

Expansion in the Caribbean market through the acquisition of a construction chemicals manufacturer
Sika has acquired the construction chemicals manufacturer Vinaldom in the Dominican Republic. This acquisition strengthens Sika's position in the fast-growing market and opens up new cross-selling opportunities through expanded production capacity and a wider product

New training course on construction organization launched
The University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) is introducing a four-day course on construction organization from 24 September. The course is aimed at construction professionals and offers practical exercises and theoretical principles to deepen specialist knowledge in

Canton Glarus defines settlement and extraction areas in the structure plan
The Department of Construction and Environment of the Canton of Glarus has anchored the settlement and extraction areas of the municipality of Glarus North in the cantonal structure plan. These stipulations follow the approval of the communal utilisation plan and provide planning and legal

The versatile world of wood
Plants use the sun's energy to produce sugar, which trees can convert into wood. Wood is an environmentally friendly building material that has been used by people for a long time. Today, the entire wood value chain provides around 80,000 jobs in Switzerland, which corresponds to approximately 2%

Largest charging park for electric cars with 18 new fast-charging stations
Energie 360° has put the largest charging park in the canton of Ticino into operation at the Serfontana shopping centre on the A2 near Chiasso. With 18 new fast-charging points offering an output of up to 400 kilowatts, electromobility is being further promoted in Ticino.

No complex thinking skills with ChatGPT & Co.
A new study led by TU Darmstadt shows the limits of AI models such as ChatGPT. Contrary to previous assumptions, these systems do not develop independent or complex thinking skills, but only follow simple instructions. The results shed new light on the actual capabilities and risks of artificial

A key to combating the housing shortage in the city of Zurich
In view of the acute housing shortage in the city of Zurich, the idea of adding storeys to existing buildings across the board is gaining in importance. A recently submitted initiative calls for building regulations to be amended to make it easier to add storeys in urban areas - with wood as the

Largest 3D-printed housing estate being built in Texas
The largest 3D-printed housing estate in the world is currently being built in Georgetown, Texas. With 100 houses, this innovative project is setting new standards in the construction industry. The use of state-of-the-art 3D printing technology not only promises efficiency and resilience, but also

A cost-effective alternative to conventional power plants
The latest study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE shows that photovoltaic systems with battery storage now produce electricity more cheaply than conventional coal and gas-fired power plants. The cost forecasts for renewable energies up to 2045 are also very promising.

StWZ Energie announces halfway point in smart meter rollout
StWZ Energie AG has installed more than 5,700 smart meters in Zofingen and Strengelbach since the beginning of 2022. The intelligent meters increase the efficiency of electricity consumption and simplify the billing process. By 2027, at least 80 percent of meters in Switzerland should be


Hächler maintains the Vindonissa amphitheater
Every year, Hächler AG Umbau und Renovation carries out important maintenance work on the Vindonissa amphitheater in Windisch. Under the direction of Reto Schwitter, the maintenance of the joints in particular is carried out in order to protect the historic structure of the

Energy supplier invests in climate-friendly switchgear and earthquake safety
Energy supplier IWB is currently replacing one of the largest switchgears in the Swiss distribution grid at the Volta substation. IWB will replace all of the substation's electrical systems and make the building earthquake-proof by

First station of India’s first urban cable car completed
Bartholet has completed work on the first station of an urban cable car in Varanasis. Once completed, India's first urban cable car will transport up to 3000 people per hour. For this purpose, 150 gondolas will be used over a total length of 3660

Dormakaba launches new terminals for time and attendance recording
Dormakaba presents two new time recording terminals: the 96 00 terminal with a 5-inch screen and the 98 00 terminal with a 10.1-inch screen, which will be available soon. Both terminals offer a wide range of functions for time recording, identification and access

KOF Economic Barometer falls in July
The KOF Economic Barometer is approaching its medium-term average value in July and shows a decline of 1.7 points to 101.0 points. This indicates that economic development in Switzerland remains moderate. The decline particularly affects foreign and consumer demand as well as the hospitality,

Artificial intelligence makes real estate marketing more efficient
The use of artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the real estate industry. With the new Casaone real estate software from Casasoft and IAZI, real estate professionals can work more efficiently and property seekers benefit from faster and higher-quality data

Hot months, hot heads: disputes between neighbours
Neighbourhood disputes increase in the summer months, particularly in connection with construction projects and animal noise. AXA-ARAG recorded a slight decrease in the number of reported cases, but conflicts over noise and structural alterations remain frequent points of

Bosch strengthens Home Comfort through mega-acquisition
Bosch has reached a significant milestone in the company's history by fully acquiring the residential and small commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning business of Johnson Controls and the Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning joint venture. This acquisition will almost double

Aerogel Architecture Award 2024 honors innovative projects
On July 12, 2024, the winners of the fourth "Aerogel Architecture Award" were announced on the Empa campus. Six projects in the categories "Realized Solutions" and "Student Projects" showcased impressive applications of aerogel materials in construction and convinced the jury with their efficiency








