SIG Areal

An area of change

The transformation of the SIG site led to a new urban concept for this special place. For this to happen, a total area covering some 120,000 sq m was divided into building plots of a manageable size, and the project is now being realised over several generations.

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A priority is the development of brownfield areas, open spaces and buildings of poor quality in the northern part of the site. One of these is the Grünerbaum complex, which was transformed and given a new lease of life in the first development phase, which came to an end in the summer of 2018. Former industrial zones were opened up to create a mixed-purpose area that is fit for the future. The second phase involves converting buildings and open spaces in the southern area. The goal here is to maintain the spatial qualities of the existing buildings, writing the next chapter of the site’s history.

2023

A lot of happy visitors came to the SIG Areal am Rheinfall on Saturday, 17th of June 2023, to celebrate the great 170th anniversary of SIG.

The sunny weather and a diverse program during the day made sure that young and old had an exciting and happy experience.

As a big highlight, the live performance of Luca Hänni ensured a beautiful atmosphere and an awesome ending of the 170th anniversary of SIG!


Photos 170th anniversary of SIG impressions

Photos 170th anniversary of SIG photobox


2018

The first phase of transforming the SIG site is complete with the redevelopment of the Grünerbaum complex. Tenants have moved in, the restaurant and nursery are open, and Heinrich Moser-Platz has been transformed into a new, green meeting place. To celebrate this milestone, a large party is held for the general public, including a live performance by Swiss pop star Baschi.

2017

The site entrance next to Industrieplatz is now permanently open with new, modern signage ensuring the best possible visitor guidance thanks to site plans, pillars and striking facade lettering. At the same time, the interior work on Grünerbaum is progressing well. The show apartment is fully furnished and is open for viewings.


2015

The transformation process got under way with test planning to specify the aims set out in the mission statement.   The goal is to create a balanced, exciting development of mixed use on a previously closed industrial area covering around 120,000 sq m – a friendly neighbourhood for work, living, education and leisure.


2014

A mission statement was developed for the overall planning of the SIG site.


2011

The SIG foundation took over the industrial site next to the Rhine Falls as part of a long-term social engagement project organised by SIG – in order to create a new, attractive and vibrant neighbourhood at this unique location in Neuhausen.



2010

SIG Holding AG was renamed SIG Combibloc Group AG. To this day, it remains a leading manufacturer of cartons and filling machines for food and drink products.

The company is now part of the Canadian private equity firm Onex Corporation with some 5,000 employees in over 40 countries. The headquarters and one of the ten production sites are still located in Neuhausen am Rheinfall.



2001

SIG allCap started operations, responsible for the development and production of closures. The resealable closures combiSwift, combiSmart, combiCap and domeTwist were launched on the market, representing a series of global innovations developed and produced on the industrial site next to the Rhine Falls.



1995

For the first time, external companies moved into premises on the SIG site, including Fiat, Curtiss-Wright Antriebstechnik and Häni-Prolectron. Today, the site has around 50 tenants who provide some 1,100 jobs in total.



1989

The acquisition of PKL Papier- und Klebstoffwerke Linnich marked the entry into packaging for liquid foodstuffs such as milk, juice, soups and sauces. This was a promising step, with drinks cartons booming since the Second World War.



1966

The SIG foundation was established with the aims of supporting not-for-profit projects and institutions and of promoting cultural and educational issues.


1933

Electric vehicles were also produced on the SIG site in response to long internal transport routes, which were due to the huge scale of the factories. Decades later it became clear that people were ahead of their time at the Rhine Falls, recognising the trend towards electric mobility back in the 1930s.




1906

Packaging machines were now also developed on the site – for chocolate, stock cubes, pastries and butter. As new lines of business developed and more factory halls were built, the site continued to expand, becoming more densely built and undergoing increased consolidation.



1897

The wagon factory finally had its own rail connection thanks to the newly opened railway line from Schaffhausen to Eglisau. Previously, manufactured train carriages always had to be transported by wagon to Schaffhausen train station. When the factory was established, the only railway lines in Switzerland ran from Basel to Strasbourg and from Zurich to Baden (the Spanish Brötli line). Only when the Swiss Railway Act was adopted did a comprehensive rail network gradually form.


1863

The company changed its name to Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG). By the turn of the century, the factory site had developed and expanded greatly.


1860

Small arms were also being developed and produced at the Rhine Falls: military rifles, sabres, bayonets and later pistols. Before long, the Swiss Army officially began to rely on weapons made here in Neuhausen.

1853

Friedrich Peyer im Hof, Conrad Neher and Heinrich Moser established Schweizerische Waggonfabrik (the Swiss Wagon Factory) with the aim of manufacturing carriages for emerging railway companies. At the time, these were still made completely of wood. In spring, construction of the factory began on the high plateau on the right bank of the Rhine Falls. Two years later, the wagons received an award at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.

C17th

The establishment of Neher’schen Eisenwerke Laufen created the first industrial company in Neuhausen.


C7th

Even bank in Roman times there was a busy reloading station directly next to the Rhine Falls.


Vision

A space once used to manufacture wagons with the natural spectacle of the Rhine Falls on its doorstep has now given rise to a new, open neighbourhood for work, living and leisure. A deliberate effort has been made to keep existing jobs with new jobs opportunities also being created, resulting in a level of diversity that does justice to such a unique location. ... Read more

The municipality of Neuhausen also benefits from this development because the SIG site has become a new, vibrant hub between the town centre and tourist destinations, offering a large range of residential properties and open spaces as well as an exciting infrastructure for companies both in the region and throughout Switzerland. Thanks to the SBB stop on Industrieplatz, the SIG site has ideal connections to the public transport grid. The first phase of transforming the SIG site came to an end in 2018 with the Grünerbaum project. However, the history and development of the SIG site is set to continue – for generations to come.

Ten questions to Heinrich Meier

Schmidli Architekten & Partner

Michel Rubli

Beat Odinga

Stephan Rawyler

Foundation

The SIG foundation was established in 1966 with the aims of supporting not-for-profit projects and institutions and promoting cultural and educational issues. However, the foundation’s history dates back to 1853, when Schweizerische Waggonfabrik (the Swiss Wagon Factory) was founded on the site in Neuhausen am Rheinfall – a company that later changed its name to Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG).  

In October 2011, the SIG foundation took over the industrial site next to the Rhine Falls as part of a long-term social engagement project organised by SIG. Throughout the ongoing transformation to create a new, attractive and vibrant neighbourhood, the site owner has embraced its responsibility, which also ties in with the overarching purpose of the foundation.

Organisational structure

  • Foundation board
  • Foundation council: Marco Haussener, CFO SIG Combibloc Group AG
  • Managing Director: Michel Rubli
  • Surveillance: Amt für Justiz und Gemeinden des Kantons Schaffhausen
  • Reasco AG als Administrator SIG Area/Facility Management Odinga Picenoni Hagen AG  development SIG Area