new customers", Julius Baer CEO Philipp Rickenbacher is quoted in the press release. According to her, the net profit is the highest half-year profit in the company's history.

  • Sika takes over the market leader for green roofs in the USA

    Sika takes over the market leader for green roofs in the USA

    Sika is developing into number one for green roofs in North America: The producer of construction chemical product systems and industrial sealants and adhesives takes over the Chicago-based American Hydrotech Inc. and its Canadian subsidiary Hydrotech Membrane Corporation , based in Ville d'Anjou in the province of Quebec.

    According to a press release from Sika, the company is the “clear market leader” for green roofs as an “established and recognized manufacturer of liquid membranes”. Hydrotech also has a strong market position when it comes to waterproofing the roofs and foundations of shopping centers. In 2020, the company achieved sales of CHF 83 million.

    “With the takeover, we will become the clear market leader in the rapidly growing application areas of green roofs and building waterproofing,” says Christoph Ganz, Sika's regional manager for the Americas. The fact that Hydrotech offers long-lasting products made with 40 percent recyclates “fits perfectly with Sika's sustainability strategy and strengthens our position in large cities, where green roofs are becoming increasingly important”.

  • SV Hotel is planning two concepts in a new building in Hamburg

    SV Hotel is planning two concepts in a new building in Hamburg

    SV Hotel is continuing its growth strategy in one of the most important and strongest hotel markets in Germany. In the Hamburg city center, directly on the famous Mönckebergstrasse, SV Hotel will implement two concepts in a new building. "It is a unique project that we were able to develop in this prominent location with our partner Redevco," Beat Kuhn, Managing Director of SV Hotel, is quoted in a press release.

    The real estate investment manager Redevco is replacing the current C&A building with a climate-neutral new building with mixed use for hotels, retail and catering. It was designed by the renowned London architecture firm Sergison Bates . It had won the architecture competition announced by Redevco and the city of Hamburg.

    On eight floors, the building combines a Hyatt Centric boutique hotel with the so-called Stay KooooK extended stay concept developed by SV Hotel itself. The Hyatt Centric's 185 elegant rooms and suites will occupy the second through eighth floors. The roof terrace and hotel bar offer a view of the harbor. To this end, SV Hotel becomes the new franchisee of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation . Beat Kuhn sees this as an “ideal addition” to the SV Hotel portfolio: “We share common values with Hyatt and the understanding that good hospitality can be experienced through the quality of design and service.”

    The 85 studios of the Stay KoooK concept are located on the fifth to eighth floors. Long-term guests as well as business and leisure travelers will find a sharing solution with the service of a good hotel, including a roof terrace with a view of the town hall and the Inner Alster.

    According to Volker Thamm, Director Business Development SV Hotel, the cooperation with all those involved was so “professional and efficient” that SV Hotel could “very well” imagine “developing further projects together”.

  • Swiss Life Asset Managers purchases in Oslo

    Swiss Life Asset Managers purchases in Oslo

    Swiss Life Asset Managers has taken over the real estate business of the Oslo-based investment company Ness, Risan & Partners ( NRP ). The acquired business area for commercial real estate and real estate funds with its 39 employees will in future operate under the Swiss Life Asset Managers brand.

    "With one of the leading providers of logistics real estate in the Nordic countries, we can strengthen our geographical presence in line with our strategy and further expand our position as a leading real estate manager in Europe", Stefan Mächler, CIO of the Swiss Life Group, is quoted in a press release. Nothing was known about the financial details of this transaction. It is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.

    NRP has a strong network and knowledge of the Nordic commercial real estate market. Founded in 2000, the company manages a diverse portfolio of office, retail and industrial properties. At the end of 2020, NRP managed and managed assets worth the equivalent of 1.2 billion Swiss francs. In addition to the real estate industry, NRP is also active in the shipping and offshore sectors.

    Christian Ness, founder and managing partner of NRP, is certain to have found “the perfect partner for NRP”, “who has a strategic approach, financial strength, know-how and a network that makes this relationship more valuable than the sum total of the individual parts. "

  • 5 good reasons for a tech check

    5 good reasons for a tech check

    There are several reasons why it is worthwhile for a company in the real estate business to embrace new technologies.

    Attractiveness for employees: High potentials and well-trained employees want to work in companies that are agile and digital. In order to be able to keep up with the future “war for talents”, digital company DNA is almost a “hygiene factor”.

    Creation of efficiency and transparency: With new solutions – for example in the field of artificial intelligence and data analytics – resources can be bundled correctly, investment decisions can be made well-founded, and rental and sales processes can be processed faster and more cost-effectively.

    Minimizing risks: Through the targeted use of technologies, data can be generated, structured and analyzed in order to improve the basis for decision-making and thus minimize risks.

    New options for monetization: Disruptive new technologies such as blockchain technology are “business enablers” and promote the development of new business models, ecosystems and collaborations.

    Improvement of the user experience: New technologies such as virtual or augmented reality enable a completely new user experience. This type of convenience will become standard in the future and customers will probably no longer want to do without it.

    You can find an overview of new technologies and PropTech solutions here: https://hubs.li/H0RQjYL0

  • UZH wants to generate electricity on a green roof

    UZH wants to generate electricity on a green roof

    The University of Zurich is to have a new teaching and learning center, the FORUM UZH, by 2028. According to a message on Monday, the cantonal building construction department submitted the building pre-submission. Afterwards, the seven-story building designed by the Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron will be erected as a wood hybrid construction with a concrete structure. The use of wood is supposed to save as much CO2 as is needed to build 77 single-family houses.

    The roof is to be greened intensively, thereby improving cooling in summer and thermal insulation in winter. At the same time, the roof will have a photovoltaic system. This should generate around 150 megawatt hours per year, enough electricity for 50 households.

    Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024. In the future, the building will have 700 workplaces for students and work space for 6000 members of the university.

  • University of Zurich relies on Winterthur water flow

    University of Zurich relies on Winterthur water flow

    Stadtwerk Winterthur has won the University of Zurich ( UZH ) as a new customer. In the corresponding tender, the UZH assumed electricity from renewable energies and opted for water electricity from the European Union, explains the city administration of Winterthur in a message . The municipal company will supply UZH with 69 gigawatt hours of electricity from hydropower annually from 2024 to 2028.

    In addition, Stadtwerk Winterthur was able to win two more tenders from existing customers, the communication further explains. According to this, on the one hand, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich ( ETH ) will also receive sustainable water power from the Winterthur municipal utility in the years 2024 to 2028. Of the 110 gigawatt hours contractually agreed annually, 4 gigawatt hours should meet the strict ecological guidelines of naturemade star.

    On the other hand, the Cantonal Hospital Winterthur will continue to receive electricity from hydropower from Stadtwerk Winterthur between 2024 and 2026. The corresponding contractual agreement includes the delivery of around 24 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, writes the city administration of Winterthur.

  • Dormakaba takes over Solus Security Systems in India

    Dormakaba takes over Solus Security Systems in India

    Dormakaba International Holding AG has taken over Solus Security Systems Pvt Ltd. closed. The company for access and security solutions expects the transaction to make a contribution to earnings per share at group level and to the EBITDA margin from day one, according to a media release . Solus achieved sales in the single-digit million range in the 2020/2021 financial year as of the end of March 2021. No further financial information was given on the transaction.

    Solus is the market leader in India for integrated solutions in the field of electronic access control, time and attendance recording, access management for visitors, access control and security as well as the associated services. The company has a total of 200 employees in Bangalore and other locations, including 130 service technicians. They serve system integrators and medium-sized end customers in various industries throughout India.

    "We are expanding our electronic access & data business in India with a broad product portfolio, additional sales channels and a large customer base – Solus offers us excellent growth opportunities," said Jim-Heng Lee, COO AS APAC at dormakaba, in the press release quoted.

    For Solus, too, there are “synergies from the expanded product portfolio and the greater market presence, which increases the additional benefit for our customers in terms of better solutions and services,” said Narasimha Swamy, owner and managing director of Solus, quoted in the media release.

  • PriceHubble raises $ 34 million

    PriceHubble raises $ 34 million

    Zurich-based PriceHubble AG has successfully completed a Series B financing round. The proptech was able to raise $ 34 million from new and existing investors, according to a media release . It focuses on real estate valuations and property insights on the basis of big data analytics and artificial intelligence. This round was led by Digital + Partners . The internationally growing company received "significant investments" from Latitude Ventures , TX Ventures and Business Angels. It also met with great demand from existing investors, including Swiss Life and btov / Helvetia Venture Fund .

    This is one of the largest B rounds in the European proptech scene, said Dr. Stefan Heitmann, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PriceHubble. CEO Julien Schillewaert considers it an "important milestone on the way to realizing our vision of becoming the undisputed market leader for data-driven digital solutions for the real estate and financial industries in Europe and Asia".

    For this, PriceHubble “with the combination of an excellent team, a mature technology-driven organization and a best-in-class UX, PriceHubbel is ideally equipped to continue to drive growth, to attract additional top talent and the go-to-market organization to scale internationally ”, says Patrick Beitel, co-founder and managing director at Digital + Partners.

    The company, which was founded in Zurich in 2016, is now active in nine markets: Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The B2B customer base has tripled in the past twelve months. It now consists of 800 companies.

  • New place and drinking fountain inaugurated at JED

    New place and drinking fountain inaugurated at JED

    The new place at the JED in Schlieren has been inaugurated. According to Gianfranco Basso from Swiss Prime Site Immobilien AG , after a three-year, intensive construction phase and a staggered commissioning of the new center, the essential work on the surrounding area has been completed. The construction fences have disappeared and the converted former printing center of the NZZ has now become an open area and thus part of the public space.

    The new square was officially opened on Thursday and the drinking fountain was inaugurated. The opening began with a speech from Basso. This was followed by a greeting from Stefano Kunz, City Councilor and Head of Construction and Planning. Then it was called “water march” for the drinking fountain and there was an aperitif at the fountain. This was followed by a joint lunch for representatives from politics, authorities, those involved in the project and those responsible for JED in the restaurant eve’s kitchen, right on the square.

    The owner Swiss Prime Site found the name JED for the old printing center that has been converted for today’s use. It stands for join. Explore. Dare – connect, discover, dare. The JED has good connections just outside Zurich. With a direct connection to the Limmattalbahn and 500 meters from Schlieren train station, the location is well connected to the public transport network.

  • Holzernte hat 2020 zugenommen

    Holzernte hat 2020 zugenommen

    Mit 4,8 Millionen Kubikmetern wurden 2020 insgesamt 4 Prozent mehr Holz geschlagen als im Vorjahr. Vergleicht man diese Menge mit dem Durchschnitt der Jahre 2016 bis 2019, so resultierte ein Plus von 1 Prozent. Der seit 2016 steigende Trend zu mehr geerntetem Nadelholz setzte sich auch im vergangenen Jahr fort: Dessen Ernte stieg um 8 Prozent auf 3,4 Millionen Kubikmeter.

    Wie das Statistische Bundesamt in der Schweizerischen Forststatistik 2020 weiter dokumentiert, setzte sich dagegen der Rückgang der Laubholzernte weiter fort. Mit 1,4 Millionen Kubikmeter wurden 3 Prozent weniger geschlagen als im Vorjahr. Gleichzeitig werden wegen der Klimaveränderung und des zunehmenden Aufwands bei der Bekämpfung des Borkenkäfers immer mehr Laubbäume neu gepflanzt, vor allem im Mittelland. 563’000 Bäume markierten dort gegenüber 2019 ein Plus von 9 Prozent. Gleichzeitig gingen die Nadelholzpflanzungen mit 430’000 Bäumen um 8 Prozent zurück.

    Ein weiterer Trend ist seit 2016 ungebrochen: In der Schweiz wird immer mehr Hackholz verwendet. 2020 waren es mit 1,2 Millionen Kubikmetern rund 5 Prozent mehr Holz als Hackschnitzel. Dagegen sinkt die Ernte von Energiestückholz stetig: von 0,75 Millionen Kubikmetern im Jahr 2016 auf 0,70 Kubikmeter im Jahr 2020. Das meistgeerntete Holz bleibt Stammholz. Dieses Segment wuchs nach einem starken Rückgang im Vorjahr wieder um 5 Prozent.

    Die Einnahmen der 660 Schweizer Forstbetriebe sanken 2020 um 2 Prozent auf 525 Millionen Franken. Deren Ausgaben nahmen um 1 Prozent auf 569 Millionen Franken ab. Daraus resultierte eine Unterdeckung von rund 44 Millionen Franken. Das sind 5 Prozent mehr als 2019 und 13 Prozent mehr als im Durchschnitt der Jahre 2016 bis 2019.

    Bei den 160 Betrieben aus dem forstwirtschaftlichen Testbetriebsnetz der Schweiz, die eine Vollkostenrechnung führen, verschlechterte sich die Situation im Vergleich zum Vorjahr. Durch erhöhte Kosten und tiefere Erlöse hat sich deren Defizit pro Hektare produktive Waldfläche um 6 Franken auf 66 Franken vergrössert.

  • Hälg Group eröffnet neuen Standort in Freiburg

    Hälg Group eröffnet neuen Standort in Freiburg

    Die Gebäudeautomation der Hälg Group mit Sitz in St.Gallen eröffnet in Freiburg-Givisiez einen neuen Standort und baut damit ihr Netzwerk in diesem Geschäftsfeld aus. Laut Medienmitteilung ist Freiburg der siebte Standort. Bisher war die Hälg Gebäudeautomation mit eigenen Standorten in St.Gallen, Luzern, Zürich, Basel, Chur und Genf vertreten.

    Vom neuen Standort aus soll der Anlagenbau in der Region Freiburg, Neuenburg und Lausanne betrieben werden. Zusammen mit dem bisherigen Standort Genf sei damit die Hälg Gebäudeautomation in der ganzen Westschweiz vertreten. Ab dem 1. September sei ein vierköpfiges Team vor Ort. Der erste Mitarbeitende habe bereits jetzt seine Arbeit aufgenommen.

    Hälg hebt in der Medienmitteilung hervor, dass das Team in Freiburg-Givisiez in das Netz der Gebäudeautomation Schweiz eingebettet sei. Die Mitarbeitenden in den einzelnen Standorten tauschten sich aus. Damit könne die Hälg & Co. AG Gebäudeautomation neben dem Team vor Ort auch auf das schweizweite Team der Gebäudeautomation zurückgreifen.

    Das Familienunternehmen Hälg werde in vierter Generation durch die Inhaber geführt, heisst es in der Mitteilung. Unternehmensziel sei, die Hälg Group zum führenden Schweizer Dienstleistungsunternehmen für Gebäudetechnik im Bereich Heizung, Lüftung, Klima, Kälte und Sanitär über den ganzen Lebenszyklus einer Anlage zu machen.

    Die Unternehmensgruppe beschäftigt nach eigenen Angaben an 22 Standorten in der Schweiz 1125 Mitarbeitende und erzielte 2020 einen Umsatz von 312 Millionen Franken.

  • Empa-Forschende entwickeln Energiesparriegel für Fenster

    Empa-Forschende entwickeln Energiesparriegel für Fenster

    Forschende der Eidgenössischen Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (Empa) haben eine neuartige Wärmedämmung für Fenster entwickelt. Laut Medienmitteilung ist der Dämmsteg eine Art Sandwich, mit einer umweltfreundlichen Füllung. Im Inneren befindet sich aus wiederverwerteten PET-Flaschen geformter Schaumstoff mit mikroskopisch kleinen Luftbläschen. Dieser sogenannte gefüllte Energiesparriegel für Fenster hat einen sehr hohen Wärmedämmwert.

    Entwickelt wurde der Riegel von einem Empa-Team um Michel Barbezat und Giovanni Terrasi von der Abteilung Mechanical Systems Engineering zusammen mit Experten des Metallbauunternehmens Hochuli in Wigoltingen TG. Frank Hochuli hat für das Vorhaben eigens die Tochterfirma hochuli advanced gegründet. Hochuli bietet den Dämmsteg unter dem Markenzeichen Alpet an. Verglichen mit heutigen hochwertigen Ausführungen liesse sich die Wärmdämmung, etwa in einem neuen Bürogebäude, durchaus um bis zu einem Fünftel verbessern, wird Frank Hochuli zitiert.

    Das neue Produkt ist von den Empa-Forschenden auf Verschleissfestigkeit bei Dauerbeanspruchung wie auf die Eigenschaften der Wärmedämmung geprüft worden. Eine weitere Prüfung des neuartigen Dämmstegs ist beim Prüfinstitut ift im bayerischen Rosenheim vorgenommen worden. Das ift gilt laut der Medienmitteilung in der Branche seit Jahrzehnten als Referenz. Die Fachleute dort setzten laut der Empa-Mitteilung die Prototypen auch Brandversuchen, Bruchtests und anderen Belastungen aus, wie auf nicht sichtbare Mikrorisse nach 1000-stündiger Lagerung in Öl oder leichter Säure oder nach starkem Zug in Querrichtung.

    Nach Angaben von Frank Hochuli liegen offizielle Zertifizierungen zum Brandverhalten und zur statischen Belastbarkeit vor. Das Attest zur Wärmedämmung steht noch aus.

  • Sonnenenergie ist um fast 50 Prozent gewachsen

    Sonnenenergie ist um fast 50 Prozent gewachsen

    Die Statistik Sonnenenergie 2020 des Schweizerischen Fachverbands für Sonnenenergie, Swissolar, belegt, dass der Photovoltaikzubau in der Schweiz gegenüber dem Vorjahr um 48 Prozent gestiegen ist. Damit ist ein Rekordwert von 493 Megawatt erreicht. Die Leistung von nahezu 3 Gigawatt deckte 4,7 Prozent des Strombedarfs im Land.

    Laut einer Medienmitteilung von Swissolar sind die Zuwächse bei Anlagen auf Industrie-, Gewerbe- und Dienstleistungsbauten sowie bei Photovoltaik (PV)-Anlagen über 100 Kilowatt besonders hoch. Die durchschnittliche Anlage war 24,5 Kilowatt gross. Im Vorjahr waren es noch 22,5 Kilowatt. Rund 15 Prozent der PV-Anlagen auf Einfamilienhäusern werden mit einem Batteriespeicher kombiniert. Deren Verkaufszahl wuchs gegenüber dem Vorjahr um 65 Prozent.

    Weltweit wurden im vergangenen Jahr 18 Prozent mehr Gigawatt PV-Leistung installiert als im Vorjahr. Die jährliche Stromproduktion entspricht etwa der von 115 Atomkraftwerken (AKW) von der Grösse Gösgens. Sie deckte 3,7 Prozent des weltweiten Strombedarfs. Gemäss Swissolar-Statistik ist alle 20 Tage die Produktionskapazität eines AKW hinzugekommen.

    Der Verkauf von Kollektoranlagen zur Nutzung der Solarwärme ist um rund 18 Prozent gesunken. Gründe seien unter anderem in der Dominanz von Wärmepumpen im Neubau und bei Heizungssanierungen zu suchen.

    Für die Dekarbonisierung des Energiesystems und für den Ersatz von Atomkraft bedarf es laut Swissolar eines massiven Ausbaus der Solarenergie auf rund 50 Gigawatt, mit einer jährlichen Stromproduktion von 45 Terawattstunden. Dazu müsste die Schweiz jährlich etwa 1500 Megawatt zubauen. Das entspreche dem Dreifachen des jetzigen jährlichen Zubaus.

    Doch gemäss der bundesrätlichen Botschaft vom 18. Juni zum Bundesgesetz über eine sichere Stromversorgung mit erneuerbaren Energien solle dieser Zubau von 2023 bis 2035 lediglich bei 700 Megawatt pro Jahr liegen. Ausserdem enthalte die Gesetzesvorlage Elemente, die den weiteren Ausbau der Solarenergie gefährden.

    „Das Parlament muss hier rasch korrigieren“, fordert Swissolar. Als Wegweiser könne der Beschluss des österreichischen Parlaments dienen, bis 2030 eine hundertprozentig erneuerbare Stromversorgung zu erreichen. Ausserdem sei „auf unverantwortliche und den Volkswillen missachtende Bestrebungen zur Verlängerung der AKW-Laufzeiten zu verzichten“. Nach dem knappen Nein zum CO2-Gesetz sei es nun an den Kantonen, den Ausstieg aus Öl und Gas in Gebäuden zu betreiben.

  • Luxury real estate is on the rise

    Luxury real estate is on the rise

    According to UBS , the pandemic has sparked a sharp surge in demand for luxury real estate. As their recently published study “ UBS Luxury Property Focus 2021 ” shows, demand rose by more than half compared to the previous year. This is about three times as high as the five-year mean. As a result, prices also rose above average: "The excess demand caused prices in the luxury segment to skyrocket by 9 percent in 2020 – significantly more than the 4.4 percent in the average Swiss home market," said UBS real estate expert Katharina Hofer in a press release quoted.

    UBS is making a “gold rush” on Lake Geneva. The municipality of Cologny remains the most expensive luxury real estate market in Switzerland. In the luxury communities near Geneva, prices rose by an average of around 16 percent over the course of a year. The highest-priced properties in Gstaad can be found on the second home market. In the Upper Engadin, the luxury segment begins just below the purchase prices there. Luxury properties in mountain communities were also 10 percent more expensive. In contrast, the price increases in the Lake Zurich region and in Central Switzerland were more moderate with an average of 6 percent.

    The UBS report cites the positive development of the financial markets as the reasons for the high demand. In addition, the long-term intrinsic value was particularly attractive in view of the uncertain economic development. In addition, the study notes an increased interest from abroad. "Because the local measures to contain the pandemic were far less restrictive than, for example, in France, Italy or Great Britain." A large part of the foreign demand comes from these countries. UBS also cites the low risk of higher taxes in this country for top earners and the good health system as motives.

    UBS expects that current demand drivers will also remain in effect in the second half of the year. Accordingly, an above-average number of transactions and local price increases can still be expected. And the trend should continue beyond the year, so Hofer: "Anyone looking for a place with stable institutions and established luxury locations in global luxury markets should increasingly focus on Switzerland."

  • MoneyPark moves into a larger location in Winterthur

    MoneyPark moves into a larger location in Winterthur

    MoneyPark is growing in Winterthur. Last year, the company's team there was expanded from three to six consultants. Accordingly, MoneyPark has now moved into new premises. The location is at Metzggasse 20 and, according to a report, comprises six consultation rooms.

    "Now we want to continue to grow and provide our customers with intensive support on everything to do with mortgages, provisioning and buying and selling real estate," Flavian Scheidegger is quoted as saying. In June he took over the management of the Winterthur branch from Andreas Leu.

    Not only the branch in Winterthur is expanding. MoneyPark also recently expanded its business. In this way, customers can get advice not only on financing and provision, but also on questions relating to property searches, buying, owning and selling.

  • Häuselmann Metall moves to the Zurich Unterland

    Häuselmann Metall moves to the Zurich Unterland

    Häuselmann Metall GmbH has officially opened its new headquarters in Embrach. The metal trader, which had existed since 1947, moved with its 60 employees from Dietlikon to the Zürcher Unterland in May. At the new location, he has built a new production hall and warehouse as well as offices for sales, administration and ordering on an area of 10,000 square meters. The company invested 16 million francs in this.

    "The cooperation with the community is sensational", CEO Franz Thür is quoted in a message from the Zürcher Unterland location. Embrach had made the land available to him under construction law. In return, the company created new jobs. On the occasion of a tour of the grounds, Embach mayor Erhard Büchi expressed his admiration for the ultra-modern new company location and congratulated Thür on his entrepreneurial courage.

    Thür also sees the new building as “a good opportunity to improve the culture”. All employees have moved with them, but "resentment can still be felt here and there, for example because of the now somewhat longer commute". A cafeteria and a roof terrace with a grill and seating should also contribute to a pleasant working atmosphere.

  • Implenia is helping to build tunnels in France

    Implenia is helping to build tunnels in France

    A joint venture run by Implenia has received an order from Tunnel Euralpin Lyon Turin ( TELT ). This involves the planning and construction of part of the Mont Cenis base tunnel in France. The affected section of the 57.5-kilometer tunnel is around 4 kilometers long and runs from the Villard-Clément portal.

    Implenia's partners in the project are NGE , Itinera and Rizzani de Eccher . Implenia holds 34 percent of the joint venture. According to the information, the project partners won the contract due to the technical optimizations that they introduced during the tendering phase. They took first place in the evaluation of the technical solutions. The order volume is around CHF 248 million. The project will take about four and a half years.

    "Implenia is proud to be able to plan and build such an important part of the future European rail network", Erwin Scherer, Global Head Tunneling at Implenia, is quoted in the press release. “We can use our vast experience in all areas of extensive infrastructure projects as a strength in such projects,” he adds.

    The client TELT is a Franco-Italian company that is responsible for the construction and management of the cross-border section of the new Lyon-Turin line at the Mont-Cenis base tunnel. This section is to become a central ring of the Mediterranean Corridor – one of the nine axes of the European transport network TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network). The expansion is intended, among other things, to promote the relocation of transport goods from road to rail.

  • Construction investments are falling slightly

    Construction investments are falling slightly

    Construction investments fell by 0.3 percent year-on-year in 2020, as the Federal Statistical Office ( FSO ) writes in a press release. This is understood to mean the construction expenses without public maintenance work. If these are also factored in, the total construction expenditure will be roughly at the level of the previous year.

    Investments in new construction projects have decreased by 0.6 percent year-on-year. In contrast, 0.1 percent more was invested in renovation projects. The federal government, cantons and municipalities invested more in both new construction and renovation projects than in 2019. In 2020, private clients were more cautious.

    According to the FSO, a positive development was observed in civil engineering investments. These increased by 3.2 percent in 2020. In contrast, investments in building construction projects decreased by 1.1 percent. While the federal government, cantons and municipalities have invested more in building construction as well as in civil engineering than in the previous year, the amount invested by the private sector only increased in civil engineering.

  • Urban Land Institute has a new chairman

    Urban Land Institute has a new chairman

    Jürgen Marc Volm has started his two-year term of office as the new chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Switzerland. He succeeds Birgit Werner. As it is said in a media release , it has increased the number of members and increased activities significantly.

    She acknowledges that Volm's “passion for real estate” is reflected in his career, “in which he has combined academic know-how with the successful development of a company. He is an enrichment for us as we want to continue growing and strengthen contacts with current and future industry leaders. "

    In addition to his work as a partner and board member of pom + Consulting AG , based in Technopark Zurich , Volm is also the program manager of the master's degree in International Project Management at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences (HFT). As a Master of Engineering in International Project Management from HFT Stuttgart and Master of Business Administration from Liverpool John Moores University , the graduate civil engineer has extensive business management knowledge.

    According to his own information, as chairman the focus is on promoting the sustainability debate according to the so-called ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria, "especially with regard to the areas of circular economy and social responsibility". In addition, he wants to introduce the ULI UrbanPlan at Swiss schools and universities. The participants receive basic knowledge of urban renewal. He is also planning a ULI NEXT program. It is intended to connect the next generation of managers between the ages of 35 and 45 in the DACH region.

    "ULI Switzerland has developed rapidly in the DACH region," says Marnix Galle, chairman of ULI Europe . “And we look forward to the next phase of growth under Jürgen's leadership. He will use the ULI platform to help shape the future of the built environment in Swiss communities and to inspire a new generation of real estate experts. "

  • Pestalozzi sees construction as a modern and digital industry

    Pestalozzi sees construction as a modern and digital industry

    A corporate mission statement has been developed for the Pestalozzi Group. In an interview with “ KMU Magazin ”, Matthias Pestalozzi names the main areas: corporate culture of continuity, development of digitization and networking, and cross-generational corporate management. The delegate of the board of directors to the company's management is quoted as saying that the most interesting and most important aspect of the formulation of the mission statement was the broad discussion with the employees who worked on it in workshop teams. Pestalozzi: "In the end there weren't many differences to the old model, but it is formulated in more detail, especially the topic: How do we work together?" One consequence is that the company has introduced the you culture.

    Pestalozzi, who runs the family business founded in 1763 in the ninth generation, emphasizes in the interview the importance of digitization for the company that specializes in trading in everything related to construction. Digitization and networking are a "huge topic, we are constantly working on it". Digitization is important in customer contact. The group has invested a lot in the e-shop in recent years to enable digital orders. Around 40 percent of orders for finished products already go through electronic trading. Digital marketing has also been expanded, with the use of platforms such as LinkedIn or the distribution of a newsletter. According to Pestalozzi, security problems in the digital sector are often underestimated, especially by SMEs. At Pestalozzi, employees are therefore trained on an ongoing basis.

    The Pestalozzi Group wanted to motivate young people to train in the building and construction industry with the 39th prize awarded this year for good apprenticeship qualifications. It is often difficult to find apprentices there. The pen prize is awarded in the building envelope, building services, metal construction and metal processing sectors.

  • Eastern Switzerland is to get new coworking spaces

    Eastern Switzerland is to get new coworking spaces

    Commuting to work not only loses time and quality of life, according to a media release from Regio Appenzell AR-St.Gallen-Bodensee . Local and cantonal added value also suffers. Therefore, Regio Appenzell AR-St.Gallen-Bodensee would like to establish three coworking spaces in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. VillageOffice has identified the greatest potential for the joint offices in Herisau, Teufen and Trogen in the canton and will now also support the project. It is also supported by the canton itself.

    “REGIO is committed to competitive and attractive framework conditions in the region. Central challenges include reducing the so-called brain drain and the shortage of skilled workers in Eastern Switzerland, "Leila Hauri, director of the Appenzell AR-St.Gallen-Bodensee region, is quoted in the message. According to her, the coworking spaces in rural areas should help to address these problems.

    In the next phase, the pilot operation is to be prepared and optimized for all three locations. "If everything goes according to plan, we should be able to start all three pilot operations within the next six months," says project manager Clarissa Zurwerra.

  • TX Markets takes over Acheter-Louer.ch

    TX Markets takes over Acheter-Louer.ch

    TX Markets is expanding its portfolio of real estate marketplaces. The company belonging to the TX Group has taken over the real estate portal Acheter-Louer.ch from La Tour-de-Peilz VD, informs TX Markets in a message . Acheter-Louer.ch specializes in digital marketing for real estate agents. To this end, the company provides customers with its customer relationship management system, Publimmo, among other things.

    "We have been following the development at Acheter-Louer.ch in French-speaking Switzerland for a long time," said Olivier Rihs, CEO TX Markets AG, in the press release. According to her, co-founder Philippe Schyrr will continue to operate the real estate portal, which was founded in 2010, “largely independently” under the umbrella of TX Markets. "As a successful real estate portal and family business, the company is an ideal addition to our portfolio and strengthens our growth strategy at TX Markets," says Rihs. The company responsible for all marketplaces of the TX Group already has a portal for the digital search, financing and marketing of real estate in its portfolio, homegate.ch. Acheter-Louer.ch is intended to complement and strengthen TX Markets' portfolio of real estate marketplaces, particularly in French-speaking Switzerland.

  • HKG contributed to the new congress center

    HKG contributed to the new congress center

    As part of the renovation project of the Kongresshaus and Tonhalle Zurich, the latest technology has been installed, according to a communication from HKG Engineering . The company's Schlierem representative was entrusted with the electrical engineering. The challenge was to keep the original as much as possible, while new parts and additions were to be adapted to the existing stock.

    Thanks to the renovation, the Kongresshaus, which opened in 1939, and the Tonhalle Zurich are now ready for the next 50 years. An area of 5300 square meters is available for events. There is space for 4500 visitors in the premises. The flexible space available means that various events such as specialist congresses or meetings can be held. According to HKG, the congress center is also climate neutral.

  • UBS and Baloise create an ecosystem for real estate

    UBS and Baloise create an ecosystem for real estate

    The major bank UBS and the Baloise insurer from Basel are entering into a strategic partnership. According to almost identical media releases, both are planning to merge their respective solutions and services for property owners.

    The joint ecosystem Home & Living is to emerge from the Atrium and key4 mortgage platforms from UBS and Home from Baloise, which broadly covers the living and everyday needs of its customers. In addition, the partners intend to include existing and possible company holdings of both companies. In addition, they also express their intention to integrate the offers of various start-up companies.

    "Baloise has in recent years greatly in expanding its ecosystem Home invested", is Yannick Hasler, Head of Retail Banking Baloise Switzerland, cited . "With the cooperation and investments in innovative Swiss start-ups such as Houzy , Devis , MOVU , Bubble Box or Batmaid , the foundation stone was laid for a service network that makes our customers' everyday lives easier."

    With Atrium and key4, UBS laid the foundation for its platform business in Switzerland, says Sabine Magri, COO of UBS Switzerland AG. “The continuous expansion through partnerships with and investments in innovative start-ups and intermediaries is central to the further development of our ecosystem. The planned strategic partnership with Baloise is complementary, we can complement each other perfectly. "

  • Greater Zurich Area nominated as Innovation Place of the Year

    Greater Zurich Area nominated as Innovation Place of the Year

    The portal Die Deutsche Wirtschaft wants to award the innovation location in Switzerland, Germany and Austria for the year. Six locations were nominated for this. These are not cities, but rather universities, business development agencies or regions, for example. The goal is to find “exemplary examples of new thinking in various fields”, according to the portal's website.

    The Greater Zurich Area is also among the nominees. It competes against KölnBusiness, Munich Urban Colab, Reutlingen INNOPORT, MCCI Innsbruck The Entrepreneurial University and d.velelop Campus Münsterland.

    Anyone interested can vote for a location on the website of Die Deutsche Wirtschaft. The result of the vote will be communicated at the end of July. People who vote can win prizes.

  • Jaisli-Xamax completes work in Biozentrum

    Jaisli-Xamax completes work in Biozentrum

    The new building of the Biozentrum Basel is nearing completion. Jaisli-Xamax also made a contribution to this, as can be seen from a message from the Dietiker electrical company. In addition to the electrical installations, Jaisli-Xamax also took on work on the switchgear assemblies. The basic lighting is already installed. Jaisli-Xamax is currently still working on the special lighting. Different special lighting is installed for each room to enable research work under special lighting conditions. Jaisli-Xamax is also on the home stretch for the rest of the electrical work.

    The new building for the University of Basel is a high-rise building 72 meters high. The 16 upper and three basement floors have a total of 23,000 square meters of usable space. After completion, 400 researchers will work there and 900 students will be trained. The first researchers have already moved into the building.