Our history
Founded in 1906, the name ERNE has been synonymous with construction for more than 118 years and is now in its 4th generation. Together, we want to continue to grow and shape the future of construction services with state-of-the-art resources.
2010 until today
4th generation
Daniel and Christoph Erne take on several directorships in the individual companies and Daniel Erne becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors of Holzbau Unternehmen. The fourth generation thus takes on management responsibility. After just five years, the ERNE giants establish themselves as Switzerland's largest fleet of suction excavators. NEUE KUHN AG in Niederrohrdorf and ARNOLD Bau AG Solothurn are taken over to expand the market area. Both companies are now integrated into ERNE AG Bauunternehmung.
111 years of building together. The company anniversary is celebrated in 2017 with a large summer festival and over 6000 visitors at the ERNE site in Laufenburg. In 2021, ERNEFANT AG is founded from the suction excavator fleet. One year later, in 2022, the new office building at the Füllinsdorf depot is opened. In the same year, Mattia, an apprentice bricklayer at ERNE, qualifies for EuroSkills after taking part in SwissSkills.
1971- 2010
3rd generation
Entry of the third generation 1971: Erich Erne (Dipl. Ing. ETH) and Rudolf Erne (businessman) take over the operational management of ERNE AG Bauunternehmung with 150 employees. The economic crisis forces a reduction in the number of seasonal jobs from 99 to 15, leaving a workforce of 75. After the takeover of HUSNER AG in 1977, the number of employees returns to 150. In 1996, ERNE AG takes over the new works yard and just 5 years later, Kies + Beton Münchwilen AG is founded as a subsidiary. Furthermore, the holding company ERNE Holding AG is established, and this change is accompanied by an adjustment of the company structure. In 2004, Erich Erne hands over the chairmanship of the Executive Board, but remains as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In the following year, ERNE AG Bauunternehmung achieves certification in ISO 9001, EKAS 6508 safety management and is the first Swiss company to be certified in PQM - project-related quality management.
100 years of ERNE. In 2006, the ERNE Group celebrated its 100th anniversary with an employee party and around 13,000 visitors on the ERNE site. The ERNE Group reaches over 500 employees for the first time. In 2008, the depot in Füllinsdorf is taken over. In the following year, Gebr. Meier AG Tiefbauunternehmung becomes part of the ERNE Group, and the subsidiary K+B Münchwilen puts the excavation washing plant into operation, thus closing the ecological material cycle.
1932- 1971
2nd generation
The second generation joins the company in 1932 with Victor (qualified civil engineer) and Paul Erne (qualified structural engineer). The earnings situation improves with the upswing and enables the purchase of the "Maxima small crane" - an attraction that enables the construction of 3-storey houses. In 1950, the post-war construction boom led to a rapid increase in construction volume.
1906 - 1932
1st generation
1906 Foundation of the Joseph Erne-Speiser construction business by Joseph Erne and his wife Frida Speiser under minimalist conditions. The very next year, a new commercial and residential building is built, today's ERNE headquarters. After the First World War, construction activity picks up again after a lull, with the workforce reaching up to 150 people on some days. The raging German inflation puts a spoke in the wheel of a huge project: the construction of 20 two-family houses and a school in Waldshut, generating several trillion euros, is not even enough to pay the bill for a quarter of wine, a gnagi, a salmon sandwich and a fizzy drink.
