Seppeler takes over Verzinkerei Oberuzwil and expands in Switzerland
With the acquisition of Verzinkerei Oberuzwil AG with retroactive effect from January 1, 2025, the Rietberger Seppeler Group is further expanding its market presence in Switzerland. Seppler is thus expanding its business area to include stainless steel pickling.
The acquisition of the Swiss galvanizing plant in Oberuzwil will complement Seppeler's product range and expand it with the new business area of stainless steel pickling. The core business of the family-owned company remains hot-dip galvanizing. In addition to the 70 employees of Verzinkerei Oberuzwil AG, the Swiss holding company of the Seppeler Group is taking over 100% of the shares, the entire production facility and infrastructure as well as all customers and orders. In Switzerland, too, succession planning is a real challenge for more and more companies. "We are all the more pleased that we can secure jobs and give Verzinkerei Oberuzwil AG a long-term perspective with the sale to the Seppeler Group," emphasizes the previous owner Markus Schneider. But that's not all. The business of the traditional Swiss company will not only be continued under the umbrella of Seppeler Holding Schweiz AG, but also expanded and developed further in a targeted manner.
Customers of Verzinkerei Oberuzwil benefit from the takeover
"The takeover has many advantages for the Seppeler Group and, above all, our customers," emphasizes Managing Partner Nina Seppeler. "We can now offer high-quality stainless steel pickling solutions for the first time." This solution is particularly interesting for metalworkers and metal fabricators. The reason: stainless steel pickling removes oxide layers and impurities from stainless steel surfaces, resulting in optimum passivation. This protects the stainless steel from corrosion and significantly extends its service life. The process also ensures a metallically pure, aesthetically pleasing surface that meets the highest hygiene standards - ideal for applications in the food industry, construction and agriculture. "This makes us the largest provider of stainless steel pickling in German-speaking Switzerland and we can even process constructions with a unit weight of up to 20 tons," emphasizes Roger Reifler. The new site manager was previously deputy manager and is very familiar with the business processes and the team. "We have been firmly established in Eastern Switzerland for many years, but we can also serve customers from Zurich, St. Gallen and the Rhine Valley. Even companies from southern Germany and Austria rely on our solutions," emphasizes the new site manager.
Seppeler Group invests in new technologies
To enable the Swiss site to operate even more efficiently and competitively in the future, the Seppeler Group intends to invest in new technologies to make production at the galvanizing plant more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Site manager Roger Reifler will be supported in this by Christoph Wasserer, who as Delegate of the Board of Directors is responsible for the integration of the Swiss sites into the Seppeler Group. Markus Schneider will provide the company with advice and support before he retires from operational activities. "The result is a strong team that will lead Verzinkerei Oberuzwil AG into the future together," emphasizes Nina Seppeler. "We are looking forward to our common path."