About us

About HBT

The Association of Swiss Woodworking Machinery and Tool Manufacturers VSHF was founded in 1932. In 2003, the name was changed into "Woodworking Technology Switzerland" (HBT Switzerland) and new member categories were introduced.

The objectives of the association remain the same: HBT Switzerland supports and promotes the common interests of its members by:   
 

• Co-operating with all organisations involved in woodworking in one way or another
• Co-operating with SUVA, the Swiss national accident insurance fund, and other supervisory authorities, in order to continuously improve safety devices, to reduce the risks of accidents and to further the protection of the environment
• Organising trade fairs and developing the standard specifications in technology and engineering of the European association EUMABOIS where the Swiss association is represented.

HBT Switzerland currently counts around 70 members whose objective is to manufacture high quality products, designed for excellent performance and corresponding to the state of the art in technology as well as to offer the corresponding services. Membership is open to natural and legal persons with a domicile in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein which manufacture, have manufactured and distribute products of the woodworking industry, such as:

• Woodworking machinery and tools
• Engineering and production of woodworking plants incl. handling, transport and storage equipment
• Process supporting equipment and components
• Materials and semi-finished products
• Furniture fittings, auxiliary materials and accessories
• Related software and services

The same applies to design and engineering offices as well as to direct commercial agencies.

Services and member benefits

HBT Switzerland is a platform representing the common interests of the industry and the members by:

• Organising the Wood trade fair HOLZ in Basel, every three years, in co-operation with the Association of Machine and Tool Distributors (tecnoswiss). The Wood fair in Basel is one of the biggest specialised trade fairs also open to the public in Switzerland, displaying around 250 exhibiting firms and attracting 50'000 visitors.
• Representing, promoting and protecting the interests of HBT Switzerland and its members towards authorities, branch associations and third party.
• Participating in and influencing the legislation process and informing the members about new laws and ordinances.
• Promoting a creative, attractive and future-oriented image of the woodworking industry.
• Promoting and maintaining an orderly situation of the market and the working conditions in the interest of the whole industry, striving for appropriate commercial margins and fighting against unfair trading practices.
• Producing qualified services in order to strengthen the market position of the members.
• Protecting the interests of the individual member when they are of importance for the whole industry.
• Promoting, strengthening and maintaining a frank interchange of information and experience among the members of the association.

Member benefits

The members of HBT Switzerland benefit from the numerous services on an ideal as well as a material level. The association offers e.g.:

• Exemption from annual fees for the members exhibiting at the Wood trade in Basel
• Important price reductions per m2 exhibition space at the Wood trade fair in Basel compared to non-members
• Free of charge entry on the association’s web site
• Free of charge legal counselling by the association’s lawyer
• Interesting opportunities to participate in collective skeleton contracts
• Access to important information concerning the industry and the woodworking machinery market.