The medical journal Clinicum published an article about W. Blaser AG and our chairs. The article is interesting in many respects: the author Dr. Hans Balmer described, among other things, the history of Blaser chairs, the very sensitive Emmental, the local added value, the careful production of customized chairs.
The first Blaser chair
Once Walter Blaser suffered an injury. However, it turned into a success story that has lasted for decades. After a hospital stay, Walter Blaser developed a chair system for optimal sitting and lying comfort. His physician liked this new type of chair and encouraged its further development. This was the beginning of the Blaser “patient fauteuils”, as they were initially called. Today, 50 years later, W. Blaser AG is probably the best-known Swiss supplier of medical recliner chairs.
Chairs from Burgdorf
The Emmental. Older people associate it with memories of the unforgettable Franz Schnyder’s films. Younger people might think of a rural idyll in which fox and hare say good night to each other. Both of these ideas are completely wrong today. The agricultural past can now at best be recognised by the holes in the regional cheese. The provincial tranquillity has given way to first-class successful industrial and service companies.
The Emmental enjoys its unique reputation: its companies and products have achieved nationwide recognition. This is also true for Blaser chairs from Burgdorf.
The market
After a delicious meringue – as in Gotthelf’s time, hearty food is still part of the cultivated cultural heritage of the region – we wanted to see for ourselves why the special chairs from W. Blaser AG are used in many hospitals, retirement and nursing homes. Christian Nussbaumer, Head of Chair Systems, took time for us.
“Our customers are the ones who show us the way. So we are in constant contact with them. Their experiences and our ideas are the decisive impulses for W. Blaser. The preferences of patients and home residents are changing and so are the methods of care. More elderly people and those in need of care are moving into care homes. Patients in hospitals and retirement home residents are taken seriously and their well-being is in the focus of our attention.”
Political and economic influences in the health sector and demographic changes are shaping further development. Providers must respond to this with a free-market imagination. And in Burgdorf they are listening carefully. If only out of good tradition.
Continuous optimisation
The continuous optimisation of the Blaser chairs is a top priority at W. Blaser AG. All chair types have a modular structure as their basis. Special elements can be built in exactly according to the customer’s wishes. In addition, customers can choose from 40 cover colours.
The Blaser covers are made of easy-care artificial leather, which is extremely stable and contributes significantly to the fact that the chairs from Burgdorf are famous for their long service life. The artificial leather is antimicrobial, antifungal, hygienic, waterproof, washable and fire-retardant.
Local production
It is interesting that the BlaserChair is able to keep pace with foreign competitors’ products in terms of price. This is due to the lean structures, the modular design of a Blaser chair and the well-coordinated production. Only castors, pressure springs for adjusting the backrest and leg rests as well as wooden parts for the backrest and seat cushions are bought in. The production of the chair frames, fittings and the final assembly of the chairs take place in the company’s own factory. Manual work and a good portion of routine are required.
A proven partner, Bühler Textile Lösungen AG from Thun, supplies the artificial leather. Before a product is delivered, a strict quality control is carried out. In addition, endurance and stress tests are carried out to check all chairs on a regular basis.
Practice proves it: Blaser chairs are resilient, durable, easy to clean thanks to optimal accessibility and generally easy to maintain. “As we know exactly that every component has to meet high quality standards, at the beginning of this year we also extended our warranty period for all our own parts – it covers the vast majority of our parts – from 2 to 4 years. We see this as a clear manifestation of ‘Swissness’, and we are proud of it”, emphasises Christian Nussbaumer. For this reason, BlaserChair also has the protected “Swiss Made” label.
Each Blaser chair is made according to specific customer requirements. The delivery time is fast and is only 2 to 4 weeks. The company’s capacity utilisation is excellent and the product range is widely appreciated.