Bühler announces the passing of Urs Bühler

Urs Bühler, long-time leader of the Bühler Group – one of the world’s leading players in the construction of pasta production lines – has passed away at the age of 82.

On August 1, 2025, Urs Bühler passed away at the age of 82. He was a key figure in the global growth and development of the Bühler Group. A visionary entrepreneur and a prominent figure in Swiss industrial history, he led the company for over five decades, playing a decisive role in its transformation into an international technology leader in the food processing and mobility sectors.

Born in Uzwil in 1943, Urs Bühler studied mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich before joining the family business in 1970. He held various positions in Switzerland and abroad, becoming CEO in 1986 and Chairman of the Board in 1994. Since 1990, he had been the sole owner of the Bühler Group. Under his leadership, the company pursued an ambitious internationalization strategy, expanded into new technology areas – including extrusion – and was an early adopter of advanced IT and automation solutions.

Among his most enduring legacies was his clear vision for family continuity: in 2011, he transferred management of Uze AG – the family’s real estate company – to his daughters Karin, Maya, and Jeannine Bühler, and in 2014, also transferred ownership of the Bühler Group. That same year, he appointed Calvin Grieder as Chairman of the Board, after having already entrusted him with operational leadership in 2001.

Innovation, sustainability, and education were the strategic pillars promoted by Urs Bühler over the years. Initiatives such as the Urs Bühler Innovation Fund, the Cubic Innovation Campus, and the recently opened Bühler Energy Center are clear examples. His vision left a profound mark on the company’s evolution and its current role as a global reference point in food processing technologies.

Despite his considerable business success, Urs Bühler is also remembered for his modesty, human approach to leadership, and personal passions – including sports and a holistic view of health – which culminated in the founding of Health Balance AG in 2004.

With deep gratitude, Bühler pays tribute to an exemplary figure: an innovative entrepreneur, forward-thinking leader, and a man of extraordinary humanity.