An interview with Cornel Buholzer, Managing Director of Buholzer Batterien Switzerland and distributor of Intercel.
Can you tell us more about yourself and your company?
After studying engineering at the University of Technology, I immediately joined our family business. From the first day I enjoyed it, it is interesting work that changes every day due to the many technical innovations. Innovations that solve challenges within electrification. It’s great to be able to spar about this with my customers, colleagues and partners and give the right advice in every situation.
How did the company come to be?
My father started working for a battery company in 1966. In 1983 he started for himself. 15 years ago I took over the company from him. My father is now 80 and still involved in our company. He has so much knowledge and experience that together with the knowledge of my colleagues and myself we can actually answer any challenge. Buholzer Batterien is a real family business. The most important aspect of this is that we want to take care of our customers and our team. The company has now become one of the most respectable battery suppliers in Switzerland. My colleagues and I are more than proud of that. At the same time, we are well aware that we have to work extremely hard every day to live up to this reputation again and again.
What is the strength of Buholzer Batterien?
We are an innovative company with new products and solutions all the time. I dare say that our range of batteries, chargers and inverters is among the best in our industry. We also keep large inventories so that customers never miss out. We are constantly working on solutions for E-mobility and electric machines, for example, as well as hearing aids and battery systems for solar parks. Everything to do with batteries is our domain.
What is the most important trend for you?
There are many trends that are all having a big impact. If I have to choose one, it is the rapid development of lithium batteries. Lithium batteries can now be used in many devices and machines. For example, as power batteries in RVs. But as mentioned, there are many relevant trends and developments. We study these daily and follow them closely.
What does sustainability mean to your business?
Sustainability is an important factor that is no longer going away. We make sure we understand innovations that drive sustainability so that we can provide our relationships with the right advice and products.
What can you tell us about your relationship with Intercel?
We have been working together intensively and with great satisfaction for almost 10 years. What makes it so pleasant and effective is that we have the same mentality. Perhaps that is also because we are both family businesses. In any case, our passion for batteries and electrification is the same. As a result, we strengthen each other and develop side by side. The end customer is central, that’s what we do everything for. Proactive communication throughout the chain from manufacturer to end user is the magic word as far as I’m concerned.
Can you give an example of the power of communication between your companies?
Nice question and I certainly can. The way we were received at the distributor day organized by Intercel is still vivid in my mind. We gained new knowledge then, met many new people and deepened existing contacts. The most important thing for us is that our partners are accessible, have the right expertise and the right product. Intercel does that and we take advantage of that every day.
Where do you stand now?
As a battery specialist, our cooperation with Intercel has intensified. We started with the renowned Intercel batteries for the rehabilitation sector. Then we steadily expanded the range and now we also work with their Engineer to Order for e-mobility and energy storage systems.
How do you see the future together with Intercel?
We enjoy working with Intercel because we can rely on them 100%. Questions can be asked easily and they are answered quickly and competently. This creates the conditions for a future of infinite new possibilities.