The importants milestones inour history.

COMPANY HISTORY

It is now more than 60 years since Hans Wegmüller established his sole proprietorship. Today, HWAG offers a fully range of services for VM and Hatz diesel engines, as well as Telma retarder.

In February 1960, 25-year old Hans Wegmüller struck out on his own and founded his small business, purchasing a mechanics workshop in Ringgenberg. He had just four employees at the time, working on turning and milling projects. In 1963, he sold the business to Fritz Fuhrer.

Two years earlier, in 1961, he had begun renting a workshop in Hünibach, and opened the first cylinder grinding workshop in Berner Oberland. He soon began work on a new production hall in Steffisburg, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, which he obtained in 1965. The cylinder grinding plant was run by 15 employees; Hans Wegmüller sold the operation to three of his managers in 1978.

In 1967, Hans Wegmüller became an agent for eddy current brakes manufactured by the French company Telma, as an additional strand to the business. Telma retarders were installed in the workshop in Steffisburg and by authorised contract partners.
Thanks to successful sales activity, our company was awarded sole agency for Telma retarders in Switzerland and Liechtenstein on 1 April 1973.

The sole proprietorship was converted into Hans Wegmüller AG in 1974, with a share capital of 650,000 Francs.

Hans Wegmüller AG took over sole agency for VM industrial diesel engines for Switzerland and Liechtenstein in 1978, with the engines continuing to be manufactured in Bologna, Italy.

After a lengthy period overseas, son Hanspeter joined the company in 1989, marking the second generation of the family to do so. That same year, new premises at Pfauenweg 2 were completed, followed in October 1990 by their inauguration, marking the 30th anniversary of Hans Wegmüller AG.

Hans Wegmüller AG celebrated its 35-year anniversary in 1995 with its transition from Hans Wegmüller to son Hanspeter Wegmüller.

On the first day of January 2008, Hans Wegmüller acquired DCPowerSystems AG of Schlieren from Mercedes-Benz (Switzerland). DCPowerSystems currently operates as an independent subsidiary of Hans Wegmüller AG, retaining the same employees and location in Schlieren. The subsidiary supplies engines in power classes exceeding 200 kW.

Sales of engines have increased considerably in recent years. Between 2006 and 2010, sales figures for engines were almost the same as those for the previous 25 years put together. In 2015, we expanded our investments in the future with the conversion of our office building. The new office facilities, which offer bright, spacious workplaces, have helped to create a more pleasant environment in which to work, while offering the flexibility needed to respond to new challenges as they arise. The workshop is also equipped with a state-of-the-art fleet of machinery, allowing us to serve our customers quickly and with the utmost professionalism.

Hans Wegmüller AG has represented Hatz Diesel in Switzerland since September 2018.

As part of long-term business planning, Hanspeter Wegmüller decided to sell his majority stake in the company to long-serving employees, and to hand over operational responsibility to those employees starting 1 June 2021. He continues in his role as President of the Administrative Board and in the role of CFO.

Christian Kallis, who has been with the company since 2016, is now CEO, with overall responsibility for the company. René Däppen has been with Hans Wegmüller AG for two decades and is now in charge of sales and technology. Meanwhile, Sandro Stähli, with the company since 2008, has taken on direct responsibility for customer support.

At the beginning of 2023, Hanspeter Wegmüller sold further shares to two employees.
This is another important milestone for the future of HWAG.

Alain Teuscher, who has been with the company since 2019, manages the workshop.
Marco Siegenthaler, who has also been with the company since 2019, works in sales and technology.