What's new in the Bertschi Group?

BREXIT is reality. The UK left the European Union at the end of January 2020 under a transition period that expires on December 31 this year. Despite ongoing negotiations, no formal agreement between the UK and the EU has been reached so far.

Never before have supply chains been so vulnerable. The outbreak of corona put industrial companies in trouble, with access to supplies being cut off as early as March this year or later on. With sourcing factories closing or facing insolvency, fewer ships operating, and delayed access to ports and borders blocked, companies have needed to become innovative in sourcing their required materials.

The Bertschi Group cannot escape the impacts of COVID-19. Shareholders were informed about current developments at the Annual General Meeting on 4 July 2020. The company handled the first wave of coronavirus with aplomb, thanks in part to its advanced digital transformation, which is to be further accelerated. The company also aims to proactively seek out opportunities during the crisis and continue to invest in innovative customer solutions. The Bertschi Group Board of Directors has been expanded to include China expert Kurt Haerri and Jörg Berner, the first member of the third generation.

We are proud to congratulate our apprentices on the successful apprenticeship certification. For the future we wish them all the best and much success!

Thanks to expansion of its worldwide activities, the Bertschi Group grew again in the 2019 financial year. Due to the challenging market environment, the rate of growth for the global chemical logistics company slowed considerably. Sales rose to CHF 985 million, with the earnings position remaining just about stable. Efforts focused on the digital transformation and targeted expansion of services. The Swiss family-owned business plans to continue these efforts vigorously in 2020.

Bertschi can look back on a long tradition as a training company and the Bertschi apprentices are regularly among the best of their year. Also this year 3 of our apprentices completed their apprenticeship with top marks and were honoured by Spedlogswiss and ASTAG for this outstanding achievement.

The aim of the international Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) initiative is to ensure that no plastic granulates are released into the environment, and in particular our oceans. The approach involves all companies along the plastics supply chain and obliges them to take preventive measures. Only through the cooperation of all partners - from the polymer producer to the logistics service provider and the processor - can the 'Zero Pellet Loss' goal be achieved.

Hans-Jörg Bertschi talks in an interview about the current challenges in rail cargo transport and the opportunities for digitalization in this area.

Hans-Jörg Bertschi talks in an interview about the investment plans in Asia and the digitization strategy of the Bertschi Group.

As pioneer in sustainable transport concepts, Bertschi Group is setting new impulses in rail traffic markets. A joint venture of the Swiss logistics companies Planzer, Camion Transport, Galliker and Bertschi – acquires a 35 percent shareholding in the swiss rail freight transport business SBB Cargo. The four family businesses intend to contribute to a successful development of SBB Cargo as well as to sustainable and environmental transport logistics.