The Bertschi Group has celebrated six decades of pioneering work in intermodal logistics.
More than 60 years ago, the company was looking for a winter-proof route to efficiently transport chemical products from Germany, through the Alps, to Italy.
At that time, there was still no winter-safe pass road and no road tunnel through the Alps. Many chemical goods therefore had to be transported to Italy in winter via the time-consuming sea route.
Bertschi founder Hans Bertschi saw the solution in loading his chemical road tankers onto flatbed rail wagons, as there was an existing rail tunnel through the Gotthard providing safe transport in winter – an idea that was revolutionary at the time.
After extensive discussions, the innovative concept was implemented in the autumn of 1964 as an all-year market offering, in close cooperation with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).
“This pioneering achievement is deeply rooted in the DNA of our company and has become one of Bertschi’s defining trademarks,” said Hans-Jörg Bertschi, executive chairman of the Bertschi Group.
“The same forward-thinking mindset that shaped our past continues to enable us to deliver exceptional global supply chain solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers such as our new focus on the future decarbonized chemical industry.”
Bertschi's pioneering role in intermodal transport was further consolidated with its founding of Hupac SA in 1967, together with SBB and three other transport companies. Today, the network not only covers the whole of Europe, but also extends as far as China.
“More than 80% of our European transport is now intermodal, resulting in savings of 300,000 tons of CO2 per year compared to road transport,” added Jan Arnet, CEO of the Bertschi Group. “This shows that intermodal trans¬port has become an indispensable piece of the puzzle in moving the economy to-wards greater sustainability,” he continued.
Bertschi’s 60-year jubilee as intermodal pioneer
