History of SIBIR since its Foundation

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From Refrigerator Pioneer to Service Partner for All Brands

The SIBIR brand became known for the innovative production of refrigerators. The company, headquartered in Spreitenbach, has developed significantly since its foundation in 1944 and has transformed into a modern kitchen and laundry room specialist.

The beginning of a success story.

SIBIR was founded in 1944 by Dr. h.c. Hans Stierlin, who had the vision to produce a people’s refrigerator. He developed a prototype with a novel absorption system. Compared to the compressor refrigerators available at the time, these absorbers were sensationally quiet and affordable. It is no wonder that demand increased sharply. Thus, in the 1960s, the name SIBIR became synonymous with refrigerators. Over the years, however, compressor refrigerators became increasingly energy-efficient, and absorption refrigerators fell behind. A massive sales decline followed, and the production of SIBIR refrigerators was discontinued in the 1980s. In 1990, SIBIR Household Technology AG laid the foundation for a trading and service organisation. It belongs to the V-Zug Group and is today a very detailed and successful company with strong sales growth. As a company active throughout Switzerland, SIBIRGroup, headquartered in Spreitenbach, has branches in Pully, Contone, Sargans, and St. Gallen, as well as various service warehouses in the regions. The range consists of technically high-quality household appliances for kitchen and laundry rooms. In addition to refrigeration and freezing appliances, cooking stoves, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, and tumble dryers are also offered under the SIBIR brand name. These products impress with ease of use and top consumption values.

Merger of the SIBIR and GEHRIG brands

In 2007, SIBIR Household Technology AG took over the household appliance division of the company GEHRIG. GEHRIG had been firmly established in Switzerland as an SME for decades. Since then, the two strong brands SIBIR and GEHRIG have appeared on the market under a common flag in the household appliance sector. The merger allowed the product range to be expanded, the service network to be densified, and the market position of SIBIR and GEHRIG to be strengthened.

Acquisition of ESCO Schönmann AG

As part of an orderly succession arrangement, ESCO Schönmann AG sold the areas of air-conditioning tumble dryers (ESCOlino), laundry hanging systems (ESCOleina), drying cabinets (ESCOcompact), and dehumidifiers (ESCOdryair) to SIBIR Household Technology AG as of 1 July 2008. The aim of the sale was to strengthen the market position, densify the service network, and optimise sales and service utilisation in the area of new construction and existing residential buildings.

Acquisition of Novelan AG

In October 2008, the acquisition of Novelan AG took place, which until then belonged to Schulthess Group AG. Its offering included the sale and repair of branded household appliances as well as all related services. In addition, Novelan was also active in heating technology through the sale and service of heat pumps. The household appliance division was taken over by SIBIR. Novelan, alongside SIBIR, belongs to the small group of providers of all brands of household appliances with a customer service active throughout Switzerland. Through the acquisition of Novelan, SIBIR’s total sales increased significantly. In addition, the acquisition created an especially dense, nationwide service network: in addition to the already existing SIBIR locations in Schlieren, Bern, St. Gallen, Lugano, and Prilly, the Novelan locations in Pully and Sargans were newly added. With the purchase of Novelan, the market position, especially in the construction and property management segments, was further strengthened.

Acquisition of the container business of V-ZUG AG

In January 2009, the acquisition of the plastic and steel container business of V-ZUG AG took place. The range includes hot-dip galvanised steel containers and various plastic variants. The tried and tested hot-dip galvanised rubbish bins and waste collection baskets as well as plastic buckets in variants are available at SIBIRGroup. A wide range of useful devices and accessories are naturally included. This is an advantage, especially for construction and property management, to obtain everything from a single source.

Brand-neutral service organisation

SIBIRGroup is not limited to the sale of household appliances but has built up a service organisation over the years that repairs or replaces all devices of all brands. It is thus one of the few companies that offers this service brand-neutrally throughout Switzerland and is therefore an ideal partner for construction and property management.

SIBIR also heats individually

Under the brand SIBIRtherm, fully automatic warm air oil heaters have been manufactured in Schlieren for over 50 years. These heating devices impress with low consumption and low installation costs. The range is complemented by pellet stoves, manual and semi-automatic oil stoves, colourful wood-burning stoves, continuous burning stoves, and cookers. Due to changed legal requirements, the production of warm air heaters will be discontinued in 2022. Spare parts and repairs will be available until at least 2030.

Tradition since

1944