The Swiss National Federation: Verband Elektrogrosshandel Schweiz (VES)

The VES has been a member of the EUEW since 1956. With its Business Conventions and Advocacy Calls on regulations and initiatives at EU level, the EUEW has undergone a major transformation. In these matters, the VES must focus primarily on developments in Switzerland as a non-EU member.

History and introduction

The VES was founded in 1914. For a long time, manufacturers and wholesalers were united in this association. This coexistence came to an end in 1995 when a revision of the bylaws allowed only wholesalers to become members of the association. However, the last three remaining manufacturers in the association were not excluded. They were allowed to remain, but could no longer be members of the board.

In this context, the number of members was subject to significant changes. In 1950, the association still had 25 members. As a result of company concentrations and takeovers, four electrical wholesalers and a single manufacturer still belong to the association today. Compared to other EUEW member organisations, this is a small number. However, the four wholesalers cover the majority of the national market for electrical installation materials in relation to buildings. Their 27 points of sale are spread across the whole of Switzerland.

All four electrical wholesalers are represented in the Board of Directors. This enables an all-round association policy.

Main activities of the Association

The VES represents the branch as such. He is in contact with organisations in the electrical installation sector. The VES is involved in professional training. It is a member of a training sector for commercial apprentices. This sector includes all apprentices in the construction sector. From planners and architects to suppliers and contractors. This gives apprentices a comprehensive overview of the interaction between all those involved in the construction industry.

The VES probably has the most accurate turnover statistics of all the EUEW member organisations. The small number of members makes this possible. Precise figures are collected quarterly, every six months and for the whole year. The full-year statistics collect turnover figures for individual, precisely defined product groups. The totalised and aggregated figures are the perfect benchmark for members.

As numerous electrotechnical products are imported for the Swiss market, the VES annual report has been providing import figures for several years, which are extracted, processed and analysed by the VES office from Swiss foreign trade statistics.

Swiss Electrical Database (ELDAS)

Another special feature of the VES is that all members are organised in the Swiss Electrical Database (ELDAS), which is independent of the VES. With its 14 employees, ELDAS maintains a comprehensive database with over 400,000 articles from the product ranges of its affiliated members. The database includes article descriptions, pictures of articles and also their classification according to the ETIM model. This information is made available to VES wholesalers on a daily basis. In this way, ELDAS largely relieves VES wholesalers of the burden of managing and updating their own article data.

Personnel changes in the association management are coming

Jörg Reimer, a self-employed lawyer, is managing the association since 1987 and is also President of the association since 1993, both on a mandate basis. After almost forty years of service, he will step down in mid-2026. The professional management of the association will be taken over by the national umbrella organisation of the Swiss trade. The presidency of the association will also need to be filled. Preparations for this major handover are underway.

Position of the VES within the EUEW

The VES has been a member of the EUEW since 1956. With its Business Conventions and Advocacy Calls on regulations and initiatives at EU level, the EUEW has undergone a major transformation. In these matters, the VES must focus primarily on developments in Switzerland as a non-EU member. The VES is, therefore, keeping a low profile in such EUEW activities. However, the work and commitment of the EUEW is followed closely, especially as it is possible that European regulations may subsequently be adopted by Switzerland as part of bilateral agreements with the EU, as was the case with the European Construction Products Directive. Although the VES has receded somewhat into the background within the EUEW, it is maintaining its solidarity with the umbrella organisation of European electrical wholesalers.