SWITZERLAND: A foundry that has been casting steel in Biel since 1905 — and has supplied components for rail vehicles worldwide ever since Stadler took it over in 2004 — is getting its first major modernization in decades, aimed at cutting waste by 80% while keeping every one of its 115 jobs.

Stadler Invests €35M in Its Biel Steel Foundry
Stadler Invests €35M in Its Biel Steel Foundry

Stadler Stahlguss AG, Stadler’s steel-casting subsidiary, submitted planning permission documents in July for a 33-million-Swiss-franc (approximately €35 million) modernization of its Biel foundry, with work scheduled to begin in early 2027 and new infrastructure operational by 2028, according to Railway PRO, which cites Stadler’s planning submission as its source; Railway Supply has not independently confirmed further detail directly from Stadler.

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Solar panels and an 80% cut in waste

The project includes a new dispatch hall and an extension of the existing building on Johann-Renfer-Strasse, plus roughly 8,900 square metres of solar panels intended to cover a significant share of the foundry’s electricity needs. Stadler expects the combined measures to cut total energy consumption by about 15%, while recovering and reusing foundry sand more efficiently is projected to reduce waste by around 80%. The company also plans to route thermal energy generated by its industrial processes into the district heating network of the city of Biel/Bienne.

Jobs preserved, not cut

“The existing facilities no longer meet the long-term requirements of modern, sustainable production,” Stadler Stahlguss Managing Director Michael Schmitz said, according to Railway PRO’s report. Rather than reducing headcount, Stadler expects its workforce at the site to grow by around 5% from the current 115 employees, with the new equipment intended to reduce physically demanding tasks and improve safety. A heritage-listed former foundry hall on the site, designed by architect Benoît de Montmollin, will be preserved and integrated into the modernized facility.

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