Artisanship in the 21st Century

These days, many sectors of the economy have become automated and highly technology-based, from medical technology to building automation and mechanical engineering. Our usual work processes in these industries would be inconceivable without these digital infrastructures. Yet even today, traditional craft trades remain in place, combining technological progress with artisanal flair. A carpenter’s work is the perfect example. At Industry Night, you can take a peek behind the scenes at a number of carpentry workshops.

At Tschudin you’ll have the chance to experience this multifaceted profession with all the senses, hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching wood. In their workshop, you can make a tasteful one-of-a-kind piece using wood, speak to apprentices, and marvel at Tschudin’s unique products. A carpentry workshop might evoke thoughts of traditional furniture and tables. Tschudin shows that carpentry workshops also take on more large-scale projects, such as the interior for the new headquarters of Selmoni, another participating firm. Tschudin designed, built, and installed the round oak reception desk, the wood panelling in the canteen, and the custom-built cupboards across all floors.

Voellmy’s indoor forest trail was one of last Industry Night’s highlights. Those who missed it get another chance this year. The course lets you experience each step in how wood travels from the forest to the carpentry workshop, where it is processed with immense skill, care, and a flair for design.

Wood as a material is currently experiencing a remarkable renaissance thanks to the ecological advantages it offers. It is one of the oldest building materials in human history. Only in the course of industrialization and the mass production of steel, metal, concrete, and plastic did wood lose its importance, at least in building construction. However, the material itself never disappeared from everyday life, especially in the trade fair city of Basel. One of the oldest trade fairs in Switzerland is the international trade fair for woodworking, “Holz”. Since 1957, the triannual event has attracted thousands of carpenters, joiners, and specialists from the timber trade and industry to Basel. And it’s grown from just under 100 exhibitors to over 350. Demand for solid craftsmanship remains high.

At Industry Night, you’ll be able to discover many artisanal workshops as well as small to medium-sized businesses gathered in tents at the visitor car park of Endress+Hauser in Reinach. This is where the KMU Reinach association offers its members a platform to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the municipality. Eleven businesses will present their products and services, including a painting company, a confectioner, a carpenter, a window manufacturer, and a plumber. It’s easy to strike up a conversation with the experts at their stands, learning more about their services and own products. Many of the exhibitors there rely on the tools, machines, and protective clothing of Götschi. At Industry Night, you’ll have a chance to explore their offerings at the Dreispitz business park.

The printing company Birkhäuser+GBC in Reinach is another firm with roots in traditional craftsmanship. It was founded in 1879 by Emil Birkhäuser, a young and talented typesetter from Germany. This company was responsible for printing various newspapers in Switzerland, including the socialist newspaper “Basler Vorwärts”, which at the time was still a party paper of the Social Democratic Party, and then for the Communist Party of Labour. Birkhäuser shaped the printing industry on several levels. In 1887, he was the first employer in the industry to offer paid holiday. Two years later, his handbook for typesetters and printers offered guidance for those in the printing trade. The once-small press grew to become one of the largest and most multifaceted full-service providers of printed and digital media services. Experience a unique tour of the print product manufacturing process and learn about the role of digital processes during Industry Night.