How did Solarmarkt come about, and what was the original driving force behind the company? 

When Solarmarkt was founded 35 years ago (1990), the goal was to realise our vision: every suitable area in Switzerland should be used to generate energy with solar power. We want to sustainably change the energy future of Switzerland and make a decisive contribution to preserving our environment. To drive the energy transition forward and convince more people of the benefits of solar energy, we uphold strong values – which are central to our collaboration with our partners. Urs Kessler founded the company in 1990 as a visionary. Despite a challenging market environment, Solarmarkt has been able to develop successfully over the years and can now call itself the market leader in the field of photovoltaic wholesale in Switzerland, together with Planzer as a strong logistics partner.

What has changed the most in the solar business in recent years?

The solar industry has evolved from a niche to a relevant component of the Swiss energy mix. The range of applications and the volume have changed dramatically. Solar systems are no longer just simple electricity generators – their application has become more complex, and the products must be used in a market-appropriate and intelligent way. The industry is subject to constant change due to technical developments, standards and energy laws. The industry has grown economically, but is also sensitive to price fluctuations. Companies must position themselves optimally. Digitalisation is essential in this regard. However, the industry has also become more stable in the meantime. The importance of photovoltaics is clear to many. But the dynamics remain – we must react flexibly to market requirements. The competition is not sleeping. The industry remains challenging but exciting.

Since when does the partnership with Planzer exist, and how has it developed?

Our collaboration began in 2014 – in the middle of the first federal programme for promoting photovoltaics (KEV). At that time, we experienced our first strong growth, which our then logistics partner was unable to cover. Compared to today, we were small and only used a small amount of space at Planzer in Pratteln. Over the years, we have grown strongly and have largely occupied Pratteln. When the next growth wave came with Corona, it became clear that Pratteln would not be enough in the medium to long term. In an initial meeting with Christian Vagli, we visited the site in Däniken – which met our requirements for the energy transition. At the end of 2023, we moved to the new infrastructure, which was well planned and tailored to our core business, in a well-planned process.

What logistical challenges are there in shipping solar panels?

Many! I always say that photovoltaics are probably one of the most cumbersome things on the market for logistics and forwarding. We transport sensitive glass products such as solar modules, electronic devices such as inverters (which are susceptible to vibrations and moisture) as well as chemically demanding components such as batteries – hazardous goods with special requirements. In addition, there are bulky aluminium rails. All these products must be delivered to the construction sites in the right mix and at the right time. This also presented many challenges for our collaboration – which we mastered together. The greatly increased volume required constant process adjustments. The infrastructure and the truck fleet also had to be expanded accordingly – a major challenge for all those involved.

What do you appreciate about working with Planzer, and what could we still improve?

I am grateful to Planzer, and especially to its employees, for their flexibility over the past few years. Such dynamic market requirements are not easy to manage. Planzer has constantly adapted and always found suitable solutions – that was very helpful for us. We can certainly still improve our processes together. We want to explore new possibilities in the transport of PV components in order to provide the best service to our joint customers. I also hope that Planzer will continue to drive forward the issues of electrification and sustainable energy supply in logistics. I am convinced that this is the mobility of the future – and Planzer can lead the way here. Electrification will also quickly change transport logistics and offers enormous potential.

Last but not least: Is there an anecdote from your collaboration with Planzer that you will never forget?

I particularly remember our forecasts in the years of strong growth – times when the infrastructure was pushed to its limits. The Planzer managers often did not believe me when I said that the volumes announced would actually be delivered – but they were usually even too conservative. At times, we had to store aluminium rails on loading ramps, in car parks or in external warehouses because there was simply not enough space. Once, Planzer called me and jokingly said that they would have to unload the goods at the motorway exit soon. This clearly shows the challenges we faced together with the infrastructure.