Nüssli (Switzerland) Ltd – "For 85 years, we have been connecting people with structures for the world's greatest moments. Connecting You.

Nüssli is celebrating its 85th company anniversary this year. Congratulations on this milestone! How do you assess the current business performance, and in which areas do you see the greatest growth?

Thank you very much – 85 years is a wonderful moment to look ahead. Business performance is pleasing: Our core business with temporary event infrastructure remains steadily strong, supported by recurring major events in sports, culture, and business. We see opportunities in further internationalization and in opening up new markets, as well as in the growing field of special construction, where we realize complex special structures. This combination of a reliable core business and new fields makes us optimistic for the coming years. In everything we build, it's ultimately not about steel and statics, but about the moment when the audience comes: We connect people, cultures, and emotions. That's exactly what our credo "Connecting You" stands for.

You are pursuing a multi-stage internationalization strategy — organic growth, targeted acquisitions, or local partnerships. Which approach has proven to be the most effective in practice, and why?

For us, organic growth along our customer relationships has proven most effective – once someone has experienced how reliably we deliver under time pressure, they come back to us. This includes our own logistics: being fast with materials at the customer's site and the event. Short distances are a real advantage in terms of quality and punctuality. In addition, local partnerships have proven successful because they offer us market access, language, and knowledge of local building regulations. We use targeted acquisitions where they make strategic sense. It's the mix that makes it: No single approach stands alone, but together they give us flexibility in very different markets.

In which countries or regions do you currently see the greatest potential for Nüssli — and which markets are next on your expansion agenda?

Our established markets in Germany, Austria, and Spain, along with our home market Switzerland, remain cornerstone pillars and continue to offer growth, especially in sports and culture. We see great potential where international major events are planned – world expos, Olympic Games, or Formula 1 races naturally attract us. However, more important than rapid geographic expansion is choosing the right projects in the right markets – those that match our DNA.

Your company stands for Swiss quality and reliability in temporary construction. How much of an advantage is the "Swiss Made" label in international competition — or does it play a minor role?

The "Swiss Made" label is a very tangible advantage for us, not just a tag. Our customers associate it with precision, reliability, and safety – and that's exactly what matters in our business, where constructions must withstand enormous time pressure and support tens of thousands of people. When an organizer knows that the grandstand will be ready on time and meet every safety standard, that's a value that immediately pays off. Along with our track record, Swiss origin creates trust even before the first conversation begins – and this trust is invaluable in international competition.

You have already built for major events like the UEFA EURO, world expos, and Olympic Games. How do you win such mandates — and what sets your company apart from international competitors?

Winning such projects is not about price alone, but about trust, references, and the certainty that everything will be ready on day X. Over decades, we've built a portfolio that speaks for itself. What sets us apart from international competitors is the combination of capacity, product range, and the ability to construct complex infrastructures under extreme time pressure. In the end, what counts is: We deliver not just a structure, but the assurance that the big moment will succeed.

What are currently the biggest challenges for you in international business — whether regulatory, logistical, or in terms of skilled labor?

The biggest ongoing task is the diversity of local building regulations and standards – each country has its own rules that we must know and adhere to precisely. Logistically, transport routes and time pressure continually challenge us, especially when entire event infrastructures are moved across continents; here, our own logistics competence is a decisive advantage. And like many in the construction industry, we also feel the competition for skilled labor. We address this through targeted recruitment, continuous training, and a corporate culture that values experience and appreciation – we call it the NÜSSLI Spirit.

Today, temporary constructions must not only be fast and cost-efficient but also sustainable. How do you position yourself in this area — and what innovations are you currently driving forward?

Sustainability is in our DNA: Temporary construction is inherently designed for reuse. Our structures are built and taken down, transported, and re-erected often for many years and at diverse locations. We extend this principle consistently, from material selection to re-use after dismantling. A growing field is interim solutions that stand and are used for several years – for example, to bridge during space shortages or renovations. They combine the speed and flexibility of temporary construction with the durability of permanent buildings, creating real added value over a longer period. In this way, we naturally combine economic and ecological responsibility – not as an addition, but as part of how we've always built.

Your Special Projects area is growing as a general contractor towards permanent buildings and interim solutions. Do you see this as strategic diversification — and where are the next big opportunities?

Yes, it's a logical development. Our strength – realizing complex constructions under time pressure – can be excellently transferred to interim solutions and permanent buildings. Whether a fully-fledged interim venue as a bridge during renovation or an eight-fold sports hall: We realize the entire range as a general or even total contractor. This is exactly where our opportunity lies – we are hardly tied to one building type, but can implement nearly any type of construction, provided it matches our DNA: unique, complex, and under time pressure. This versatility continuously opens up new fields where we can apply our expertise.

Nüssli is a Gold Member at Switzerland Global Enterprise. What specific added value does this membership bring to such an internationally active company as yours — and in which markets has the network of S-GE particularly helped you?

Membership in S-GE is very valuable for an internationally active company like ours. It provides us with access to networks, market knowledge, and contacts that significantly ease our entry into less familiar markets. This is particularly helpful where we are opening up new geographic areas and need reliable local contacts and well-founded market insights. S-GE helps us to make Swiss origin internationally visible – and this visibility directly contributes to our positioning as a reliable Swiss partner.

Looking back in five years — what should your company have achieved by then, and what role should Switzerland play as a home market and innovation location?

By 2030, we hope to have achieved many of the goals set out in our strategy: further solidifying our core business and expanding special construction into a strong second pillar. I wish for NÜSSLI to be regarded worldwide as the first choice for constructing extraordinary projects under time pressure – whether temporary or permanent. Switzerland remains our foundation: as a home market, an innovation location, and as a source that stands for quality and trust. World-class status is shown not only abroad: Here in Switzerland, we have been supporting internationally significant events like the Lauberhorn race in Wengen for many years – the world is our guest. We want to continue this ambition: for a company from Hüttwilen to make the greatest moments possible – Connecting Temporary and Everlasting.