06.05.25 | 7 min

Amrein AG: Recycle more, operate more efficiently

In the spirit of the circular economy, Amrein AG from Rickenbach planned a new recycling plant. Lucerne Business put them in touch with the Zimmermann-KMU-Stiftung (foundation) for financial support.

Kathrin Scherer (Lucerne Business), Mario Beckmann (Zimmermann-KMU-Stiftung), Beat Amrein (Amrein AG)

Amrein AG from Rickenbach has been focusing on high-quality and innovative solutions in the construction sector since 1959. In addition to civil engineering and road construction, the family-run company was characterized by gravel production right from the start. Business was good and the SME soon expanded its services. The company took a decisive step in the 1970s: “In connection with the new skip service, Amrein AG - then still run by my grandfather and his brother - started sorting construction waste,” says Beat Amrein, third-generation managing director. Later, the company also began processing mineral waste, such as old flooring and concrete demolition waste, for example from the demolition of buildings, for recycling purposes. That was at the beginning of the 1980s. “Amrein AG was not a pioneer in this respect, although it was one of the first,” says Amrein about these initial approaches to the circular economy. Although ecological sustainability was slowly becoming an issue in society, the recycling of materials was mainly driven by economic considerations.

Stricter regulations help to generate new ideas

The company continued to develop, as did its approach to recycling. The regulations became increasingly strict and developed more and more in the direction of recycling. Even though recycling had long been an important issue for Amrein AG, adjustments were necessary. The final turning point came with the new Ordinance on the Prevention and Disposal of Waste (VVEA) in 2016: sludge ponds, which were previously common in gravel plants, were banned. It was now mandatory to dewater and reprocess the sludge. The first plan in connection with the legislative changes was therefore to build a sludge processing plant. "But as soon as we started thinking about it, our ideas took on larger dimensions: If we're going to build a new plant, why not one that allows us to recycle solids even better?" says Beat Amrein. The previous recycling of construction waste with the conventional crusher had reached its limits: Smooth reprocessing requires that the source material is already clean and unmixed. This is the only way to obtain granulate that meets the high quality requirements. In reality, however, the source material is often so heavily contaminated that it can only be sent to landfill. And this is despite the fact that there is plenty of recyclable material in it. This is where the new recycling plant comes into play: it is able to process even heavily contaminated mixed demolition waste, excavated material and sludge into a usable end product.

The machinery is extremely complex: the water is treated using highly complex filter systems and the sludge passes through several chemical stations. Segmenting the solids is somewhat simpler and can be controlled using a tablet or computer. Either way, the dimensions of the new plant are impressive - no wonder, as it has already aroused great interest in the region during the construction phase. There is no comparable plant in Central Switzerland to date.

Start of construction thanks to financing

A building permit for the recycling plant had already been granted in 2019, albeit at a different location on the site. Due to legal changes, problems with the subsoil and the coronavirus pandemic, the plans had to be changed. When the project was resumed at the end of 2020, the question of financing arose in addition to the new location on the site. Thanks to a tip from Lucerne Business, Beat Amrein got in touch with the Zimmermann-KMU-Stiftung. Everything happened quickly after that: in October 2021, he was able to present his vision of the facility to the foundation's managers and hit the bull's eye - it was precisely projects like this that were in demand, according to the foundation. The decision was accordingly positive: The Zimmermann SME Foundation supported the new recycling plant with a loan of CHF 500,000. “I was happy and relieved that we were able to raise the entire financing without the involvement of private investors thanks to this commitment, among other things,” says Amrein.

Excavation work began in October 2023 and concrete construction started in March 2024. The plant was commissioned in May 2025. Kathrin Scherer, Lucerne Business: "The impressive new recycling plant will enable Amrein AG to operate more efficiently. Such investments are a commitment to the location and strengthen the economy in the rural areas of the canton."

Support from the Zimmermann-KMU-Stiftung

The Zimmermann-KMU-Stiftung supports Lucerne-based companies such as Amrein AG in the realization of their projects. To this end, it grants loans of up to CHF 500,000. Managing Director Mario Beckmann provides information.

Mr. Beckmann, what is the purpose of the Zimmermann-KMU-Stiftung?

The purpose of the Zimmermann-KMU-Foundation is to support SMEs based in the canton of Lucerne. It aims to improve the economic conditions of small and medium-sized companies in Lucerne with a maximum of 50 employees in the start-up, growth or investment phase. The foundation is a non-profit organization.

Where did the money come from?

From the inheritance of Hedy and Guido Zimmermann from Vitznau. When the couple decided to set up their own business in 1964, they would have needed a small loan to help them buy the necessary tools. No bank was prepared to provide the required funds. Fortunately, a friend of the two found someone who believed in the young entrepreneurs' business idea and provided the necessary sum as a loan. Otherwise there would never have been jobs for over a hundred employees and training places for generations of apprentices. This experience prompted the founders to contribute their entire estate to the foundation.

Are the support services open to any company?

One of the requirements is that the company must be based in the canton of Lucerne and have a maximum of 50 full-time employees. We can grant loans up to a maximum amount of CHF 500,000.

What criteria are used to select the projects?

Provided the applications are in line with the purpose of the foundation, we prefer to finance investments in tangible assets if the applicants do not have their own funds and/or bank financing. We generally reject applications from sectors in which there is a great deal of competitive pressure (e.g. gastronomy) or where there is a considerable need for financing (e.g. medtech or software development). We never compete with a bank or actively advertise, but provide financing in addition to company owners and banks.

How does the support work?

If the applications correspond to the purpose of the foundation, a preliminary examination is carried out. We then request a business plan including a financial plan and invite the applicants to an interview. If all the requirements are met, the Board of Trustees makes a decision at my request as Managing Director.

How does the cooperation with Lucerne Business work?

All applications are received by Lucerne Businessw or Technopark Lucerne, checked for compliance with the requirements, processed and then submitted to the ZKMU-Foundation. This cooperation is very valuable for us, as Lucerne Business carries out an essential pre-selection.

What were the decisive factors for supporting Amrein AG?

We were impressed by the business model and the people involved in terms of their entrepreneurship and innovative spirit. The application met our criteria catalog 100 %, which is why we were able to make a financing commitment very quickly.

Are there any criteria that rule out support?

Due to the purpose of our foundation, we are not allowed to support reorganization and restructuring cases. Furthermore, we are not allowed to support domiciliary, holding and management companies or pure real estate companies, as these are not SMEs according to our definition.

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