In the 2025 financial year, the BRUGG Group faced challenging conditions in the form of a weak economy, trade barriers and geopolitical tensions. Nevertheless, BRUGG held its own. Group turnover fell by around one per cent (slightly above the previous year’s level when adjusted for currency effects) to CHF 646 million.
After several years of growth rates that were at times in double figures, the BRUGG Group has seen a slight decline in turnover for the 2025 financial year. The main business areas of this global company include piping systems, process control technology for utility companies, speciality cables, rope construction solutions, ropes for transport systems, lift and hoisting equipment, and protection systems against natural hazards. The weak economy, the strong Swiss franc and, in particular, the uncertain political situation have slowed down investment by both the public sector and private-sector customers. Stephan Wartmann, CEO of the BRUGG Group, summarises the 2025 financial year as follows: “It was a difficult year in which we demonstrated that BRUGG remains innovative, efficient and profitable even under adverse conditions.”
The current difficult economic conditions are also affecting the BRUGG Group. “Parts of Europe are over-regulated, bureaucratic and risk-averse. This hinders investment, particularly in infrastructure. At the same time, we are seeing more dynamic markets in Asia and – to a limited extent – in the USA as well. Our broad geographical and sectoral diversification helps us to cushion such differences,” notes Wartmann. In his view, specific factors were crucial in enabling the BRUGG Group to achieve stable results compared to other industrial companies. “Three things are crucial: innovative strength, team performance and entrepreneurial agility. We didn’t wait for better times, but tackled our tasks very consistently – in terms of internal structures, forward-looking investments and new products.”
Varying trends across the business units
The BRUGG Group’s diversification is also reflected in the results of the individual business units. BRUGG Pipes, headquartered in Kleindöttingen, felt the impact of the planning backlog associated with the heat transition in 2025, particularly in Germany. As a result, BRUGG Pipes strategically repositioned itself in 2025 whilst making targeted investments in production sites in Germany and the USA. A significant boost is expected for 2027 and 2028. “We can be particularly proud of the launch of local production for flexible pipe systems with our joint venture partner Rovanco in Joliet, USA,” notes Wartmann. BRUGG Pipes’ turnover rose by 10 million Swiss francs in 2025, from 209 million Swiss francs to 219 million Swiss francs.
BRUGG Lifting, based in Birr and the world’s leading manufacturer of lift ropes, architectural cables, wire ropes, and lashing and lifting equipment, felt the effects of the continuing weak performance of the global lift market in 2025, particularly in China and Korea. Whilst the company was still able to offset the decline in demand in 2024 by gaining market share, this was only partially possible in the year under review. The US tariffs introduced in April 2025 led to further uncertainty in the US and on global markets. Combined with falling demand and the strong Swiss franc, they weighed on both sales and earnings. Revenue fell to around CHF 87 million.
BRUGG eConnect, the third and smallest company in the BRUGG Group based in Aargau, looks back on a difficult year. Its original core business, e-mobility, saw a sharp decline as the market cooled off contrary to expectations. Whilst the automotive industry continues to focus on electrification, studies show that home charging most commonly takes place at low power levels (11 or 22 kW AC). Such charging systems are predominantly standard solutions that are subject to significant price pressure. BRUGG eConnect’s core competence in the e-mobility business segment lies in cooled DC (direct current) fast-charging systems, which enable vehicles to be charged in the shortest possible time but are less in demand in the current market environment than standard solutions. In the Industry business segment, BRUGG eConnect develops and manufactures cable and connector solutions with combined requirements and properties tailored to the respective customers and environments. These include cable and connector assemblies, electromechanical assemblies and modules, wind applications, and the trade in speciality cables. The Industry division is the backbone of BRUGG eConnect. As part of the realignment to the new conditions, cable production at the Windisch site was closed in June 2025. The cables produced in Windisch are now sourced externally. However, BRUGG eConnect still operates a state-of-the-art production facility in Poland for cable assembly and component manufacturing. The company’s headquarters remain in Windisch.
For Geobrugg, based in Romanshorn, the 2025 financial year was marked by technological milestones and a challenging market environment. The company manufactures high-strength steel wire mesh and offers related services for monitoring and protection against natural hazards such as rockfall, landslides, debris flows, avalanches and coastal erosion. They ensure safety in mountain and tunnel construction, on motor racing circuits, in industry and in test facilities. Stephan Wartmann is particularly proud of one highlight: “In April 2025, we tested our rockfall barrier using a 25-tonne concrete block that hurtled 52 metres downwards at 115 km/h. The impact energy exceeded 12,500 kJ! The barrier held firm. No one has ever achieved this before, and it shows that we are constantly setting new standards in protection against natural hazards.” In motorsport, the FIA homologation of the new, six-metre-high debris fence marked an important step. Projects such as the Lara Racing Circuit in Bulgaria and the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary are strengthening Geobrugg’s market position. In Indonesia, a new local production facility is under construction, whilst the move to larger premises in Japan and China is creating the necessary space for the future. The market environment remains challenging, yet individual indicators and projects secured point to a solid starting position for 2026.
With its top-quality high-load ropes, Fatzer, the Brugg Group’s second subsidiary in Eastern Switzerland, continues to maintain a leading global market position as a partner and solutions provider for cable cars and cable structures. The 2025 financial year was marked by significant changes in global politics, which had an impact on world trade. Despite these challenges, Fatzer recorded high demand for its products and services. A particular focus was placed on expanding capacity: through targeted recruitment and the introduction of additional shifts, not only was production capacity increased, but an active contribution was also made to strengthening Switzerland as a business location. In 2025, Fatzer completed key projects that confirm the sustained high demand for high-quality ropes. These are being successfully deployed on the first urban railways in Paris and Ajaccio in Corsica. At Miami Freedom Park, a flagship project for football and innovative infrastructure, Fatzer ropes also ensure safety and reliability of the highest standard.
The new cable car with Fatzer cables in Paris (© Laurent GRANDGUILLOT, source)
Rittmeyer AG, based in Baar and a provider of process control technology for the water, wastewater and energy sectors, recorded encouraging order intake and turnover in the 2025 financial year. In terms of volume, the project business in automation remains dominant in Europe. The international measurement technology business has developed differently across the major global regions: further growth in North and South America, stability in Europe, but targets not met in China, India and South-East Asia.
BRUGG Real Estate, based in Brugg-Windisch, through which the Group develops its Swiss property portfolio, increased its turnover from CHF 9.3 million to CHF 9.6 million. The project pipeline is also showing significant progress: construction on the Rütene residential development in Windisch began in June 2025. A key milestone was the laying of the foundation stone in August 2025. The first tenants will move into the 24 high-quality rental apartments on 1 April 2027. The development plan for the Bachmatt residential development in Windisch came into force in September 2025. From mid-2027, 34 rental flats in the mid-price segment will be built there. The project is entirely focused on sustainability; the buildings will be constructed using a timber-hybrid structure and the sealed surface area will be minimised.
Investments and strategic focus
Strategically, the BRUGG Group focuses on products and solutions for the energy transition, sustainability and infrastructure security. To this end, investments totalling 43 million Swiss francs were made last year (previous year: 56 million Swiss francs). All investments were financed from the company’s own resources. Stephan Wartmann looks ahead to the current financial year 2026 and notes: “The environment remains challenging. But we are well positioned, structurally, financially and culturally. We can build on that.”
Media coverage (in German)