Enzler Reinigungen AG celebrates 90 years of tradition, innovation, and family history

OP Cleaning (Image: Enzler Hygiene AG)

Hospital cleaning (Image: Enzler Hygiene AG)

Hospital cleaning (Image: Enzler Hygiene AG)

This year, Enzler Reinigungen AG celebrates its 90th company anniversary. What began in 1935 with a bicycle, a ladder, and a bucket is today a Switzerland-wide established competence center for hygiene and cleaning services. The success story of Enzler Reinigungen AG is not only a portrait of entrepreneurial courage but also an impressive insight into the development of a family business over four generations.

Modest beginnings and a major breakthrough

The origins of the company are modest: Karl Enzler Sr., a man without vocational training, left his hometown of Walchwil on Lake Zug to build a new existence in Zurich. With his wife Frieda, he founded Enzler Reinigungen in 1935 – the company headquarters was the family's living room on Schubertstrasse in Zurich. Just a few years later, the small operation achieved a major breakthrough: the national exhibition, short Landi, in Zurich in 1939 was a turning point in the history of Enzler Reinigungen AG.

From helper to manager – The rise of Enzler Reinigungen AG

The "Landi" with 10.5 million visitors and a six-month timeframe posed enormous challenges for the young five-man company. Karl Enzler Sr. had to transform overnight from window cleaner to manager. The success of this project laid the foundation for the growth of the family business, which benefited from the post-war construction boom and became a leading provider in building cleaning in Zurich.

Digitization already in the 1960s

In 1960, Karl Enzler II, the founder's son, took over the company. After his father's death, he decided to focus the family business clearly on building cleaning and leave the clothing cleaning behind.

With a well-thought-out strategy, the company expanded nationally and secured the cleaning of the EXPO in Lausanne in 1964. Despite a shortage of workers, Enzler also mastered this major order, thereby sustainably strengthening the company's position.

Already in the late 1960s, Karl Enzler II embraced digitization: he integrated an IBM small computer into the company and developed software solutions for accounting and material management in-house. This set new standards and introduced digitization to the industry.

Innovative spirit and family tradition – The success formula of Enzler Reinigungen AG

The pursuit of innovation and progress continues to shape the company's philosophy today. This attitude has made Enzler Reinigungen AG one of the most renowned service providers in the cleaning industry. "We don't just want to empty trash cans and vacuum carpets – our goal is to be the know-how leader in hygiene services," explains Karl Enzler III, who has been leading the company since 1993 in the third generation.

Focus on quality and specialization

When Karl Enzler III took over leadership, the industry was undergoing change: alongside cleaning, facility management was increasingly outsourced. But instead of broadening the scope, the Enzler Group chose a strategy of specialization. The focus was on further developing demanding cleaning and hygiene services – an approach that has proven to be extremely successful.

Today, the Enzler Group employs around 2,700 staff from 88 nations and has established itself as a renowned service provider, especially in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Competence Center and Enzler DigiLab – Knowledge creates an advantage

To meet the high demands of its customers, the Enzler Group operates its own competence center with a microbiological laboratory. Here, measurements are carried out and insights gained that are directly incorporated into staff training. This solid knowledge enables the company to meet even the strictest hygiene regulations in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors.

Digitalization is another driver of success. With the company's own Enzler DigiLab, the Enzler Group tracks the latest developments in robotics and automation. Not only are state-of-the-art robot solutions tested, but also customized application concepts developed. By digitalizing cleaning surfaces and planning precisely, robots can be deployed more efficiently, thereby increasing both quality and efficiency.

A family business with a future

Despite growth and technological advances, Enzler Reinigungen AG remains an independent family business. The fourth generation is already actively involved in the company's management, and both daughters define the strategy as part of the board of directors. Livia Mietzsch, the daughter of Karl Enzler III, is also part of the executive management and oversees Hygieneforum.ch, a platform for exchange on current hygiene and cleaning topics.

"After 90 years, we are proud of our roots and our history, but our gaze is always directed toward the future," emphasizes Karl Enzler III. "We remain a family business with a strong culture and a clear vision."