Resilience Builder from Schaffhausen
The most dangerous speed is the one we’ve grown accustomed to: quickly jumping on a call. Quickly downloading something. Quickly paying. Quickly delivered. Our world operates in real time, and we depend on it to keep running.
What is sometimes forgotten is that speed works both ways. Just as quickly as everything appears, it can also disappear. No electricity. No internet. No water. No communication. Within a matter of hours, digital convenience turns into societal vulnerability.
Our supply of energy, water, data, and transportation forms the nervous system of our society today. If they fail, it’s not just one industry that grinds to a halt, but almost everything. That’s why the crucial question isn’t just who operates the infrastructure, but: Who actually ensures that it functions as it should? The answer leads surprisingly often to Schaffhausen.
Buildig what keeps the world running
Between Neunkirch, Beringen, Stein am Rhein, and Schaffhausen, numerous companies are working to ensure that infrastructure and systems operate smoothly around the world. Among them is GF, whose piping systems carry drinking water and gas through cities across the globe. Vertiv and nVent design the systems behind data centers to protect them from power outages and overheating. Acronis develops the software that prevents cyberattacks from crippling critical infrastructure. And ABB, which has been manufacturing switches for uninterrupted power generation in Schaffhausen for more than 115 years. The list goes on and is illustrated on pages 24 and 25. Only then do we realize what we’re missing. While authorities worldwide develop emergency plans, numerous companies from Schaffhausen supply the products and services on which these plans rely.
Stability as a selling point
Over the past few decades, the Canton of Schaffhausen has become a hub where numerous companies develop or manufacture products and services designed to safeguard critical infrastructure solutions. More than 20 companies have established research and development departments, production facilities, or headquarters in the region. Together, they form an ecosystem that secures our infrastructure and keeps our daily lives running smoothly.
The Economic Development Agency acts as an active networker in this process - it connects key individuals from companies, shortens communication channels, and strengthens a cluster whose global significance is growing. As a result, companies that collaborate as project partners worldwide are suddenly coming together right here locally. In a world that is becoming faster, more digital, and more unstable due to geopolitical conflicts, the value of reliability and system security is growing for everyone.
The Economic Development Agency supports the expansion of innovation platforms and the organization of regular cluster events (industry roundtables, innovation and industry days) to promote knowledge transfer and the development of joint projects.
So that water flows, electricity is available, and date is transmitted.
A selection of Schaffhausen-based companies that keep critical systems running around the world.
ABB Schaffhausen
ABB Schaffhausen has been ensuring the power supply for critical infrastructure for 115 years. Its circuit breakers, residual current devices, and plug-in power distribution systems are installed in railway facilities, hospitals, data centers, and renewable energy plants worldwide.
Acronis
With Acronis Cyber Platform, IT professionals protect, manage and automate our digital infrastructures and workspaces. Founded in 2003 in Singapore and headquartered in Schaffhausen since 2008, Acronis natively integrates the data protection, cybersecurity and operations required for business continuity and compliance
BBC
BBC (Bircher Smart Access / Cellpack) in Beringen combines two areas of expertise under one roof: Bircher’s safety sensor technology for automatic doors and access systems in public spaces, and Cellpack’s comprehensive medium- and low-voltage connection solutions.
Beckhoff Automation
Beckhoff Automation offers automation systems based on PC-based technology. Its product portfolio includes industrial PCs, I/O and fieldbus components, drive technology, automation software, cabinet-free solutions, and industrial image processing. The products are used worldwide in a wide variety of applications—from mechanical engineering to smart building control.
Gawaplast
Gawaplast, based in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, develops and markets piping systems for energy and water supply, as well as systems for municipal drainage. Its solutions form the physical foundation of municipal infrastructure.
GF
Headquartered in Schaffhausen, GF is the global market leader in piping systems. Its pipes, valves, and measurement technology are used to transport drinking water and gas in utility networks around the world.
Hidrostal
Hidrostal, based in Neunkirch, invented the screw centrifugal pump. Today, its products are used in wastewater systems, flood protection facilities, and large construction sites, as well as in industry and food processing around the world.
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global leader in energy management, mission-critical building systems, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. Our technologies help customers use energy more efficiently, reduce CO₂ emissions, and operate with the precision and reliability required in rapidly growing industries such as data centers, the energy sector, and healthcare.
nVent
nVent operates significant functions and entities in Schaffhausen. Its technology protects electronics from external conditions such as heat, humidity and vibration. The company's enclosures, cooling systems and cable management solutions safeguard network infrastructure, mobile communication sites and data centres.
Pentair
Pentair designs, manufactures and sells a wide range of solutions that help the world more sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. Core business areas include equipment for residential pools & spas, whole-house water filtration and softening systems, commercial water management for food service & hospitality, agriculture, industrial and infrastructure filtration and fluid treatment, municipal water systems, and other applications
Solenis
Solenis develops specialty chemicals for water treatment in wastewater facilities, industrial plants, the oil and gas industry and the maritime sector. Their products keep biological treatment stages stable, protect pipelines from corrosion and ensure water quality in closed-loop systems.
Stack Infrastructure
Stack Infrastructure will soon operate the ZUR02 large data center in Beringen — a physical hub for cloud services and data processing, making the Canton of Schaffhausen itself part of the European data landscape.
Vertiv
Vertiv, with its European headquarters in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, keeps data centres, communication networks and industrial facilities running around the clock. The company supplies uninterruptible power supplies, cooling systems and IT infrastructure – the technical foundation that keeps cloud services, 5G networks and government IT available even during power outages or extreme temperatures.
Weidmüller
Weidmüller connects physical infrastructure with digital control. Its Swiss sales operation is based in Neuhausen am Rheinfall. The company's terminal blocks, surge protection devices and IIoT solutions are built into switchgear in power plants, rail installations and industrial facilities – wherever electricity and data need to flow reliably.
Xylem
Xylem develops technologies for the entire water cycle and has its European headquarters in Schaffhausen. Its pumps, treatment systems, smart metering and analytics solutions help move, treat and monitor water, enabling more resilient water systems worldwide.
The critical infrastructure that Schaffhausen provides is no coincidence. It is the result of our ecosystem—one that has evolved historically and been strategically developed. Industrial tradition meets the technological future.
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