Establishment and expansion
Bühler Group emerged from the iron foundry in Gupfen in Uzwil with two employees that was established on February 10, 1860 by Adolf Bühler Sr., who was a native and resident of Hombrechtikon.[5]
In 1871, a mechanical workshop was added, and one year later the first cast rolls for roller mills were produced.[5][6] In 1875, the company introduced its own health insurance scheme.[5] As a result of Adolf Bühler's interest in mechanical engineering, Bühler not only cast rolls, but over time also started building its own roller mills and entire grain mills. Around 1890, the first flour mill completely built by Bühler was delivered.[7] The first affiliated company was opened in Paris in 1891. Another one was added in Milan in 1900, and two years later one in Naples. Before that, in 1896, a sales office had been set up in Barcelona.[5] Adolf Bühler Sr. handed over the reins to Adolf Bühler Jr. in 1896. After Bühler had originally focused on the textile industry, manufacturing textile equipment components, the company shifted its activities to the design and construction of grain mills, which it sold in the international marketplace. After the turn of the century, machinery for making pasta and brewing beer were added.
Up to World War II
In 1900, Bühler employed 717 factory workers and 72 office staff, whose number increased to 1400 by 1920.[8] Bühler opened its first canteen in 1918. During the expansion and electrification of the railroad line from Wil to St. Gallen in 1927, an industrial track was built from the station of Uzwil to the company premises.[5]
Die casting technology was developed in the United States in 1920. However, the machines produced there failed to meet the requirements of Bühler. As a result, Bühler started designing and constructing its own die casting machines. A special department was set up for this purpose in 1927. This is where today's Die Casting business unit originated, which sells cold-chamber die casting machines and systems.[9]
Postwar era
In 1934, René Bühler, the son of Adolf Bühler Jr., joined the executive board. He founded the Swiss Milling School in 1957 and was a member of the National Council from 1951 through 1959 (FDP).[10] From 1967 through 1985, he served as a member of the board of directors, which he chaired from 1977 through 1985.
In 1956, Bühler shut down its affiliated company Haushaltmaschinen AG.[5] Among other things, it had produced vacuum cleaners.[11] Bühler also produced newspaper printing equipment from 1907 up to the early sixties of the past century.[5]
Electronic data processing was introduced at Bühler in 1965 with an IBM 360/40 system.[5]
In 1970, the company had 5470 employees, of which 3630 worked in Switzerland, plus 380 apprentices.
Bühler today
Bühler entered the Chinese market in 1981, when it sold a grain processing plant. Three years later, the first office was opened there.[5]
In 1986, René Bühler's son Urs Felix Bühler[12] was appointed CEO of the company. Before that, in 1981, he had become a member of the company's board, which he chaired from 1994 onward.[13] He transferred his duties as CEO to Calvin Grieder in 2001.[13]
In 1986, Richard Frisse was acquired, a company based in Bad Salzuflen, Germany. In 1993 the Sortex color sorter manufacturer in London was purchased, and in 2010 the Schmidt-Seeger company in Beilngries.[5] In 2012 Leybold Optics was acquired (founded by German entrepreneur Ernst Leybold),[14]
