Schweizerische Wagons- und Aufzügefabrik AG Schlieren-Zürich
Encyclopedia
The Schweizerische Wagons- und Aufzügefabrik AG (SWS, known colloquially as «Wagi»), which was based at Schlieren
in the Canton
of Zürich
, Switzerland
, was a manufacturer of railway rolling stock.
The company was founded in 1895 as Firma Geissberger & Cie., which opened a wagon factory at Schlieren railway station
. In 1899, the company became Schweizerische Wagen- und Wagons-Fabrik AG, based in Zürich
. Just one year later, the company moved its base back to Schlieren, and in 1901, there was another renaming, to Schweizerische Wagonsfabrik AG in Schlieren-Zürich (SWS).
In 1903, the newly formed Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS) ordered passenger cars from SWS. As early as 1906, the 1,000th item of rolling stock left the SWS workshop, and in 1909 the 2,000th vehicle was delivered to SBB-CFF-FFS.
In 1917, SWS took over the lift manufacturing business from the firm Aufzüge- und Räderfabrik Seebach AG and in 1928 the firm name was changed to Schweizerische Wagons- und Aufzügefabrik AG, Schlieren-Zürich.
In 1956 it was announced that «Pars Finanz AG» – the then holding company of the Schindler Group
, which was involved in lift manufacturing and wagon building – had purchased 30% of SWS's share capital. The Schindler Group took the «Wagi» over completely in 1960, and integrated the company into the group as a subsidiary company.
When the Swiss rolling stock manufacturing industry was restructured in 1980–1981, SWS changed its rolling stock specialisation to component manufacturing, as well as alterations and revisions. In lift manufacture, the company focused on standard doors and standard cabins. In 1983, Schindler Group annouunced that SWS would be closed. At the end of August 1985, the closure took place, amidst vehement protests by employees and the public.
At the former premises of SWS, which were demolished very soon afterwards, a large new building was constructed, to house a new printing works for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung
(NZZ). Other new buildings constructed on the site were, for the most part, taken up by new small businesses.
This article was translated from the German language version as at August 2010.
Schlieren
Schlieren are optical inhomogeneities in transparent material not visible to the human eye. Schlieren physics developed out of the need to produce high-quality lenses devoid of these inhomogeneities. These inhomogeneities are localized differences in optical path length that cause light deviation...
in the Canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
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....
, was a manufacturer of railway rolling stock.
The company was founded in 1895 as Firma Geissberger & Cie., which opened a wagon factory at Schlieren railway station
Schlieren railway station
Schlieren is a railway station in Switzerland, situated in the municipality of Schlieren. The station is located on the Zurich to Olten main line and is a stop of the Zurich S-Bahn served by line S3 and S12....
. In 1899, the company became Schweizerische Wagen- und Wagons-Fabrik AG, based in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. Just one year later, the company moved its base back to Schlieren, and in 1901, there was another renaming, to Schweizerische Wagonsfabrik AG in Schlieren-Zürich (SWS).
In 1903, the newly formed Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS) ordered passenger cars from SWS. As early as 1906, the 1,000th item of rolling stock left the SWS workshop, and in 1909 the 2,000th vehicle was delivered to SBB-CFF-FFS.
In 1917, SWS took over the lift manufacturing business from the firm Aufzüge- und Räderfabrik Seebach AG and in 1928 the firm name was changed to Schweizerische Wagons- und Aufzügefabrik AG, Schlieren-Zürich.
In 1956 it was announced that «Pars Finanz AG» – the then holding company of the Schindler Group
Schindler Group
thumb|200px|Schindler Test Tower in Ebikon, Lucerne, SwitzerlandSchindler was founded in Switzerland in 1874 and is the largest manufacturer of escalators and the second largest manufacturer of elevators world wide. Schindler produces, installs, maintains and modernizes elevators and escalators in...
, which was involved in lift manufacturing and wagon building – had purchased 30% of SWS's share capital. The Schindler Group took the «Wagi» over completely in 1960, and integrated the company into the group as a subsidiary company.
When the Swiss rolling stock manufacturing industry was restructured in 1980–1981, SWS changed its rolling stock specialisation to component manufacturing, as well as alterations and revisions. In lift manufacture, the company focused on standard doors and standard cabins. In 1983, Schindler Group annouunced that SWS would be closed. At the end of August 1985, the closure took place, amidst vehement protests by employees and the public.
At the former premises of SWS, which were demolished very soon afterwards, a large new building was constructed, to house a new printing works for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung is a major German language Swiss daily newspaper based in Zurich.One of the oldest newspapers still published, it originally appeared as Zürcher Zeitung, edited by Salomon Gessner, from January 12, 1780, and was renamed to Neue Zürcher Zeitung in 1821...
(NZZ). Other new buildings constructed on the site were, for the most part, taken up by new small businesses.
External links
This article was translated from the German language version as at August 2010.