The history of Swiss salt
Salt was already being mined in Switzerland 450 years ago. The foundations for today's supply of salt to all Swiss cantons and the Principality of Liechtenstein on a basis of solidarity were laid in 1909 with the formation of the United Swiss Saltworks on the Rhine (Vereinigte Schweizerische Rheinsalinen, or VSR).
On the journey through the history of Swiss Saltworks, you’ll discover how the mining, production and logistics of Swiss salt have changed.
2023
175 years of the Riburg saltworks. A matching special exhibition was implemented in the village museum Melihus in Möhlin.
2022
Swiss Saltworks on the Rhine AG merged with Saline de Bex SA and Fondation des Mines de Sel de Bex. A new team took office on the Board of Directors.
2021
The Canton of Aargau extended Swiss Saltworks' salt mining franchises to the year 2075. In the same year, the Board of Directors initiated the reform process to modernise the corporate governance.
2020
More than 111 years ago, the Swiss cantons smoothed the way to the solidarity-based supply of salt that we have today by founding Swiss Saltworks.
2014
Swiss Saltworks on the Rhine AG and Saline de Bex SA merged to form Schweizer Salinen AG.
2012
Saldome2 was opened. This is the largest wooden dome structure in Europe, with a capacity of some 100,000 tonnes of loose salt.
2006
The Salt Shop at the Schweizerhalle Saltworks was opened.
2005
Saldome1 went into operation.
2004
Building work started on the large storage hall for de-icing salt in Riburg. The Saldome is a spectacular wooden dome structure that can store 70,000 tonnes of salt. At the same time, the high-bay storage facility went into operation at Schweizerhalle and the starting shot was fired for the construction of the production building.
2002
The company in Bex changed its name and has been known since then as Saline de Bex SA. The same year saw the start of the complete refurbishment of the final production, forwarding and storage departments at the Schweizerhalle saltworks.
1999
A record year, with the heaviest snowfall of the century in February. The two saltworks together produced the record-breaking quantity of 505,000 tonnes of salt. The quality management system at VSR was certified compliant with ISO standard 9001.
1998
The United Swiss Saltworks (Vereinigte Schweizerischen Rheinsalinen) on the Rhine celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Riburg saltworks. A commemorative mural was added to the silo tower at Riburg.
1997
The Schweizerhalle Saltworks opened the "Die Salzkammer" museum. In the same year, the canton of Vaud transferred the commercialisation of the salt and collection of the salt monopoly tax to a company, the Société Vaudoise des Mines et Salines de Bex.
1990
The Principality of Liechtenstein joined the Concordat agreement between the cantons governing the salt trade.
1987
Schweizerhalle Saltworks celebrated its 150th anniversary with over 600 guests.
1984
The Bex mines and saltworks were made accessible to the public.
1982
The new administration building at Schweizerhalle was built, immediately adjacent to the former directors' villa.
1979
The canton of Jura joined the Concordat agreement between the cantons governing the salt trade.
1973
The Concordat agreement between the cantons (except Vaud) governing the salt trade came into effect.
1970
The Schweizerhalle Saltworks put a salt licking block press machine into operation. The complete refurbishment of the plant at the Riburg saltworks began, and was to continue until 1973. The Rheinfelden saltworks site was sold.
1955
For the first time, the Schweizerhalle Saltworks supplied iodine- and fluoride-enriched salt to the canton of Zurich. The rotary drilling process was deployed for the first time in the drilling fields at the Riburg saltworks.
1943
The electrical supply station was commissioned.
1942
Riburg introduced time card control for its workers. The Rheinfelden Saltworks was not converted to electrical power, but instead was closed down in favour of the Riburg Saltworks. The VSR used the site as an internment camp, for military accommodation and as a transit camp for war returnees until 1952.
1941
The war led to a shortage of coal. A large electrical steam boiler was installed and operated at the Schweizerhalle Saltworks. Riburg Saltworks built the first coal-heated, energy-saving evaporator plant with thermocompression.
1938
Free-flowing GRESIL® table salt was launched on the market.
1925
Riburg introduced the iodisation of salt. The VSR built a brine pipeline leading to the spa hotels in Eindhoven.
1924
Drilling technology was deployed to search for salt deposits. This process is still used today to leach the salt out of the rock by injecting spring water.
1922
The Schweizerhalle Saltworks introduced iodisation of salt. The VSR bought its first truck.
1909
The Schweizerhalle Saltworks and the Aargau Saltworks at Rheinfelden and Riburg founded the "United Swiss Saltworks on the Rhine AG” (VSR) – a private company with cantonal stakeholders. Kaiseraugst Saltworks was definitively closed.