After several years producing pumps in the premises on Zimmermannstrasse, a move had to be considered. Indeed, the facilities proved to be too small and unsufficently equipped. K. Rütschi would later recall: “Due to lack of space, the test bench and the shipping area had to be placed outside the building. A pulley hoist was used to load and unload goods; in winter, in order to carry out tests, we sometimes had to use a soldering iron to melt the ice so that we could operate the measuring instruments.” Clearly, relocation was necessary.
The first stage
On April 16, 1951, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of a new building a few hundred meters away, on Herzogstrasse. This marked the first phase of construction for the facility.
The company remained in Brugg because of its proximity to the railway station, located on the Zurich–Basel line.
The building was divided into three sections: an office building of 1,850 m², a workshop and storage building of 4,200 m², and finally a testing and shipping building of 2,100 m².
The layout of the production buildings followed an organizational scheme designed to respect component flow.
With these new premises, Rütschi acquired a plant capable of producing and testing pumps up to DN400, with flow rates of up to 2,200 m³/h and a rated power of 220 kW.
The building was considered modern for its time: constructed in reinforced concrete and equipped with central heating, it also included a conference room and a staff cafeteria. The investment amounted to CHF 522,000 (equivalent to nearly €3 million today), and construction was completed in December 1951.
The 1951 building had been designed for future expansion. Six years after its inauguration, the company had grown significantly and in 1957 the second phase of construction began: an additional floor was added to the 1951 office buildings, doubling their surface area.
The workshops were expanded by more than 800 m². A reinforced concrete slab designed for a floor load of 2,000 kg/m² and an overhead crane integrated into the structure were already planned: Rütschi was anticipating the manufacture of larger pumps and equipped itself accordingly.
From 1962 to 1964, several further expansions took place:
In 1962, an extension was built for the workshops, which were expanded again, gaining nearly 1,300 m² of additional space. This building made it possible to create an inner courtyard landscaped by a local designer.
In 1963, a new annex for social facilities was constructed above the parking area to install a larger cafeteria capable of accommodating 150 people. A rooftop break area was planned, and changing rooms for 200 workers were installed in the basement.
In 1964, development continued: the original administrative building had become too small, and a five-storey tower reaching nearly 22 m in height was constructed. Offices were installed there, with a showroom on the 4th and 5th floors to present new products to customers. Outside the building, water features welcomed visitors, reflecting the company’s specialization in pumps.
Rütschi remained in these premises until 2018, before moving to the actual facility in Möhlin.
