Swisspearl
Swiss building-materials group producing fibre-cement systems for façades, roofs, interiors, gardens, fire protection and photovoltaic applications.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Swisspearl is the contemporary corporate and product identity of a Swiss building-materials group whose Swiss operating history began in 1903 as Schweizerische Eternit-Werke AG. Based in Niederurnen in the canton of Glarus, the company developed around fibre-cement manufacturing and became associated internationally with the Eternit name. Its products have included roofing and façade slates, flat and corrugated panels, pipes, interior components, garden products and related accessories. The company established a strong position in the asbestos-cement industry before the Second World War, exporting products and production technology beyond Switzerland. Its historical development therefore includes both industrial expansion and the difficult transition away from asbestos. A long research program conducted from 1976 to 1994 enabled the Swiss business to manufacture asbestos-free fibre cement. The company subsequently faced reputational damage and compensation claims connected with asbestos exposure, while the Swiss construction downturn also affected its financial performance and employment. The business was part of the Holderbank, later Holcim, building-materials group from 1996 until 2003. In November 2003, BA Holding AG, controlled by entrepreneur Bernhard Alpstaeg, acquired the shares of Eternit AG. The operating plants at Niederurnen and Payerne were reorganized in 2005, and the former Eternit AG became FibreCem Holding AG. The group expanded internationally in 2009 by acquiring Austrian fibre-cement manufacturer Eternit-Werke Ludwig Hatschek AG, the company historically linked to the early development of fibre cement. FibreCem Holding adopted the Swisspearl Group AG name in 2016, although Swisspearl had already been used as an export brand since 2002. A major later expansion came in June 2022, when Swisspearl acquired Danish manufacturer Cembrit from investment company Solix. Cembrit gave the group greater reach in the Nordic region, Ireland and the United Kingdom and increased the combined workforce to approximately 2,600 employees at the time of the transaction. In 2023, the group consolidated its branding: Eternit (Schweiz) AG was renamed Swisspearl Schweiz AG on 1 April, and the Eternit and Cembrit brands were progressively brought under the Swisspearl name. Eternit continues to appear in selected product names. Swisspearl now presents itself as a European fibre-cement group with around 2,400 employees and nine production sites, according to the supplied reference material. Its portfolio serves the building envelope, interior architecture, landscaping and gardens, fire protection and photovoltaic applications. The group remains privately owned by the Alpstaeg family. Because the supplied material does not identify a current chief executive, detailed leadership information is omitted.
History
Swisspearl's Swiss industrial roots date to 1903, when Schweizerische Eternit-Werke AG was established to manufacture fibre-cement materials under licence. The business was known as Eternit AG from 1923. Located in the canton of Glarus, it became one of the region's important industrial companies and built an international reputation before the Second World War through the sale of asbestos-cement products and the export of related manufacturing technology. The product range developed beyond its initial roofing applications. The company produced roof and façade slates, flat and corrugated panels, and accessories for gardens and interior fitting. Pipe manufacturing, which began in 1928, was ultimately discontinued in 1997. The company opened a branch in Payerne in 1957, adding to its Swiss production and distribution base. Like many historic fibre-cement manufacturers, the business had to address the health and regulatory consequences of asbestos use. Between 1976 and 1994, it undertook a costly research program that enabled the production of asbestos-free fibre cement. The transition occurred against a difficult commercial background: employment and turnover declined during the construction-industry crisis, while the company also dealt with damage to its public image and compensation payments to asbestos victims. Reference material reports 954 employees and turnover of 119 million Swiss francs in 1996, followed by turnover of 89.1 million Swiss francs in 2003; these historical figures are included only as period-specific context. From 1996 to 2003, Eternit was part of the worldwide Holderbank group, later known as Holcim. In November 2003, BA Holding AG, owned by entrepreneur Bernhard Alpstaeg, acquired all shares of Eternit AG, with Alpstaeg becoming chairman of the board. In 2005, the operating plants in Niederurnen and Payerne were transferred to Etertub AG, a subsidiary established in 1997. That company was renamed Eternit (Schweiz) AG, while the former Eternit AG became FibreCem Holding AG. FibreCem expanded outside Switzerland in 2009 by purchasing Austrian producer Eternit-Werke Ludwig Hatschek AG. It acquired an 80 percent stake from Cross Industries AG in July 2009 and the remaining 20 percent later that year. The Austrian business was historically significant because it was associated with the early development of fibre cement. In 2016, FibreCem Holding AG changed its name to Swisspearl Group AG. Swisspearl had already been used as an export brand since 2002, allowing the group to develop a more internationally consistent identity while the Eternit name remained important in Switzerland and other markets. The group's next major expansion took place in June 2022 with the acquisition of Cembrit, a Danish fibre-cement manufacturer headquartered in Aalborg, from Swedish investment company Solix. Before the transaction, Swisspearl employed about 1,200 people at four production sites in Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Cembrit added an established presence in the Nordic countries, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The combined organization had approximately 2,600 employees and became the second-largest fibre-cement producer in Europe, according to the supplied reference material. After the Cembrit acquisition, Swisspearl operated with three prominent brand names: Swisspearl, Eternit and Cembrit. The group subsequently decided to consolidate its market identity. Eternit (Schweiz) AG became Swisspearl Schweiz AG on 1 April 2023, and the group brought Eternit and Cembrit products together under Swisspearl. The Eternit name survives in selected product designations. The modern group produces fibre-cement systems for façades, roofing, interiors, gardens, fire protection and photovoltaic applications. It operates nine production sites in Europe and employs around 2,400 people according to the supplied reference material. Swisspearl is privately owned by the family of Bernhard Alpstaeg and remains headquartered in Niederurnen.
- 2023
Swisspearl brand consolidation
[1]Eternit (Schweiz) AG was renamed Swisspearl Schweiz AG, and the group consolidated Eternit and Cembrit products under Swisspearl.
- 2022
Cembrit acquisition
[1]Swisspearl acquired Danish producer Cembrit, adding operations and markets in Northern and Western Europe.
- 2016
FibreCem becomes Swisspearl Group
[1]FibreCem Holding AG adopted the Swisspearl Group AG name.
- 2009
Austrian expansion
[1]FibreCem Holding acquired Eternit-Werke Ludwig Hatschek AG in Austria in two stages.
- 2003
Acquired by BA Holding
[1]BA Holding AG, controlled by Bernhard Alpstaeg, acquired all shares of Eternit AG.
- 1996
Joins Holderbank group
[1]Eternit became part of the worldwide Holderbank building-materials group, later renamed Holcim.
- 1976
Asbestos-free materials research begins
[1]A major research effort began to develop asbestos-free fibre cement, continuing through 1994.
- 1957
Payerne branch opened
[1]Eternit expanded its Swiss operating footprint by opening a branch in Payerne.
- 1928
Pipe production begins
[1]The company began producing fibre-cement pipes, a line later discontinued in 1997.
- 1923
Name changed to Eternit AG
[1]The Swiss company adopted the Eternit AG name.
Products and positioning
A European specialist in durable, mineral-based fibre-cement building systems, positioned around architectural design, weather resistance, fire performance, sustainable material use and applications across the complete building envelope.
Building envelope
Swisspearl façade systems
Fibre-cement panels and related systems for external walls and façades. The range is intended for durable architectural envelopes and can support varied surface treatments, formats and design approaches. It represents one of the group's principal contemporary applications.
Roofing
Swisspearl roofing products
Roofing slates, sheets and associated fibre-cement components. Roofing is part of the company's historical core and remains a major application area alongside façade construction.
Interior materials
Swisspearl interior products
Fibre-cement panels and accessories for interior fitting and architectural surfaces. These products extend the material beyond the exterior envelope into interior design and construction applications.
Garden and landscaping
Swisspearl garden and landscaping products
Fibre-cement products and accessories for gardens, landscaping and outdoor structures. The category reflects the group's long-standing use of fibre cement in non-building-envelope applications.
Specialty building systems
Swisspearl fire-protection and photovoltaic applications
Specialized fibre-cement solutions serving fire-protection requirements and photovoltaic-related building systems. These applications broaden the group beyond conventional cladding and roofing.
Historical product portfolio
Eternit historical fibre-cement products
The historical Eternit portfolio included roof and façade slates, flat and corrugated panels, pipes and accessories for interiors and gardens. Pipe production ended in 1997, while the Eternit name remains in selected product names after the group's brand consolidation.
Controversies
Asbestos-related health and compensation controversy
The group's historical asbestos-cement activities contributed to reputational damage and compensation claims involving asbestos victims. The Swiss business pursued a lengthy research program from 1976 to 1994 to develop asbestos-free fibre cement, but the legacy of asbestos remained a significant issue in its corporate history.
Brand decisions
2023
Consolidate Eternit and Cembrit under SwisspearlStrategyBackground
Following the Cembrit acquisition, the group operated with Swisspearl, Eternit and Cembrit identities and sought a unified market presentation.
Action taken
Eternit (Schweiz) AG was renamed Swisspearl Schweiz AG on 1 April 2023, and the group brought the Eternit and Cembrit brands together under Swisspearl.
Aftermath
Swisspearl became the group's consolidated customer-facing identity, although Eternit remains in some product names.
2022
Acquire CembritM&ABackground
The acquisition was intended to broaden Swisspearl's European manufacturing and market presence, particularly in Northern Europe, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Action taken
Swisspearl Group acquired Danish fibre-cement producer Cembrit from Swedish investment company Solix.
Aftermath
The combination created a company of approximately 2,600 employees at the time and made Swisspearl the second-largest fibre-cement producer in Europe according to the reference material.
2016
Rename FibreCem Holding as Swisspearl GroupStrategyBackground
Swisspearl had been used as an export brand since 2002, while the legal holding company still used the FibreCem name.
Action taken
FibreCem Holding AG changed its name to Swisspearl Group AG.
Aftermath
The change established Swisspearl as the group's principal international corporate identity.
2009
Acquire Eternit-Werke Ludwig Hatschek AGM&ABackground
FibreCem Holding sought international scale and acquired the Austrian fibre-cement manufacturer associated with the early development of fibre cement.
Action taken
The group purchased 80 percent from Cross Industries AG in July 2009 and acquired the remaining 20 percent later in the year.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded the group's production base and strengthened its position outside Switzerland.
Sources1 sources
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