Centiel buys larger Ticino plant to anchor growth and keep production talent in Switzerland

Uninterruptible-power-supply manufacturer Centiel SA has signed a CHF 12.1 million deal to purchase a 7,300 m² industrial building in Muzzano, a short drive from its Lugano headquarters. The company said on 15 September that the site will be converted into production and logistics space ahead of a planned output ramp-up in 2027. Keeping assembly inside Switzerland was a deliberate choice, CEO Gerardo Lecuona noted, citing proximity to R&D teams and the ability to retain skilled technicians who would otherwise need to relocate abroad. The new plant will create up to 80 skilled jobs over three years and reduce the need to fly core engineers to overseas contract manufacturers. For mobility managers the announcement illustrates a counter-trend to offshoring: some high-tech SMEs are re-shoring capacity to Switzerland despite higher labour costs, betting that streamlined work-permit processing for specialised staff and the strong apprenticeship pipeline will offset expenses. Foreign engineers transferred to Lugano on intra-company assignments are expected to benefit from Ticino’s cantonal fast-track for scarce technical professions introduced earlier this year. Companies planning similar expansions should watch the 2027 quota debate: although current third-country permit ceilings remain static, any mid-year surge in applications from the electronics sector could exhaust canton-level allocations, complicating staffing plans.