From workplace to fire frontline
Teamwork, innovation, and resilience are at the heart of everything we do. But for some people, collaboration and community service extend beyond their daily roles at Bühler. We’re proud to have employees who give their all – not just in their professional roles, but in service to the wider community. Among them are 10 colleagues who serve as volunteer firefighters with the Uzwil Regional Fire Department (Feuerwehr Region Uzwil – FWRU). During the Networking Days 2025, their commitment was on full display. As we welcomed over 1,200 guests, our volunteer firefighter team was working behind the scenes to ensure safety and readiness.
Sumitra Sundaram, September 2025
On a sunny morning in Uzwil a week before the Networking Days, we caught up with Bernd Faeh, Beno Chialina, Dragan Renner, and Patrick Blöchlinger as they balanced fire drills, radio checks, and a whole lot of logistical coordination. From emergency calls to event preparedness, they do it all with quiet dedication, good humor, and a deep sense of responsibility.
Networking Days were upon us, and with over 1,200 customers and guests, the importance of safety could not be overstated. Two to three people from the Uzwil fire department were stationed at the premises from 8 a.m. to midnight from June 23-25 in case of emergencies. A total of 120 hours of operation was covered by these firefighters during these shifts.
Bernd Fäh, Senior Information Security Specialist at Bühler, works in the Information Security team and is responsible for ISO 27001, password management, and IT Service Continuity Management. In the fire service, he holds the rank of soldier, but in the past, he has also served as a deputy commander of the fire department in Oberbüren – a town neighboring Uzwil. “Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the fire station. Even as a child, it was clear to me that I would join the fire department, as my father (a retired Bühler employee) was also a member. I’ve been there for 26 years,” Bernd explains.
Beno Chialina works as a Senior Mechanical Development Engineer in Milling Solutions and is part of a team that develops roller mills, among other things. In the fire department, he is assigned to various alarm levels, where he carries out the tasks assigned to him as an engine driver, turntable ladder pilot, first responder, etc. and of course, as a firefighter.
The fire department reflects our society. It brings together people with different professions and skills.
Beno Chialina
Balancing their professional responsibilities along with that of the fire brigade comes easy to these champions since most emergency calls take place outside of working hours. Both point out that Bühler supports them in responding during the day if needed. Because the fire service is voluntary, members aren’t obligated to respond to every call. They decide based on their availability – often depending on where they are, what they’re doing, and whether they can step away. “I try to respond positively most of the time, because I am used to having a lot going on with longer days and it gives me a sense of accomplishment,” Beno says.
In 2010, I was motivated by a colleague to join the fire department, and since then, there has been no looking back. I enjoyed learning new things and helping people in need. I continue to be excited in this field.
Dragan Renner
Volunteer roles like these help employees connect across departments and build trust through teamwork. This trust and familiarity improve collaboration at work. “For example, skills gained as a firefighter – such as first aid, evacuation planning, and crisis management are valuable in workplace roles like evacuation assistants or floor managers,” says Bernd. Volunteer teams also bring together people from diverse backgrounds, making it easy to find the right expertise when needed.
Bernd has been on many types of missions in his service as a fire fighter. Yet, the one that sticks to him is an incident from 2007. “We were on duty for over a week on a mission to find a missing 5-year-old girl. I was working for Bühler then and given time off for the entire mission without having to take overtime or vacation. But regardless of whether it was a positive or negative mission, solidarity within the task force is always important. We help each other after stressful missions and laugh together after successful ones.”
Community engagement is not for everyone, but personally, it has broadened my horizons and expanded personal network, not only within the fire service organization but also beyond the region.
Bernd Fäh
For Beno, it has also been a mixed bag of missions over the years. What still impresses him is the raw power of fire. “When you get closer to fire, you feel the immediate heat and without countermeasures, it can get highly suffocating. I am always amazed by how despite the water volume of 2500 liters per minute pouring out of the cannon, sometimes the fire cannot be tamed quickly.”
Dragan Renner, Deputy Head of Safety and Environmental Protection and Patrick Blöchlinger, Team Manager R&D Mechanical at Bühler, share a joint mission. “One of our most notable missions was in 2020 at Thur waterfall, where two people were in danger of drowning. There were multiple organizations involved in this mission, and it was impressive to see how they worked together and ultimately contributed with all their expertise to successfully rescue the people.”
I was interested in firefighting even as a child, and when an opportunity presented itself, I jumped right in. Personally, I am impressed by how different organizations and communities work together in times of need and unite for a shared cause.
Patrick Blöchlinger
As firefighters, they see potential hazards around them and easily estimate the potential impact of certain actions. With experience from all the deployments, they have a wealth of knowledge about what could happen if one doesn’t concentrate or ignores indicators.
Practice certainly makes perfect and if the whole team is well-trained and fully prepared, there is a solution to every unexpected situation. That mindset is especially valuable during major events like Networking Days, where anticipating the unexpected is part of the job. Their training, calm under pressure, and ability to assess risk make them a quiet but crucial presence behind the scenes. And even beyond these three days in Uzwil, we know we can count on them.
“I have been the CEO of the Uzwil Regional Fire Department since January 2024, but I also served in the fire department from 1999 to 2001. From 2002 to 2023, I worked as a police officer and was already involved in Bühler's Networking Days in that role. The collaboration has always been pleasant, straightforward, and goal oriented. Safety is given high priority across all areas in an exemplary manner, with nothing left to chance.
Since the establishment of the Uzwil Regional Fire Department in January 2020, the fire department has responded to Bühler around 44 times.
Fortunately, about 37 of these were false alarms triggered by fire detection systems. Only twice did we have to extinguish fires – most recently in September 2024. The remaining seven incidents involved resuscitations, assistance in an accident involving a person, and other services.
The expertise of Bühler employees who also serve in our fire department has proven to be extremely valuable and helpful in all these situations – a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
Gupfenstrasse 5
Uzwil
9240
Switzerland
