The Pilatus Group is to take over all employees and machinery of RUAG Aerostructures Schweiz AG at the site in Emmen in the canton of Lucerne. At its new site, the aircraft manufacturer will in future manufacture parts and components used for its own aircraft production activities based in Stans in the canton of Nidwalden. However, Pilatus shall only continue to process orders from external customers previously served by RUAG Aerostructures for a limited period of time, accprding to a press release.
Since the start of the 1990s, RUAG Aerostructures has manufactured parts and components for Pilatus aircraft at the Emmen site. These capacities and competencies will now be transferred to Pilatus.
The aircraft manufacturer will rent space at the site. At the same time, it has secured an option to acquire an adjacent plot of land under an agreement with RUAG Real Estate. The aim is to use this extra space to create additional jobs over the medium to long term.
“The new location close to Lucerne will give us better access to talent whilst also allowing us to expand our own production expertise”, comments Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus, in the press release.
Hansueli Loosli, Chairman of the Pilatus Board of Directors, discusses the economic aspects of the deal: “This takeover will allow us to strengthen Central Switzerland as a business location, safeguard jobs and create new perspectives”.
The government of the canton of Lucerne also believes that the takeover strengthens the canton’s reputation as a business location. “Maintaining the site and retaining the jobs based there in particular is a hugely important sign for Lucerne”, comments Reto Wyss, member of the government of Lucerne responsible for the Department of Finance, in a separate press release.
Lucerne Business supported the takeover process. As such, Ivan Buck, director of the business promotion organization, reacted to the news that the deal had been successfully finalized with delight: “This means that 230 jobs have been saved and the Emmen site can even be expanded in future”.
