Numerous visitors, friends and the entire crew of the new Swiss Logistics Campus of the Swiss Association for Vocational Training in Logistics, Swiss Logistics by SVBL ASFL, found their way to the official opening of the impressive new location in Zofingen over the weekend.
The new campus in Zofingen. Aerial photo: SVBL ASFL
The training center's five floors are a hive of activity. After months of construction, planning, anticipation, and the subsequent move, the time has finally come. Numerous courses, as well as the qualification procedures for logistics specialists (EBA and EFZ), have already been successfully completed here this year. Basic logistics training, continuing education, and advanced vocational training all come together under one roof.
Everything under one roof
Anyone who wanted to could now take a look inside the office complex on the first floor and continue exploring the new location, which Swiss Logistics by SVBL ASFL shares – with its own completely separate building wing – with a proud number of well-served commercial enterprises in the industrial area – on the second floor.
Numerous guests arrived.
The training for pallet truck operators, a practical course for industrial trucks, a "hot wire" game as an attraction , and a live fire safety demonstration are sure to draw attention. On the next floor, there is information about inter-company courses, a mobile elevating work platform course where visitors can test their own skills, and finally, on the top floor, a view of the training rooms. The cafeteria and Swiss Post, a partner in the OdA (Organization of the Working World), are also located on this same floor.
Aerial work platform in the guest course
President Beat M. Duerler provides a humorous overview of the association's history. Under its umbrella, the SVBL, initially operating as the "Swiss Association for Vocational Training in Warehousing" tireless development work carried out by 68 companies and seven associations.
Persistent development work
In 1989, the first courses were held with around 100 apprentices, and the association was granted permission to conduct its own instructor training courses. The training center in Rupperswil opened in 1992, with 718 participants attending courses there that year. The first 14 warehouse managers received their diplomas in 1995 , and the regulations for the federal professional examination for warehouse specialists came into effect in 1998.
Staying on the ball for decades
Since the year 2000, the abbreviation SVBL has stood for the "Swiss Association for Vocational Training in specializations in the logistics sector, each significantly advanced by the SVBL, training
Numerous phases are completed
Meanwhile, one center after another is being put into operation: in 2001, the "Centre de formation en Logistique" in Marly in western Switzerland; in 2002, the training center in Gunzgen, with an increased capacity for around 1,500 course participants per year. By 2003, over 2,500 logistics assistants and logistics practitioners are already undergoing basic vocational training under the auspices of the SVBL (Swiss Association for Logistics and Logistics); and by 2004, 11,000 people across Switzerland are completing the training program, which is constantly being expanded to include new branches.
Youngsters at the wheel
In 2005, the "Centro di formazione professionale in Logistica" (Professional Training Center for Logistics) in Giubiasco was inaugurated. The regulations for the federal professional examination for warehouse logistics specialists, based on a modular system, came into effect. A new training center was also opened in Kloten, and the range of courses for specialized vehicles such as telescopic handlers, aerial work platforms, and other equipment was continuously expanded.
Permanent expansion
In 2010, more than 16,000 course participants throughout Switzerland were already taking advantage of the SVBL's training programs. The launch of the training center in Chavornay was celebrated in spring 2014, and the center in Goldach opened its doors in autumn.
With Oda's partner - the Swiss Post
In 2013, SVBL celebrated its 25th anniversary. As a birthday present, the new AZL training center in Basel was opened, and planning began for another training center in Chavornay. When SVBL logistics specialists participated in Swiss Skills, the Swiss vocational championships, for the first time in 2018 , over 22,000 participants were already registered in regular courses (now over 35,000).
Enormous efforts
Overall, it's an almost unbelievable success story that continues to unfold. Balthasar ELTrümpy confirms that the necessary efforts to bring Swiss Logistics SVBL ASFL to its current state were considerable.
Serge Frech
Two new centers have been put into operation in the last two years alone, explains Beat M. Duerler. Zofingen was found as a new location rather quickly, but now boasts generous dimensions. After months of construction, planning, and anticipation, this marks an important milestone in the history of Swiss Logistics – and a good reason to present itself to the public at the end of October.
Here, basic education, continuing education, and advanced vocational training will indeed converge in the future. With Serge Frech, long-time managing director of ICT Vocational Training Switzerland, as the new director of Swiss Logistics by ASFL SVBL, and Christian Pauli as the new director for Western Switzerland, progress is expected to continue.
