Urs, when you hear that you have been with Bühler + Scherler AG for 45 years, what goes through your mind?
Forty-five years is a long time, filled with many fascinating stories. It may sound a little unusual, but I have actually worked for the company longer than it exists in its current form. I originally joined Scherler Consulting Engineers. Over the past 45 years, I have had the opportunity to work on countless varied and interesting projects around the world. That is precisely what has made this time so special to me.
How did you experience the transition from Scherler to Bühler + Scherler?
In the early 1980s, personal connections between employees at Scherler and Bühler led to a close and trusting working relationship between the two companies. An office was subsequently opened in St. Gallen to ensure proximity to customers and a strong local presence. The merger was a logical next step and brought a certain degree of security, particularly in terms of the order situation.
Back in 1984, there were around ten of us in St. Gallen. Since then, the company has evolved considerably and grown significantly. It has been impressive to witness this transformation over so many years.
What originally brought you to Bühler + Scherler, and what made you stay for all these years?
I joined Bühler + Scherler because it allowed me to continue working here in St. Gallen. I had completed my apprenticeship at IBG, where I was subsequently offered a position in Chur. However, I decided to give Scherler in St. Gallen, at Zürcherstrasse 511, a try instead. It was something completely new to me, and I had no idea what to expect.
What made me stay was primarily the variety. The work was always interesting, and over the years I was given many opportunities to develop professionally. There were always new tasks, new challenges and fresh perspectives.
What has changed most in your working environment since you started?
Perhaps it also has something to do with getting older, but what strikes me most is the increasingly fast pace of working life. Everything has accelerated, and cost pressure has also risen significantly. Today, a great deal must be completed in less time, and the work has generally become more dynamic and complex.
Thirty or forty years ago, many things were still somewhat easier to manage. For example, if you were completing a job for Bühler and a shipping date had been set, you knew that the ship would leave on that day. Everything had to be ready by then, and it simply had to work. Of course, everything still has to work today, but the parameters have become much more fluid.
Which technological developments have had the greatest impact on your work?
When I started in 1981, we were still working with technical pens, drawing boards and typewriters. Later, new communication technologies such as telex and fax were introduced.
The biggest transformation, however, undoubtedly came with the development of IT. Suddenly, processes became digital and then moved online. Today, everything must be accessible and visible at all times, whether through apps, cloud-based solutions or other systems. No matter where people are in the world, they want to know how their systems are performing.
In the past, we travelled with drawing boards, printed plans and large amounts of documentation. Today, a laptop is often all you need to access everything required. It has been an enormous transformation.
How has the corporate culture at Bühler + Scherler changed over the years, and what has remained the same?
What has remained unchanged, above all, is the sense of mutual appreciation within the company. Employees are given opportunities to develop, work with a high degree of independence and contribute to decision-making. That trust has always been very important to me.
As a result, I never seriously considered leaving the company. I have also had the opportunity to take on a wide range of responsibilities. I have certainly not been doing the same thing for 45 years, and that variety has always kept my work interesting.
If your younger self could spend a day at the company today, what would surprise him most?
Probably working from home. When I look around the office today, that is one of the biggest changes. In the past, we could never have imagined working from home because we simply did not have the technology to make it possible.
This has also changed the way we interact socially. In the past, you would arrive at the office in the morning and see almost all your colleagues, unless someone was on holiday or attending an appointment. Conversations and exchanges happened naturally. Today, maintaining those connections requires more conscious effort.
Which project or assignment are you particularly proud of?
There were many highlights. Because I have had the opportunity to work on such a wide range of assignments, numerous projects have stayed with me. These include not only major and exciting projects, but also a few unusual experiences that went beyond the scope of everyday work. Some of them still make me chuckle when I look back.
Is there a typical “Urs Rüegg story” that your colleagues would tell?
They would probably say that I am someone they can rely on, or that I can still remember technical details from projects I completed 20 years ago. Over the years, I have accumulated a little knowledge about almost everything. And, of course, there are one or two anecdotes from Bühler + Scherler celebrations. Some stories, however, are probably best kept among colleagues.
What advice would you like to give the next generation at Bühler + Scherler?
It is important to me that the culture of mutual appreciation is preserved. People should support one another, look out for each other and maintain a positive working relationship. Fortunately, this works very well within our team, and I hope it will remain that way in the future.
I also believe that personal interaction is essential: coming into the office, talking to one another and actively maintaining social connections.
After 45 years at Bühler + Scherler AG, what are you particularly grateful for today?
I am grateful that I have always felt comfortable here throughout all these years. After all, we spend a significant part of our lives at work, which makes having the right environment all the more important.
For me, everything at Bühler + Scherler simply felt right: the way people treat one another, the collaboration within the team and the open dialogue with the management team. All of this contributed to my decision to stay and to the fact that I have always enjoyed being part of the company.
What comes next for you after Bühler + Scherler?
First, I would like to settle into retirement, discover a new daily routine and enjoy my newfound freedom. However, I do not intend to withdraw completely. I can imagine providing consultancy support for smaller projects, becoming involved in cultural activities and continuing to assist Bühler + Scherler AG on an hourly basis when needed.
It is important to me to remain active, but with greater flexibility and without immediately filling my calendar again.
