Family Business Award 2018 goes to 1a hunkeler
The Family Business Award was presented for the seventh time this year. The prize honors a Swiss family business that acts in a particularly sustainable manner. In the presence of over 260 representatives from business and politics, the winner was chosen from the last three finalists in a festive ceremony: 1a hunkeler fenster AG & 1a hunkeler holzbau AG from Ebikon in the canton of Lucerne.
On September 19, the winner of the Family Business Award 2018 was selected at the festive awards ceremony in the Kursaal in Bern. The award was established by AMAG in honor of its founder and patron Walter Haefner. Haefner had always been committed to a genuine, lived and sustainable corporate culture. The purpose of the Family Business Award is to draw attention to the great economic importance of family businesses in Switzerland. This year, the following three family businesses were in the running as finalists: 1a hunkeler fenster AG & 1a hunkeler holzbau AG from Ebikon, Balance Familie AG from Meisterschwanden, and Bühler Electricté SA from Monthey. The winning company was selected by a ten-member jury made up of renowned personalities. This year, the jury was chaired by Dr. Karin Lenzlinger Diedenhofen, delegate to the Board of Directors and owner of Lenzlinger Söhne AG.
Over 200 years of company history
In the presence of more than 260 guests from politics and business, the Hunkeler family was finally able to enjoy the award. The traditional Lucerne company - its history began in 1774 with a small carpentry shop - is now run by the eighth generation; the ninth is already in the starting blocks. With currently more than 60 employees and apprentices, 1a hunkeler achieves top performance in wood and window construction, according to the company. In addition to prestigious projects such as the total renovation of the Chapel Bridge, which burned down in 1993, the company is also involved in product developments. One of these is the TOP-WIN window, which, thanks to sophisticated bonding technology and filigree profiles, allows a significantly higher incidence of light. Also clear for the Hunkeler family is the topic of energy saving. The operation of the wood heating system with chips, LED lighting throughout the company and the photovoltaic system on the company roof enable sustainable production. The Lucerne-based family business also conscientiously fulfills its social responsibility in society and towards employees, apprentices and disadvantaged people.
Tradition of the Family Business Award
For the Hunkeler family, the focus is not on short-term results, but on long-term success. For them, the spirit of innovation and a sense of tradition are not contradictory - they are symbols of the company's development. As an exemplary company, 1a hunkeler fenster AG & 1a hunkeler holzbau AG joins the ranks of previous award winners: Jucker Farm AG (2017), Fraisa SA (2016), Wyon AG (2015), Entreprises et Domaines Rouvinez (2014), SIGA Holding (2013) and Trisa AG (2012). All three of this year's finalists received a Family Business Award certificate attesting to their particularly sustainable entrepreneurial activities. In addition, the companies received a new VW Arteon R-Line, which will accompany the finalists for one year. As this year's winning company, 1a hunkeler fenster AG & 1a hunkeler holzbau AG also get to keep the vehicle.
