Black and white image of a rural railway track running through a village. The tracks are flanked by utility poles and greenery. Buildings, including houses and industrial structures, are visible on one side of the tracks, along with a few parked vehicles.

History & Milestones

Today, we continue to play an active role in shaping public transport in Switzerland. Our long-term relationships with our customers have enabled us to develop a wide array of products and solutions over the past 100 years that are valued and appreciated beyond the country’s borders.

2024

Installation of our rigid overhead conductor rail system (ROCS) in the new Rhätische Bahn (RhB) Albula Tunnel, and receipt of the contract to convert the Vereina Tunnel from conventional to rigid overhead conductor rail operation.

An orange installation train marked with the number 50 is inside a large, illuminated tunnel. The train is on tracks with a gravel surface, and the tunnel has metallic railings and overhead cables.

Supply of two 33 kilometre lengths of rigid overhead conductor rails for the Koralm Tunnel in Austria.

A further highlight is the commissioning of our first road-rail vehicle with hybrid (drive for use in local transport). The vehicle will be used in our construction of the overhead contact line for the new tram connection from Bern to Ostermundigen, which we have been contracted to plan and implement for our client BERNMOBIL.

2023

We celebrate our 100th anniversary.

2022

Our e-mobility team wins the tender for depot-charging infrastructure at RVBW in Baden-Wettingen together with EvoBus Switzerland.

Nomination of our VOLTAP fast-charging station and the FLIRT battery train from STADLER for the German Sustainability Award in the Design category.

Together with Stadtwerke Tübingen, VOLTAP wins a Europe-wide bidding process by Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn AG for train-charging stations at four railway stations.

Our Indian subsidiary, together with a long-standing partner, wins a challenging contract for the planning and delivery of a rigid overhead conductor rail system. We will be fitting several tunnels along an important Indian railway line.

2021

Development and construction of the first OppCharge ZFP depot charging system for e-buses, based on our AIO fast-charging stations. Commissioning of the first VOLTAP BEMU fast-charging station near Tübingen, Germany.

Establishment of our subsidiary in New Delhi, India.

2020

Installation of our rigid overhead contact line system (ROCS) for 250 km/h in the two single-track tunnels of the Ceneri Base Tunnel.

A well-lit, modern underground train tunnel with curved tracks and a sleek, white interior. Lights line the left side, and a faint green ring is visible in the distance. A "No Entry" sign is posted on the right wall. The tunnel appears clean and futuristic.

2018

Assembly of the first FL 200 light aluminium cantilevers for the Tyne and Wear Metro in the greater Newcastle area (UK),

and start of the development of a fast-charging station for battery trains together with Stadtwerke Tübingen.

2017

Rico Furrer takes over the company as the 4th generation.

2016

Opening of our branch in Bellinzona, and establishment of another subsidiary in Berlin, Germany. Acquisition of the company Opbrid for the further development of All-In-One charging stations based on the OppCharge industry standard.

2014

Testing of our rigid overhead contact line system (ROCS) at 302 km/h for the first time in Austria’s Sittenberg Tunnel – a world record!

2013

Opening of a branch in Zurich.

2012

Approval of our rigid overhead conductor rail system for speeds of up to 250 km/h in Austria by the Austrian BMVIT (now BMK).

2011

Development of the new Series 1 overhead contact line system for the UK’s Network Rail.

A series of tall, metal electricity pylons run along a grassy hill, partially obscured by dense green bushes. A wire fence runs parallel to the pylons on the lower side of the hill. The sky is overcast with gray clouds.

Establishment of subsidiaries in London (UK) and Guangzhou (China), as well as opening of our first branch in French-speaking Switzerland.

2010

Development and construction of fast-charging stations for hybrid and electric buses together with the Swedish company Opbrid.

2008

Structural design, planning, delivery and installation of two 56-metre-long portal booms in Mannheim, Germany.

2007

Development of the GEFF overhead contact line system for the UK’s Network Rail. Presentation of the first LED lower pantograph signals to visitors at InnoTrans in Berlin, Germany.

2006

Establishment of our first subsidiary in Rome, Italy.

2005

Certification of our rigid overhead contact line system (ROCS) for 220 km/h by the certification body EisenbahnCert (EBC).

2004

Receipt of approval for the urban rail overhead contact line system FL 100. Together with a partner, further development of our 2D planning tool to create the 3D tool ELFF.

2003

Our FL 200 and FL 200T overhead contact line systems become the standard for various Swiss private railways.

A red train travels along a railway track beside a steep rock face. The background includes trees with autumn foliage and several overhead power lines supported by metal poles. The scene suggests a mountainous or rocky terrain.

2002

Delivery of the first conductor rails to China and Taiwan. In the same year, start of the development of an overhead contact line measurement device, the Dynamic Catenary Monitoring (DCM) system.

2000

Development, planning and construction of the FL 200T overhead contact line for the Zimmerberg Base Tunnel, SBB’s first high-speed line.

1999

Planning of the overhead contact line system for the BLS railway station in Spiez and construction of the first portal booms with a span of more than 50 metres.

A railway station with multiple train tracks leading into the distance. Overhead power lines stretch across the tracks. Buildings and containers line the left and right sides. Snow-capped mountains are visible in the background under an overcast sky.

1991

Expansion of the international market with the sale of conductor rail material for around 32 kilometres to Korea National Railway.

1988

Development of the computer-aided overhead contact line condition recording system “auscultation”.

1985

Beat Furrer takes over the company as the 3rd generation.

1984

Development of the rigid overhead contact line system (ROCS) and construction of its pilot installation in Zurich-Opfikon.

1979

Development of the overhead contact line system for large conductor profiles as part of the upgrade of the BLS mountain section to double track.

1957

Start of the overhead contact line material manufacture, and closure of the power lines business.

1946

Hans Jörg Furrer takes over the company as the 2nd generation.

1931

Development and construction of the first overhead contact line on Belgium’s Brussels–Tervueren line.

Black and white image of a rural railway track running through a village. The tracks are flanked by utility poles and greenery. Buildings, including houses and industrial structures, are visible on one side of the tracks, along with a few parked vehicles.

1924

Development of the Type 1 Cantilever and inclined overhead contact line, and installation on the Visp–Zermatt railway in collaboration with a partner company.

1923

Establishment of Furrer+Frey in Bern by Emil Furrer and Arnold Frey as a general partnership, with areas of activity including electrical supply lines for larger power plants and overhead contact line and power line construction.