Swissmem
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Founded | 1883 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Members | over 1,400 companies (as at: 2024) |
Key people | Martin Hirzel (President) Stefan Brupbacher (CEO) |
| Website | https://www.swissmem.ch/ |
Swissmem is the association of the Swiss technology industry (mechanical, electrical, metal, and related technology sectors). It represents the interests of the technology industries in the commercial, political and public spheres, and boosts the competitive capacity of its over 1,400 member companies with needs-based services. These include training and development courses for employees in the sector, consulting services, networks and a compensation fund.[1]
Martin Hirzel has been President of Swissmem since 2021. Stefan Brupbacher has been its CEO since 2019.
Swissmem is headquartered in Zurich.
The history of Swissmem began in 1883 with the founding of the Swiss Association of Machinery Manufacturers (VSM). The Association’s goal was: “To safeguard and promote the general interests of the Swiss engineering industry”. Consequently, the engineering industry employers established the Association of Swiss Engineering Employers (ASM) from the ranks of the VSM in 1905. The ASM’s purpose was to safeguard its members’ interests in the area of social policy. Both associations have been operating under the Swissmem name since 1999.[2][3]
In September 2006, the ASM and VSM members voted in favour of continuing integration. In early 2007, the VSM became Swissmem and took on all of the ASM’s activities except those relating to the sector’s collective employment agreement (GAV).[4] The ASM continues to exist legally as an independent organization and is a contractual partner in the collective employment agreement for the Swiss technology industries.[5] The technology industries’ GAV traditionally blazes a trail for many other Swiss GAVs and has evolved from the “industrial peace agreement” of 1937 to the high-level agreement of today.[6]
Members
More than 1,400 companies are members of Swissmem. They include ABB, Bucher, Bühler, Geberit, Georg Fischer, Pilatus, Rieter, Schindler, Siemens, Stadler and many more. 85% of all Swissmem members are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
With around 329,000 employees, including more than 20,000 apprentices,[7] the tchnology industries are among the biggest employers in Switzerland. They generate total annual sales of CHF 87.4 billion (2024). This equates to around 7% (2024) of GDP. The technology industries thus occupy a key position within the Swiss economy. The sector accounts for almost a third of Switzerland’s total goods exports, with a value of CHF 68.4 billion (2024).[8]
