Berna
Encyclopedia
Berna was a Swiss
manufacturer of buses, trolleybus
es and truck
s, which later also specialized in surface metallurgical
treatments and components. Until the 1960s it was primarily a vehicle manufacturer, but between 1965 and 1978 vehicle manufacturing was phased out and replaced with other products. The company was based in Olten
.
s/lorries.
In 1907, Wyss sold the company to a businessman named Locher, who eventually went bankrupt. The company came under English control in 1908, and production of cars ceased, but it was bought back by Swiss shareholders in 1912, and reorganized as Motorwagenfabrik Berna AG (Berna Motor Vehicle Factory). In 1929, following a period of financial difficulties, Saurer
acquired majority control of Berna. Manufacturing of trucks and buses continued, including trolleybus
es starting in 1940.
In 1965, Berna branched out into metallurgy with two new subsidiaries in the United States
and Germany
, selling the metal treatment product "Bernex". Vehicle manufacturing was taken over entirely by Saurer in 1976, and Berna AG became a wholly owned subsidiary of Saurer. In 1978 the company had 650 employees and realized 55 million CHF
in sales. In 1995, Berna AG had 160 employees and 45 CHF in sales. In 2003, the Saurer Group sold the company, which had gradually separated into two divisions with different specialties, and the sale resulted in the establishment of two new but affiliated companies, Bernex Bimetall AG and IonBond AG Olten, both still sharing the same site in Olten
.
es lasted from 1940 to 1967 and included both two-axle and articulated
vehicles. All were sold to Swiss transit systems. Although the total number made was only 131, they were purchased by seven of the country's 15 different urban trolleybus operators, or approximately half of all urban Swiss trolleybus systems existing during the period. A few 1965–66 Berna trolleybuses are still in passenger service in 2010 in Valparaíso, Chile
, whose trolleybus operating company bought them secondhand from Geneva
and Schaffhausen
when they were withdrawn from service there in 1992.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
manufacturer of buses, trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s, which later also specialized in surface metallurgical
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
treatments and components. Until the 1960s it was primarily a vehicle manufacturer, but between 1965 and 1978 vehicle manufacturing was phased out and replaced with other products. The company was based in Olten
Olten
Olten is a town in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland and capital of the district of the same name.Olten's railway station is within 30 minutes of Zurich, Bern, Basel, and Lucerne by train, and is a rail hub of Switzerland.-History:...
.
History
The company was founded in 1902 by Joseph Wyss and changed its name from Schweizerische Automobil Fabrik Berna (S.A.F.B.) to Motorwerke Berna AG in 1906. The company initially manufactured cars, and Wyss was its first car designer. Berna's first car, made in 1902, was the Berna Vis-à-Vis Idéal. Another model was powered by one-cylinder engines, which were placed on the rear. In 1903, a new car called the Unicum was produced with the engine placed on the front and the back wheels were powered by chains. By 1905, Berna was also building truckTruck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s/lorries.
In 1907, Wyss sold the company to a businessman named Locher, who eventually went bankrupt. The company came under English control in 1908, and production of cars ceased, but it was bought back by Swiss shareholders in 1912, and reorganized as Motorwagenfabrik Berna AG (Berna Motor Vehicle Factory). In 1929, following a period of financial difficulties, Saurer
Saurer
Adolph Saurer AG was a Arbon, Switzerland , based manufacturer of trucks and buses, under the Saurer and Berna brand names, and active between 1903 and 1982....
acquired majority control of Berna. Manufacturing of trucks and buses continued, including trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es starting in 1940.
In 1965, Berna branched out into metallurgy with two new subsidiaries in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, selling the metal treatment product "Bernex". Vehicle manufacturing was taken over entirely by Saurer in 1976, and Berna AG became a wholly owned subsidiary of Saurer. In 1978 the company had 650 employees and realized 55 million CHF
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
in sales. In 1995, Berna AG had 160 employees and 45 CHF in sales. In 2003, the Saurer Group sold the company, which had gradually separated into two divisions with different specialties, and the sale resulted in the establishment of two new but affiliated companies, Bernex Bimetall AG and IonBond AG Olten, both still sharing the same site in Olten
Olten
Olten is a town in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland and capital of the district of the same name.Olten's railway station is within 30 minutes of Zurich, Bern, Basel, and Lucerne by train, and is a rail hub of Switzerland.-History:...
.
Trolleybuses
Production of trolleybusTrolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es lasted from 1940 to 1967 and included both two-axle and articulated
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
vehicles. All were sold to Swiss transit systems. Although the total number made was only 131, they were purchased by seven of the country's 15 different urban trolleybus operators, or approximately half of all urban Swiss trolleybus systems existing during the period. A few 1965–66 Berna trolleybuses are still in passenger service in 2010 in Valparaíso, Chile
Trolleybuses in Valparaíso
Trolleybuses in Valparaíso, Chile, have provided a portion of the public transit service since 1952. The trolleybus system is the second-oldest in South America. The originally state-owned system has been privately owned since 1982, and since 1994 it has been Chile's only operational trolleybus...
, whose trolleybus operating company bought them secondhand from Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
when they were withdrawn from service there in 1992.
External links
- Motorbase entry on Berna
- Bernex Bimetall AG website
- IonBond AG website