Buhler ground breaking innovation campus
From left right: Elvis Pidic (Bühler architect), Johannes Wick (CEO, Grains & Food), Carlos Martinez (architect), Stefan Scheiber (Group CEO), Ian Roberts (CTO), Samuel Schär (CEO, Advanced Materials), Andreas Herzog (CFO), and Burkhard Böndel (head of corporate communications).
Photo courtesy of Bühler.
 
UZWIL, SWITZERLAND – Bühler celebrated the ground breaking for its Innovation Campus in Uzwil, Switzerland. Completion of the building is expected by the first quarter of 2019. 

“This innovation campus will reinforce our innovation power and market leadership,” said Stefan Scheiber, chief executive officer (CEO) of Bühler, at the ground-breaking. “It will help us bring together the smartest minds of the industry to create innovations for a better world.”

 
The innovation campus consists of two key elements: the upgraded technology labs and the new innovation building. The new building will build a bridge between the engineering and business world in the existing towers and the upgraded application labs. 

On three levels, the building will be the home for project teams of employees, clients, start-ups, students, and apprentices. It will feature an auditorium for up to 300 participants for large events. Collaboration and a “maker space,” a media center and a co-working floor with open and secured spaces for over 100 people will also be part of the building.

“This building is focused on collaborative innovation,” said Ian Roberts, chief technology officer at Bühler. “We are creating a collaborative space for all functions, all ages, and all knowledge holders. It will allow us to live and foster our innovation culture and test future work practices.” 

The new building will bring together Bühler’s network of partners, be they customers, start-ups, academics, apprentices, or suppliers, and create a link to the technology labs.
 
Bühler’s existing technology labs, such as the Bakery Innovation Center, have been upgraded or will be during the building process, and are an integral part of the new campus, as they are closely interlinked with the new building. 

“This is a unique setting, which I have not seen anywhere else,” Roberts said. “We are creating a space that brings together visionaries and long-term thinkers of the start-up scene and universities with engineering teams that hold Bühler’s long-standing applied and tested know-how in processing technology. By combining both, we can truly create innovations for a better world.”
 
Innovation always has been a cornerstone of Bühler’s strategy and business success. Every year, the company invests 4% to 5% of its turnover into research and development. Internal and external innovation challenges foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. 

“It is a privilege for everyone at Bühler to work on such enormous challenges and make a difference,” Scheiber said. “This building will help create the space where we can bring together key players in the industry to develop innovations for a better world.”