Swiss industrial leader Urs Bühler dies at 82

Entrepreneur Urs Bühler, who transformed his family’s mechanical engineering company into a global technology group, died Aug. 1 at age 82.

BühlerBühler joined the company in 1970 and shaped its development for more than five decades as owner, CEO, and chairman of the board of directors.

Born in Uzwil in 1943, Bühler studied mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich before joining the family business. He became CEO in 1986 and added the chairman role in 1994.

Under his leadership, the company expanded internationally and diversified into new technology fields including extrusion. He emphasized innovation through initiatives like the Urs Bühler Innovation Fund and the construction of the Cubic Innovation Campus.

“We are committed to the legacy of our father and predecessors and will continue to run Bühler as a family business,” said his daughters Karin, Maya, and Jeannine Bühler, who took over company ownership in 2014 as fifth-generation family members.

Throughout his career, Bühler served on numerous corporate boards including Swiss Bank Corporation, Sulzer Group, and Winterthur Insurance. He was also a board member of Swiss industrial association Swissmem for 30 years.

Beyond business, Bühler was passionate about equestrian sports, skiing, and holistic health approaches.