200 Years Spinning with Passion (1812-2012)
The rise of the textile industry in the 19th century marked the starting point of the industrial revolution, one which left its mark also in Switzerland. This boom followed the export embargo on England, imposed by Napoleon in November 1806. Imports of cotton yarns and spinning machines from England were not allowed, causing a high demand for cotton yarns by domestic weavers. In 1812, Johann Jakob Bühler used this favorable opportunity and established, together with his sons, a mechanical workshop and 1825 a small spinning mill for cotton. Based on a water concession, he built a bigger spinning mill and realized a canal for a water-power station in 1831. Additional mills came by 1855. By then the company employed 400 workers, becoming the biggest spinning operation in the canton of Zurich. In 1858, Johann’s son, Hansheinrich, started building a mill in Sennhof, equipped with the latest mechanical spindles. In 1897 the next generation of Bühlers continued the business under the name of Hermann Bühler & Co. – the company’s name has remained unchanged since.
In 1931, the company was incorporated. During the post World War Two period, production was concentrated in Sennhof. An important period of extension followed, with the construction of a new ring-spinning room and a modern opening room in the 1980s. Finally, in 1996, Buhler Quality Yarns Corp. was established in Jefferson, GA. The 32,000 “state-of-the-art” spindles installed in this US-affiliate company produce high quality yarns including Supima cotton, Micro Modal and Tencel for customers in North and South America. In the same year, Bühler launched the production of Micro Modal – an environmentally-friendly fiber.
Bühler has witnessed an ever-changing landscape over its 200 years. In the early days of the company, cotton was imported from the Southern United States. In modern times the American cotton industry has advanced to mechanical harvesting, condemning the practices of old, and leading the industry in technology and innovation. Bühler is considered as a pioneer in organic cotton. The first yarns made of fibers from certified organic cotton were produced in 1994. We are not only committed to high quality standards for all product lines, but also our engagement for an intact environment became continuously more important over the past years.
The Bühler family has owned the company for seven generations now. Currently, family members Martin Kägi, Dr. Beat Denzler and Christina Frehner having a direct impact on the continued success of the Bühler group through management and on the supervisory board. The cooperative leadership, open communication, interest in new technologies and consequent implementation of innovative ideas have formed the company’s character during the last decades. Today, 158 employees located in Sennhof and 145 in The United States strive to satisfy all expectations of customers in 43 countries worldwide.
We can be proud of having always successfully managed the numerous challenges of the more and more demanding textile industry in the past 200 years. All our engaged employees are finally responsible for that big success.
We thank also our loyal customers, innovative suppliers and last but not least our understanding shareholders. Grace to all of you it is possible to look back on such a long and successful history and to start together into the third century of our company.