40 years of Bühler + Scherler AG

Forty years of Bühler + Scherler

Forty years of Bühler + Scherler means 40 years of worldwide electrical expertise. And this was reason enough to celebrate. On August 16, 2024, more than 120 employees of Bühler + Scherler AG were invited to celebrate their work and collaboration. The trip to Lake Constance was packed full of sporting and team-building activities. Of course, there was no shortage of shared meals and get-togethers. The anniversary day came to an equally communal conclusion at the St.Gallen town festival.

For almost four decades, Bühler + Scherler, which emerged as a joint venture in 1984 from Bühler and the Zurich engineering firm Scherler AG, has established itself as an electrical competence professional on the local and global market.
More than 120 employees now work for the St.Gallen-based company under the motto “Ingenious with passion”. Bühler + Scherler’s expertise lies in the areas of electrical planning, electrical installation, building automation and energy consulting.
Together with Bühler, we have realized many projects in recent years. These include projects such as the San Miguel project in Asia, the Grain Innovation Center in Uzwil, the Miller Milling project in North America and the Cristal Alimentos project in Brazil, to name but a few.
Bühler is the majority shareholder of Bühler + Scherler and the income statement is reflected in the consolidated financial statements and all Bühler business units (BU) and country organizations (SAS) benefit from the success.

Time to celebrate

The anniversary celebrations kicked off with a lavish breakfast on the terrace of the “Bistro Kurt”. The good mood was palpable and the perfect start to an unforgettable day.

After breakfast, we set off together by bus to Lake Constance. Group 1 went to Horn, where the archery team was already waiting on the sports field. After a brief introduction, various challenges began, with the focus always on having fun. An exciting scavenger hunt awaited Group 2 at Rorschach railroad station. The hunt through Rorschach encouraged team spirit and education, as the teams put their problem-solving skills and creativity to the test.

Both groups met for lunch by the lake. In his speech, Thomas Bischofberger, Managing Director of Bühler + Scherler, gave an insight into the last 40 years of the company’s history and emphasized the continuous, successful development of Bühler + Scherler AG. He emphasized how proud we are to be part of the Bühler, Scherler and Polyplan family. The team activities continued in the afternoon.

Back in St.Gallen, we went to the St.Gallen City Festival. There was a great atmosphere at the company stand, which was run for employees on Friday and for customers on Saturday, and everyone was able to enjoy the evening with food and drinks. The Bühler + Scherler management team did not miss the opportunity to personally look after the well-being of the employees. As a special surprise, everyone was able to have a caricature drawn of themselves on site, which provided additional entertainment and rounded off the get-together perfectly.

Impressions of a day full of celebration, team spirit and fun

Group photo of the Bühler + Scherler Team.

Group 2 on a scavenger hunt through Rorschach.

Speech by Thomas Bischofberger, Managing Director of Bühler + Scherler.

Our company stand at the St. Gallen City Festival.

As the new Head of Industry/Process, Thomas Reichert brings his expertise to large-scale electrical planning projects. On the Swiss market, he and his team are responsible for coordinating with contractors, with a focus on implementing solutions in the field of renewable energies, particularly solar installations. In the international arena, he works closely with Bühler. Thomas Reichert and his team plan the electrical installations and supervise the work on site. In a joint discussion, Thomas Reichert explains: “Our expertise goes far beyond process cabling; we offer complete electrical planning that extends from the grid connection deep into the plant. Within the plant, we take care of aspects such as lighting, access control and security systems – we see ourselves as an integral partner. The aim is to offer our customers an all-in-one package so that they receive all services from a single source.”

To get to know Thomas Reichert, we asked him six questions about his goals for the Electrical Planning division, his perspective on future developments and his sources of motivation, among other things.  

What are the goals and visions for the electrical planning sector in the coming years?
TR: Over the next few years, the electrical planning division aims to remain innovative in its core expertise and focus more on renewable energies. The aim is not only to plan electrical installations, but also to offer holistic energy concepts that make customers fit for the future. As an integrative partner, the focus is on high-quality, market-attractive and efficiently implemented solutions in order to build sustainable customer relationships.

What do you think the future holds for electrical planning?
TR: The future of electrical planning will be shaped by Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), among other things. BIM is also increasingly supporting the promotion of sustainability, while AI processes will contribute to the development of new planning methods and increased efficiency. Digital building models expand cooperation with companies such as Bühler by combining physical and digital processes.

What significance does intercultural competence have for you and your team?
TR: Intercultural competence is very important to us, especially as Bühler + Scherler has subsidiaries in South America, India and North America. We are a highly networked company operating internationally. The ability to understand cultural differences in the context of trade and negotiations and to communicate appropriately with customers from different cultures is crucial. It’s not just about delivering technical solutions, but also optimizing communication and collaboration with service providers, contractors and an extensive network of site supervisors. We can continuously learn from intercultural exchange and create synergies, and we have already successfully disproved the prejudice that Swiss companies are fundamentally too expensive.

How would you describe Bühler + Scherler’s corporate culture and how does it contribute to our success?
TR: Bühler + Scherler’s corporate culture is characterized by the dynamism of an SME combined with the strength of a large corporation behind it – the best of both worlds. We are practice-oriented “doers” and “technicians with a passion” who aim to produce high-quality work and implement successful projects. This culture has contributed to our success for over 40 years. Despite changes in the market, the culture accepts challenges with great motivation and shows a willingness to continuously reinvent itself.

What gives you energy and motivation?
TR: My energy and motivation come from professional challenges with an international flair and the interplay between Swiss quality, innovative strength and global markets. In addition, my family with two children brings joy and drive to my life. Regular sport helps me to maintain my basic fitness and supports my performance.

Finally, can you tell us more about your training and your professional career?
TR: My academic background is based on a degree in electrical engineering, after which I gained experience in electronics development. I then moved to Bühler, where I worked on automation, software development and the digitalization of grain mills. Through an internal development program, I moved into electrical planning and joined the management team at Bühler + Scherler. Having completed an Executive MBA, I now feel fully equipped for my role and am keen not only to continue the work I have done so far, but also to develop the company further and lead it successfully into the future together with my team.

Promotions

Congratulations to the following employees for promotion:

–     Tania Bühler was promoted to Project Manager
–     Szeliga Bartlomiej was promoted to Project Manager
–     Severin Holderegger was promoted to Junior Project Manager

Reorganization BI-A

–     Anatoli Schweiger Site Manager Zurich, Member of the Management Team
–     Aleksandar Jevtimov Team Leader gCloud Bern
–     Thomas Sturzenegger Team Leader Veiso St. Gallen
–     Szeliga Bartlomiej Team Leader gCloud St. Gallen
–     Mathias Zöllig Team Leader Service BI-A St. Gallen and Zürich
–     Urs Rüegg Team Leader GA Planning
–     Stefan Winkler Site Manager Lyss
–     Patrick Fürer Site Manager St. Gallen and overall management BI-A

Anniversaries

We are proud that many of our employees have been part of the Bühler + Scherler AG team for a long time. In April and May 2024, we celebrated the following anniversaries:

–     Farid Benabderrahmane 25 years
–     Yvan Mantovani 35 years

In this article on photovoltaic systems, we look at topics such as sustainability, industry trends, self-consumption and peak shaving.

Climate protection

Solar power is a clean energy source and an important element in the fight against climate change. Although solar systems do not emit any pollutants during use, the environmental impact of their production and disposal must also be taken into account. Currently, electricity from less clean sources is still used to manufacture solar panels, which reduces their environmental friendliness somewhat. However, this should improve in the future as more and more renewable energy is used for production.
Solar PV systems are good for our climate, as they produce much more energy over their lifetime than is needed to manufacture them. Users can utilize the solar electricity directly, for example for a heat pump or electric cars. In addition to the positive environmental impact, solar systems can save money in the long term. At the end of their service life, they are over 90% recyclable. PV systems are therefore an environmentally friendly and future-orientated choice.

Trends

As more and more people and companies want to be independent of large electricity grids, solar power and battery storage are becoming increasingly important. This is in line with a trend towards more sustainable and efficient electricity use, which is becoming increasingly important for both private individuals and companies.

Self-consumption and battery storage

The objective for the owner of a solar PV system is to utilize as much of the self-generated electricity as possible. If more electricity is produced than is currently needed, a battery storage system can help. The surplus electricity is stored and can be used later when the system is producing less or no electricity.

Connection with e-mobility

The trend towards energy self-sufficiency is growing and PV systems make an efficient contribution to this by enabling self-consumption, such as charging electric cars or operating heat pumps with solar power. This is particularly efficient if charging and heating are synchronized with the sun’s peak position

Energy management

How do you ensure that energy is always delivered to the right place and at the right time? An energy management system ensures that electricity is always available where and when it is needed. These systems recognize when energy storage systems need to be discharged to avoid power peaks and ensure a continuous energy supply in the face of fluctuating energy demand and solar radiation.

Peak-Shaving

Peak-shaving is a technique for reducing large fluctuations in electricity consumption. This makes it possible to avoid costs arising from particularly high electricity consumption. This approach makes it possible to time electricity consumption more evenly and thus reduce overall energy supply costs.

Projects of Bühler + Scherler AG

Bühler + Scherler AG carries out PV projects in the entire Eastern Switzerland area . This primarily deals with functional buildings such as schools, townships, hospitals, commercial buildings or apartment buildings. We plan your PV systems and take care of the associated topics such as optimizing self consumption, integrating PV systems in the factory master control system or implementing an energy management system. 
 
We have an optimal solution for each case. Each of our projects are well based on detailed and extensive energy consulting. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact: Abou Emara Tarek (Junior Project Manager), , +41 71 313 98 52 

A passion for engineering

For nearly four decades, Bühler + Scherler, which emerged as a joint venture in 1984 from the Zurich engineering firm Scherler AG and Bühler, has established itself as an electrical competence professional on the global market. More than 120 employees now work for the St.Gallen-based company under the motto “Ingenious with passion”. Their expertise covers electrical planning, electrical installation, building automation, and energy consulting.

Scherler and Bühler have been working together as Bühler + Scherler AG since 1984. In its almost 40-year history, the company, which does not only handle cables, has undergone many changes. Until ten years ago, Bühler accounted for half of the order volume for Bühler + Scherler. 
Due to growth and economic development, Bühler still generates a third of the volume today. The other two thirds are shared between Bühler’s end customers and external contractors. Thomas Bischofberger, Managing Director at Bühler + Scherler, explains that “part of our strategy is to demonstrate our competitiveness outside Bühler as well.” With its broad portfolio of products and services, Bühler + Scherler achieves this with ease. 

Erwin Rüdisühli, Head of Industry and Process, has the impression that “the great widespread knowledge of Bühler + Scherler in people’s minds is that we only lay the cables from the control cabinet to the motor and sensor.” But this is not the case, because electrical planning through to implementation with all its complex processes and energy supply are just as much part of Bühler + Scherler’s core competencies as energy consulting and building automation.

On the road with heavy baggage

The “engineers with a passion” from Bühler + Scherler were already traveling around half the globe to Bühler construction sites decades ago. Back then, they carried bulky suitcases filled with planning sketches and heavy folders. There were fruitful planning meetings in advance, after which the complex plans were drawn up on the drawing board with ink and a razor blade. Nowadays, Thomas, Erwin and their employees travel with just a laptop and have access to the whole documentation. Erwin says, “It’s such a relief because you can work from anywhere in the world and download everything.” You used to get one telex a week while you were on site, but now everyone gets nervous if the site manager is not immediately available by phone.

Troubleshooting like a needle in a haystack

A few weeks after starting at “Beratende Ingenieure Scherler” in 1984, Erwin, a trained electrician, stood in front of a 22-meter switch cabinet for a mill in Algeria. The enormous size and complexity were frightening and impressive at the same time. His task for six months was to train the future operators on these machines so that they could go on site to carry out electrical troubleshooting. 
In the years that followed, he worked his way up to sales. In 1992, he had the opportunity to establish a subsidiary in London and manage it for six years. Sales is in his blood, and he has developed a passion for it over the years.

Opening an account impossible

The coronavirus years were particularly challenging. For a project in Indonesia, for example, there was an online team meeting because flying was prohibited. Three men sat at the end of a table wearing masks – connected via the cameras on the screen. The conversation was like “flying on blind”, as Erwin wasn’t sure whether the other person had understood him and agreed due to the lack of facial expressions. 
Sales negotiations during this time were an enormous challenge. Thomas also has special memories of this time. In the 33 years of his career, the pandemic was extremely nerve-wracking. After two years of preparation, Bühler + Scherler set up a branch in Brazil and the lockdown came just as it opened. All employees were sent home, but not everyone was immediately able to work remotely. Although the business continued – with some difficulties – they were unable to open an account with a local bank for advance payments and settlement of invoices. “Bühler was extremely cooperative and very supportive,” says Thomas.

The value of face-to-face connections

The world of work has changed a lot over the last few years. But Thomas, Erwin and the Bühler + Scherler team always manage to adapt. Maintaining a personal network has become more difficult than it used to be. “As there are more changes in a larger company, the employees responsible often don’t even know that we exist and what we offer,” says Erwin. Thanks to the many years of cooperation with Bühler, Bühler + Scherler offers comprehensive know-how about Bühler machines and systems. Thomas is convinced that both Bühler and Bühler end customers can benefit from involving the company from the outset. In this way, the right course can be set to optimize energy consumption and flow. Bühler + Scherler are specialists in the electrical processes of buildings and industrial plants and offer comprehensive knowledge in the areas of food hygiene, food safety, and the prevention of dust and gas explosions.

Rising energy costs as a change in trend

“You can feel that energy prices are exploding all over the world. Five years ago, nobody cared how much electricity their systems were using,” says Thomas. This is why the energy consulting and building automation business is currently growing rapidly. However, only a very small proportion of the opportunities offered by alternative energies are being exploited. 
Bühler + Scherler have been active in energy consulting since the beginning and can draw on a wealth of experience. “In practice, only a fraction of the potential of building automation is used,” says Thomas. The Bühler CUBIC, for which Bühler + Scherler was responsible for the electrical installations and building automation, is just one example of what can be achieved when technology is used. 
“A successful project means a satisfied customer to whom we were able to deliver high quality and also earn something in the end,” explains Thomas. Bühler + Scherler has founded subsidiaries in Brazil, India and the USA in order to be even closer to its customers. Over 120 employees at the Swiss sites and the global subsidiaries work day in, day out to meet the needs of customers.

Bühler + Scherler has been carrying out projects for the food manufacturer Cristal Alimentos since 2019

Since the successful commissioning of the first two pasta lines for short and long products in 2019, our partnership with the Brazilian customer has been developing steadily. This year, Bühler + Scherler is installing its fourth system for the customer.
The first two systems were carried out by Bühler + Scherler Switzerland. When a subsidiary was founded in Brazil in 2020, orders could now be planned directly in Brazil. Bühler + Scherler was responsible for the supervision, engineering, installation and material procurement for the pasta plants.
We are now ready to transfer the successful model to the fourth plant, guaranteeing the same quality and expertise that our customer expects and appreciates. We are proud to be on this journey with our partners and look forward to what the future holds for us all.
Find out more about the exciting history of the Brazilian family business Cristal Alimentos.

Over the last 60 years, Cristal Alimentos, a family-owned business in Brazil, has won the hearts of Brazilian consumers with a key component of the country’s basic food basket: rice. Now, the company, which also processes beans, sugar, and flour, has reached new heights, and made its debut in the pasta market with a state-of-the-art plant in Goiás with a capacity of 10 tonnes per hour.

In 2000, Cristal Alimentos moved to a new and bigger facility, spanning an area of 250,000 square meters.

The celebrated Brazilian composer and musician Tom Jobim once said: “Brazil is not for beginners.” This is a complex market with its own nuances, uncertainties, and ambiguities. But it is also a continental country, vibrant with its unique mix of cultures and flavors, and a land full of opportunities. That is where this story takes place. Almost 60 years ago, the Brazilian Walterdan Fernandes Madalena, who was already helping his family at their grocery store in Tesouro, a small city in the state of Mato Grosso in central-west Brazil, decided to start a new venture. With little financial resources available, the young entrepreneur bought a rice milling machine – a manually operated piece of equipment with a capacity to process 60 kilograms of the commodity per day. His dream was to produce high-quality, safe, crystal-clear rice to feed Brazilian consumers.
Brazil, today a country of 215 million people, is a rice-and-beans nation. Rice is part of the daily meal of almost every Brazilian family. Recent estimates indicate that Brazilians consume approximately 12 million tonnes of rice annually. Therefore, good quality, safe, and affordable rice has always been in demand across the world’s fifth largest country by size. With that in mind, Walterdan Fernandes Madalena kept chasing his dream.

Step by step to industrial production

He started small, selling his product to local retailers and street market traders in the region. In 1957, his father decided to leave Tesouro and move to Goiânia, a bigger city and the capital of the state of Goiás, still in the central west of the country. Walterdan Fernandes Madalena moved with his family but stuck to his plans. He was able to buy new machines and increase production. In 1965, his small company was processing eight bags, each weighing 60 kilograms, per hour. Ten years later, production jumped to 15 bags per hour. The rice looked so pure that consumers described it as crystal, a pure product with no chemical additives or preservatives and a high standard of quality. In fact, “purity in the form of grains” (in Portuguese, ʻpureza em forma de grãosʼ) became the slogan of Cristal’s rice.
In tune with customer demands, the company kept expanding its portfolio by processing new types of rice. In 2000, with the transfer to a new and bigger facility, spanning an area of 250,000 square meters, production quadrupled. “It has been an amazing journey. Step by step we were able to position our rice in the daily lives of so many families. Because we prioritize quality, safety, and affordability, we were able to connect to consumers and build a trusted relationship,” explains Marcelo Madalena, Managing Director of Cristal Alimentos, and son of Walterdan Fernandes Madalena. Walterdan is 79 years old and still very actively involved in the company’s day-to-day business. Today, consumers associate the Cristal Alimentos brand with attributes such as tradition, solidity, and stability.

Entrepreneurial spirit in the family: Marcelo Madalena, Managing Director of Cristal Alimentos, and his father Walterdan Fernandes Madalena, who founded the company.

Feeding a nation in times of crisis 

In fact, the rice was just the beginning of Cristal’s path to success. In recent years, the company has expanded its portfolio of products and kept its eyes on Brazil’s staple foods, which include beans, pasta, sugar, oils, and flour. “This is our business. This is our focus. We put all our energy, expertise, and investments in producing high-quality, safe, and affordable food that makes up the major part of a population’s diet,” explains Lana Rubia Silva Barbosa, Industrial Manager at Cristal Alimentos. With that kind of mindset, Cristal, with its 1,100 employes, does everything possible to ensure that the food reaches the consumer’s table. “In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, we decided to keep up production – in the safest way possible for all employees. We knew how important our role was to keep feeding our customers in such a critical and uncertain time,” says Marcelo Madalena. “Very aware of the economic pressures, we also decided in some cases to not pass on increased costs of raw materials, energy, and supplies to the customer.”

Adding pasta to the menu

Bühler has been collaborating with Cristal Alimentos for more than 30 years. In the first stage, the company invested in Bühler’s equipment for cleaning and sorting rice – today, Cristal has 20 Sortex machines. A few years ago, Cristal decided to take a brave step forward and start to produce pasta. As it was a completely new market for Cristal, the company needed a trusted partner. Bühler was ready to support with its technical and engineering know-how. “We started to manufacture pasta due to our partnership with Bühler. The relationship of trust and constant support at all stages of the project has made a huge difference for us. The combination of experience, expertise, and project management was outstanding,” explains Marcelo Madalena.
Cristal purchased three modern C-Line pasta lines. The first two automated lines – to produce long and short pasta and with a capacity of 2,750 kilograms per hour (kg/h) and 2,000 kg/h, respectively – were bought in 2018. In the first year, Cristal reached 100 percent production capacity with around 5,000 kg/h. With such a promising debut, Marcelo Madalena and his team decided to invest more – the only way to cater to the growing demand. In 2020, the company acquired the third pasta line, a long-cut pasta solution, with a capacity of 5,000 kg/h. Today, with three lines, the installed capacity of Cristal is around 10 tonnes per hour, contributing to keeping Brazil among the top five leading countries in pasta production as of 2021, according to the International Pasta Organization.
“We consider it one of the most modern and high-tech pasta lines in South America,” explains Fátima Morais, Sales Manager at Bühler. Bühler provided the complete solution for Cristal Alimentosʼ pasta lines, covering all stages of the production process.
As an example, the mill and mixer with gravimetric dosers provide maximum precision in the dosing of ingredients, guaranteeing controlled conditions of the pasta, constant humidity, and consistent drying. The pressing system operates without granulometry limitation, offering perfect hydration and pasta development, with excellent access to components for maintenance and cleaning. And finally, the pasta dryer guarantees a high level of thermal insulation, free from deformation and problems with condensation, as well as energy efficiency.

With the Bühler Insights platform, Lana Rubia Silva Barbosa, Industrial Manager at Cristal Alimentos, and her team closely monitor and control production.

With three pasta lines, the installed capacity of Cristal Alimentos is around 10 tonnes per hour.

A first in South America

In addition, Cristal opted for Bühler’s digital solution PastaSense. It is an integrated sensor system that monitors and ensures the quality of the pasta, allowing production to be regulated at any time for the necessary corrections in real time, while ensuring the maintenance of the desired quality parameters for the final product. By continuously monitoring the production, PastaSense also minimizes waste in the process. Such a strong combination takes quality, safety, and efficiency to the next level. In fact, Cristal Alimentos is the first company in South America to employ such technology.
“We delegated to Bühler the planning of the entire implementation of our pasta factory from scratch, including the preparation of recipes for our market objectives. And today we couldn’t be happier to see where we have managed to get,” Marcelo Madalena explains. With a state-of-the-art pasta plant and a highly motivated team, Cristal has all the ingredients to keep shining on the plates of millions of Brazilians..

Who: Cristal Alimentos
Where: Goiânia (Goiás), Brazil
When: Founded in 1956
What: Cristal Alimentos is a processor of rice, beans, flour, sugar, and pasta in Brazil.
Customers: Cristal Alimentos sells its products to retailers and mid-sized shops in several states in the northern, central, and southern parts of Brazil.
Bühler: Cristal Alimentos initially invested in Bühler’s equipment for cleaning and sorting rice. A few years ago, it started to produce pasta using three modern C-Line pasta solutions from Bühler.

(Text from Jacomino Panto Dalen, Bühler AG)

Apprenticeship completion

Dear Manuel and Nenad
We heartily congratulate you for successfully completing your training as automation engineer EFZ and electrical designer EFZ. We are proud of you and would like to thank you for your commitment and your work during the training period

Completed continuing education

Our employees successfully completed the following continuing education:
– Szeliga Bartlomiej, Master of Science in Engineering
– Roland Schick, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
– Philipp Svete, HF Building technology
– Darko Gavrilovic, HF Electrical engineering
– Paolo Columpsi, CAS KMU HSG
– Vanessa Gjergjaj, HR-Assistant with HRSE certification 
– Joshua Müller, technical merchant federal diploma

Heartiest congratulations and we are happy that you could benefit from your learned technical knowledge!

Promotions

Congratulations to the following employees for promotion:
– Ari Dietrich was promoted to Project manager
– Philipp Svete was promoted to Junior Project Manager
– Abdul Tarim was promoted to Junior Project Manager
– Szeliga Bartlomiej was promoted to Junior Project Manager

Anniversaries

We are proud that we have been able to count many employees as part of Bühler + Scherler AG team for a long time. In the past ten months of 2023, we celebrated the following anniversaries:
– Andreas Grüning 5 years
– Bartlomiej Szeglia 5 years
– Susanne Müller 5 years
– Cyrill Weilenmann 5 years
– Patric Tschudin 10 years
– Thomas Riegger 10 years
– Michel Schmid 15 years
– Philipp Holenstein 15 years
– Timon Sieber 20 years
– Tatiana Polyakova 20 years
– Patric Kaiser 25 years
– Micha Berthoud 25 Jahre
– Erwin Rüdisühli 40 years

Retirements

Our two long-term employees Jürg Steiner and Christof Forster, began their well-deserved retirement in the last six months.

– Thank you Christof Forster for your 39 successful years at
Bühler + Scherler AG
– Thank you Jürg Steiner for your 32.5 successful years at Bühler + Scherler AG

Bühler + Scherler AG runs electrical projects across the entire world. Our core competence is in management of projects in the food industry. Bühler + Scherler AG can guarantee best quality and function with planning and product consistency in Switzerland and a competent Installation Supervisor on-site. The customer benefits from the fact that project planning, project management as well as the project execution comes from a single source.

The companies Wilmar international and Goodman Fielder have appointed the Bühler tech company as well as Bühler + Scherler AG for a mill project in Papua New Guinea.

Bühler provided a feed mill and a flour mill with a silo each for the plant as well as a warehouse for brans. Additionally, there are two large storehouses at the plant for storing flour and feedstuff. Bühler + Scherler AG was commissioned as exclusive contractor for electrical engineering of both mills. The job comprised planning and execution of process installation, lighting, energy supply as well as emergency power supply.

Alfred Gnehm, Site Manager for installation, supervised the project for six months on site as the responsible person for Bühler + Scherler AG. He talked about the challenges that came up during this faraway project. After just three months in Papua New Guinea, he had to leave for Indonesia to get another visa to go back to the plant.

The project is currently in its end phase. When Alfred left Papua New Guinea in May 2023, the feed mill and flour mill were fully assembled and could be operated. A plant undergoes various pre-test phases and official test phases before it is operated, which takes several months. The project began seven years ago. Covid-19, pending approvals from the local authorities and lack of licenses delayed the completion of project. Erwin Rüdisühli, Head of Industry / Process was on site in Papua New Guinea for the first time in 2016. The travel time from Zurich to the hotel took 52 hours. There were also meetings with the customers in Singapore and Brisbane.

Alfred has been working for Bühler + Scherler AG since 1981 as a supervisor and heads the electrical installations department. He likes projects in distant countries to which he has never been. However, after so many years in international project management, these are not so easy to find. Each country and culture is interesting and the less touristy the region is, the more exciting it is, says Alfred. In global projects, Alfred is responsible for organization and quality of electrical installation and works closely with the respective local employees to ensure a successful installation. The planning of electrical installations takes place in St. Gallen.

In this and the next two issues of the newsletter, we will have speak about the operating principle, suitability and economic viability of a photovoltaic system and highlight topics such as sustainability and industry trends. 

Operating principle of photovoltaic systems 

Solar energy is freely available to us. A PV system is the consolidation of several PV modules and one module comprises several cells. Using light, PV cells convert solar energy into electrical energy. Then, direct current is available which is converted into alternating current with an inverter. Through the conversion, the energy obtained can be fed into our grid or directly used at the location of the PV generator. This results in power which is compatible with our socket-outlets.  
 
Small digression into physics:  
Strictly speaking, energy is not generated, but is converted from one energy form into another. This can be seen using an example of a pumped storage hydro power station; potential energy is converted into electrical energy and vice versa. Thermal energy is converted to electrical energy in a nuclear or coal-fired power station

Suitability

A PV system works the best at every place where the sun shines and electricity is used; almost on every building. Both flat roofs and pitched roofs have advantages and disadvantages and it can be said that both types are equally suitable for a PV system. In the past, it was assumed that the panels should ideally be facing south. Today they are alternately oriented to the east and west. This means that about 15-20% less electricity can be generated. The advantage of an east/west orientation is that the energy is produced more evenly through the course of the day. In addition, such an orientation enables installation of several panels on one roof. For a south-facing installation, there is the problem that the panels shade each other when they are placed too close. Different seasons also have different benefits. The sun shines longer in summer, which helps in generating more energy. In contrast, the modules are colder in winter which results in an increased efficiency of the solar modules thus enabling an efficient energy conversion.  
 
Not only roofs can be equipped with PV systems but also facades can also be ideal for installing green electricity generators. This option allows new or additional surfaces to be created and the panels are also an exciting instrument from a design perspective.
 
In addition to the installation of PV systems on roofs and facades, there is the option to equip open areas with PV modules. From a technical point of view, large fields or plateau areas are very suitable for this. The resulting change in the landscape is another point of discussion. 

Nicht nur Dächer können mit PV-Anlagen ausgestattet werden, sondern auch Fassaden können sich bestens für die Installation der Grünstrom-Generatoren eignen. Durch diese Möglichkeit kann neue oder zusätzliche Fläche geschaffen werden und auch aus Designperspektive stellen die Panels ein spannendes Instrument dar.

Nebst der Installation von PV-Anlagen auf Dächern und an Fassaden, besteht die Möglichkeit, Freiflächen damit zu bestücken. Aus technischer Sicht eignen sich hierfür grosse Wiesen oder auch die Alpen sehr gut. Die damit einhergehende Veränderung des Landschaftsbildes ist ein anderer Diskussionspunkt.

Use of energy 

Ideally, the generated energy of the PV generator is used for own needs. This means that less electricity must be used from the electricity provider. The cost savings from own consumption is significantly higher than the compensation for feeding electricity into the grid. The combination with a charging station for e-vehicles or the combination with a heat pump is especially suitable for maximizing share of own-consumption. An energy storage system can also be integrated in PV systems for this purpose. Electricity generated by PV systems can vary greatly due to the time and weather conditions. This poses a challenge to the network operator since the energy generated and consumed must always be consistent in the grid. The power consumption of industrial production facilities is mostly so high that own-consumption of PV system is maximized without additional measures. 

Projects of Bühler + Scherler AG 

Bühler + Scherler AG carries out PV projects in the entire Eastern Switzerland area . This primarily deals with functional buildings such as schools, townships, hospitals, commercial buildings or apartment buildings. We plan your PV systems and take care of the associated topics such as optimizing self consumption, integrating PV systems in the factory master control system or implementing an energy management system. 
 
We have an optimal solution for each case. Each of our projects are well based on detailed and extensive energy consulting. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact: Abou Emara Tarek (Junior Project Manager),  +41 71 313 98 52 

NEW SUBSIDIARIES IN INDIA AND THE USA

We are pleased that we could open two other subsidiaries this summer. In addition to our two locations in St. Gallen and Lyss, previously we had a branch in Brazil which carries out projects for South America region. In August 2023, we founded two other subsidiaries, one in Bangalore (India) and one in Minneapolis (USA). We are looking forward to welcome our new colleagues! With this growth, Bühler + Scherler AG now employs more than 30 people outside of Switzerland. The newfound proximity to our customers in North America and India makes it possible to carry out projects in a much more efficient and customer-friendly manner. For questions relating to our subsidiaries, please call: Erwin Rüdisühli, Head of Industry / Process, +41 71 313 98 03, +41 79 352 44 05,

Staff entries

We extend a warm welcome to the new employees and wish them much joy in their new challenge.

Anniversaries

„There are more people who surrender than those who fail.“ (Henry Ford)

Congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for your experience, commitment and many years of successful cooperation.

Staff exits

We would like to thank them for their commitment and wish them all the best for the future.

Olivier Brunner left Bühler + Scherler AG on 30.09.2022
Emir Hodzic left Bühler + Scherler AG on 30.09.2022
Manuel Riget left Bühler + Scherler AG on 31.10.2022
Andreas Bruder left Bühler + Scherler AG on 30.11.2022
Andreas Egli left Bühler + Scherler AG on 31.12.2022

Saving electricity: Measures from Bühler + Scherler

The current topic of saving electricity has also left its mark on Bühler + Scherler in a positive sense. A project group was established that developed measures to save electricity.

After collecting and reviewing ideas, they were quickly implemented. In addition to smaller savings by completely switching off standby consumers, larger savings were also achieved. Fourteen spots were deactivated in the office premises, resulting in savings of 1,190 kWh per year.

Reducing screen brightness from the brightest to the lowest setting, calculated with 2 screens per workstation, also results in savings of 1,094 kWh.

The project team compiled the savings from all measures and converted them into everyday situations.

Total savings per year: 2’609 kWh
–        equal driving 18,118 km with an electric car
(reference: Tesla Model 3)
–        equal riding 372,714 km with an electric bike
(average value)
–        equal boiling 1 liter of water 16,306 times with the lid on

In addition to implementing the measures in the company, employees are also informed about saving energy at home. By doing so, Bühler + Scherler aims to positively contribute to this topic in the best possible way.

125th plant with gCloud

In Bühler + Scherler Lyss, the 125th plant was commissioned with gCloud. gCloud is a web-based control system inclusive security backups. This means that any involved party, such as the customer and planner, can access the system regardless of location.
This gCloud installation took place at a foundation for integrated living and working. The building includes workshops, a swimming pool, and care services. The commissioning was planned very precisely. The top priority was to carry out the work professionally during the day-to-day activities of the foundation, while taking care of the residents and caregivers.

The launch of gCloud took place as a result of a heating system conversion from oil to pellet boilers. The contract was awarded in June, after which the conversion started immediately. The provisional system was built before the end of June, and Bühler + Scherler Lyss programmed the basic control system, which was kept to a minimum. Within two months, the field devices and PLC automation controls were procured, programmed, and installed. Due to current supply bottlenecks, it was a great challenge to procure the hardware on time. All warehouses were consulted to be able to guarantee a timely delivery. Accordingly, the new heating system was put into operation within two days in August. It was permitted to interrupt heating only for a maximum of one day, which was complied with. The successful commissioning took place at the beginning of September. Heating and hot water generation is now controlled via gCloud.

The partnership between Bühler + Scherler AG Lyss and the other companies was successful, reliable, and high quality. One of the reasons for this was the long-term partnerships with some of the companies. In addition, the project aimed to involve other suppliers similar to the customer. As a result, for example, the signs, for labeling the field devices, were engraved by people with disabilities. The project was successfully completed within the required timeframe and with respect to ongoing operations. Bühler + Scherler is very pleased to have them as another gCloud owner.

Low voltage main distribution (LVMD) fire

A fire occurred at a Philippine customer’s motor control center, which includes the low-voltage main distribution board, reactive current compensation, and motor control cabinets. The fire broke out at the LVMD; any complicity on the part of Bühler + Scherler could be ruled out.

Before the fire

The original mill was completed mid-2004 with an output of 600 t/24 h. Besides electrical planning and material supply, the plant was installed by a Bühler + Scherler assembly supervisor.

When the customer’s request for a replacement delivery was received, all levers were immediately set in motion. The purpose was to put the plant back into operation as soon as possible. After receiving the official purchase order, it was processed within 10 weeks, from production of the goods to delivery on-site.

As with the original order, the LVMD for the replacement could not be produced as usual. The overall length would then have been 17 meters. Therefore, the plant was manufactured with a greater depth. As the illustration shows, “back to back”, the overall length was shortened by half. The total order volume was 19 wooden crates with a total weight of 35 tons.

The finished plant, after acceptance by the Bühler + Scherler project manager on site, was delivered to the packer, where the main cables had also been received. Based on past experience, shock sensors were installed on the crates so that any transport damage could be traced. In addition, the 800 A circuit breakers were packed separately. It was important to eliminate as many risks as possible and to prevent damage in transit. The shipment was made by air freight, via Zurich airport to England, on to Dubai and then via Seoul to Manila to the customer.

After the fire

The assembly supervisor from Bühler + Scherler dismantled the destroyed plant and prepared everything. As a result, installation was started immediately when the supplies reached the site.

Thanks to the optimal interaction of all the departments involved, the customer received top service and the plant was back in operation within 20 weeks.

Congratulations on your 20th anniversary, Michael!

We thank you for your loyalty and commitment.
We look forward to many more successful and ingenious years with you!

Staff entries

We extend a warm welcome to the new employees and wish them much joy in their new challenge.

Further education / Apprenticeship

Cyrill Weilenmann, congratulations on successfully completing your apprenticeship as an EFZ automation technician.

We look forward to continuing to count you among our team!

Anniversaries

“There are more people who surrender than those who fail.” (Henry Ford)

Congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for your experience, commitment and many years of successful cooperation.

Staff exits

We would like to thank them for their commitment and wish them all the best for the future.

Monika Lanz left Bühler + Scherler AG on 20.05.2022
Diana Frischknecht left Bühler + Scherler AG on 31.05.2022

mova 23.07. – 06.08.2022

mova – the national camp of Pfadi Switzerland with international participants.
Approx. 30,000 people experienced a varied program and got to know the diversity of the Swiss Scouts.
The camp only takes place every 14 years, which makes the experience that much more unique.

RISC

Is an association of the Swiss Scout Movement, which offers activities that take place by radio or via the Internet, which can be carried out by scout groups, for example during a camp.

RISC and Bühler + Scherler

At the request of the RISC president and project manager at Bühler + Scherler, Lukas Hungerbühler, Bühler + Scherler generously supported the RISC association at mova in the area of Maker (soldering kit) financially and with electrifying powerbanks.

The Maker – Workshop

At the Maker Workshop at mova, the young people were given the opportunity to assemble and program a kit themselves. The sponsored powerbanks served as energy supplier for the kits, so that texts and images could be displayed and even small LED light shows could be performed.

The kit was developed completely new for the mova 2022 (hardware and software). Interested parties and technology enthusiasts can further develop the kit themselves or program it freely. During the two weeks of the camp, around 400 participants took advantage of the offer.

More info on this workshop can also be found here.

01. – 04. September 2022

“What happens after graduation? Should further education or even retraining be tackled? How can I support my child in the career choice process?
Questions upon questions – to which the OBA offers answers, ideas and professional advice. The wide range of educational opportunities can be discovered, compared and tried out during four days.” – Website OBA

This year, our vocational trainers will be present at the EIT.ost stand.
(booth 2.0.05, hall 2.0) and represent the professions electrical planner EFZ and building computer scientist EFZ.

Do you know people who are interested?

Come by and get to know the electrifying apprenticeships!
We are looking forward to many visitors.

About the new facility

Pronatec created a new type of cocoa factory in Beringen, Schaffhausen.

A purely organic production plant – and the first in Switzerland to produce all three semi-finished products: cocoa liquor, cocoa butter and cocoa powder.

15,000 tons of organic cocoa beans are processed annually. Thanks to small production lot sizes, production will be very flexible and will be able to produce specialties such as single origin cocoa liquor, low fat cocoa powder and multi-certified semi-finished products (e.g. EU Bio, Bio Suisse, Naturland, Fairtrade, Fair for Life, etc.).

The semi-finished products are an important basis for numerous foodstuffs, including chocolate, beverages and various confectionery and baked goods. Cocoa butter is also widely used in many natural, high-quality cosmetic products.

The new site in Beringen will gradually create around 40 new jobs.

The official opening of the plant will take place on September 16, 2022.
Production has already been running since May 2022.

Work by Bühler + Scherler AG

Bühler + Scherler AG was involved in the project for about 20 months.
We were responsible for the electrical engineering and, together with the electricians on site, coordinated the procurement of materials and the installation of the complete process cabling.

The installation from August 2021 to January 2022 presented a scheduling challenge.
But thanks to the good cooperation of all parties involved, the plant was completed on schedule.

Nice to know – in the whole plant about 60km of cable were laid and over 2.5km of duct were installed.

Advanced thesis

Our former apprentice and new employee, Cyrill Weilenmann, wrote a very instructive and exciting thesis about the rescue service Appenzell Ausserhoden at the end of 2021.

He was allowed to accompany the rescue forces for one day and learned about different rescue techniques and means of rescue.

He also shows how the SVAR (Hospital Association Appenzell Ausserhoden) is structured, what the difference is between the professions paramedics and transport paramedics and how missions are prioritized by the control center and what this means for the rescuers.

The day with the rescue service offered Cyrill many different insights into the activities of the rescuers.

For example, the day began with checking the ambulance for completeness.
Throughout the day, the rescuers took on various missions; two patient transfers, a blue light mission to a patient with chest pain, and finally a patient with acute respiratory problems who had to be rescued from her apartment with a stair chair.
Shortly before work ended, there was even an accident with the ambulance. A car driver overlooked the ambulance and rammed it. That doesn’t happen every day…

Cyrill learned what it takes to be able to perform a job in the ambulance service:
“I’m impressed by what paramedics do on a daily basis and the calmness with which they work, even in critical situations. … I also realized that besides pure medical knowledge, many other skills are necessary.”

Enclosed is the complete thesis as a PDF to read through (in German).

Vertiefungsarbeit_Cyrill_Weilenmann Herunterladen

Wilson Bennett has been appointed Regional Sales Manager, Bühler + Scherler, South East Asia & Oceania.

Wilson has been receiving training at Bühler + Scherler in St. Gallen since June and will return to be based in Buhler Singapore starting his role officially on 10 August 2021. He reports to Erwin Ruedisuehli, Head of Industry / Process of
Bühler + Scherler.

Professional history before
Bühler + Scherler

Scottish born and graduated from Dublin Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Engineering Technology, Wilson has over 18 years of experience in various Engineering and Project Management roles and has spent over the last decade in the SEA & Oceania region.

His most recent role before joining Bühler + Scherler, he was the Senior Principal Technical Expert of Schneider Electric, where he worked on the design optimization of major projects such as TSMC, Microsoft, Intel amongst others and supported clients with high level expertise in power systems architectures, protection plans, power automation and monitoring.

About this role

The Regional Sales Manager will be responsible for growing the business footprint of Bühler + Scherler in South East Asia & Oceania. In this role, Wilson will proactively develop, research, identify and qualify new leads in the market. He will also demonstrate proactive sales initiative by conducting regular customer visits and build relationships with existing and new customers to maintain key accounts. At the same time, he will stay current with the latest development in the market, introduce new ideas into the business and how we support our customers in a seamless way.

We are confident that with Wilson’s past professional experiences and proven track record, he has equipped with the necessary skills to perform his role here. Please join us to warmly welcome Wilson and wish him much success for his career in Bühler + Scherler!

Forty years of Bühler + Scherler

Time to celebrate

Impressions of a day full of celebration, team spirit and fun

Promotions

Reorganization BI-A

Anniversaries

Climate protection

Trends

Self-consumption and battery storage

Connection with e-mobility

Energy management

Peak-Shaving

Projects of Bühler + Scherler AG

A passion for engineering

On the road with heavy baggage

Troubleshooting like a needle in a haystack

Opening an account impossible

The value of face-to-face connections

Rising energy costs as a change in trend

Bühler + Scherler has been carrying out projects for the food manufacturer Cristal Alimentos since 2019

Step by step to industrial production

Feeding a nation in times of crisis

Adding pasta to the menu

A first in South America

Apprenticeship completion

Completed continuing education

Promotions

Anniversaries

Retirements

Operating principle of photovoltaic systems

Suitability

Use of energy

Projects of Bühler + Scherler AG

NEW SUBSIDIARIES IN INDIA AND THE USA

Staff entries

Zoran Dukic – Head of Electrical Engineering Industry/Process IP-E

Thiviamoorthy Theebahan

Daniel Hitz

Anatoli Schweiger

Abdul Tarim

Matthias Blochwitz

Jürg Kessler – Head of Electrical Planning BI-E

Rick Gasser

Daniel Kriech

Mathias Zöllig

Anniversaries

Michael Foster – 20 Years

Staff exits

Saving electricity: Measures from Bühler + Scherler

125th plant with gCloud

Low voltage main distribution (LVMD) fire

Michael Foster – 20 Jahre

Staff entries

Moritz Federer

Dominik Köppel

Luka Gjorgievski

Ralf Sutter

Vanessa Gjergjaj

Cyrill Weilenmann

Anes Benabderrahmane

Further education / Apprenticeship

Anniversaries

Thomas Seeholzer – 20 Years

Peter Hubschmid – 15 Years

Peter Büchler – 30 Years

Staff exits

​​​​​​​mova 23.07. – 06.08.2022

RISC

RISC and Bühler + Scherler

The Maker – Workshop

01. – 04. September 2022

About the new facility

Work by Bühler + Scherler AG

Advanced thesis

Professional history beforeBühler + Scherler

About this role

Feeding a nation in times of crisis 

Operating principle of photovoltaic systems 

Use of energy 

Projects of Bühler + Scherler AG 

mova 23.07. – 06.08.2022

Professional history before
Bühler + Scherler