AGROLAB News

AGROLAB Umwelt Schweiz AG launches analytical services in Wallisellen

AGROLAB Umwelt Schweiz AG has successfully commenced operations at its new site in Wallisellen near Zurich. Following the move in May, numerous analyses for the Swiss environmental sector are now being carried out there. AGROLAB is thus strengthening its presence in Switzerland and offering customers even greater proximity, shorter distances and rapid response times.

A well-established team and a seamless transition

The foundation for this successful launch is a well-established team: around 15 staff members work at the Wallisellen site, most of whom have been working successfully side by side for many years. With the transfer of Econetta AG’s environmental analysis division to AGROLAB, we are delighted to retain these experienced specialists within our organisation. This also ensures that the existing accreditations remain directly at the site.

The specialist staff bring many years’ experience in the Swiss environmental market and support companies, engineering firms and public authorities with complex issues relating to soil, waste and water.

Tobias Weber, Site Manager in Wallisellen, comments on the operational launch:

“By taking on the existing team and the accreditation, we are ensuring seamless analytical continuity right from the start. Our customers will continue to benefit from their usual points of contact, but will now also have access to the modernised processes and the entire AGROLAB GROUP network. Following the successful move in May, laboratory operations in Wallisellen are already running as planned in routine operations.”

Analytical services tailored to Swiss requirements

A key focus of the site is on testing in accordance with the regulations and measurement methods relevant in Switzerland, including the VVEA (Ordinance on the Prevention and Disposal of Waste), the VBBo (Ordinance on Soil Contamination), the AltlV (Ordinance on Contaminated Sites) and the corresponding FOEN implementation guidelines.

The laboratory covers key areas of environmental analysis. The following are analysed:

• Soils and mineral solids
• Eluates, seepage water and groundwater
• Surface water and wastewater

In addition, the range of services is complemented by professional water sampling (such as groundwater sampling).

A single point of contact for the entire range of services

The majority of the required analyses are already carried out directly in Wallisellen. The range of services offered includes modern methods for key environmental parameters, including petroleum hydrocarbons (HC index, MKW), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals in accordance with VVEA and VBBo, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using the purge-and-trap method. Thanks to this local infrastructure, complex projects in the fields of contaminated sites, site investigations, recycling or landfill can be handled efficiently and with short turnaround times directly in Switzerland.

In addition to the on-site analyses available, customers benefit from the full range of services offered by the AGROLAB GROUP. Analyses that are not currently carried out in Wallisellen are processed by specialist laboratories within the group. The portfolio also includes highly complex analyses such as PFAS analysis (including short-chain FTOHs), benzidine and its derivatives, coplanar (dioxin-like) polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs), dioxins/furans (PCDD/PCDF) and pesticides (PBSM).

For customers, this means everything is provided from a single source – with a single point of contact and the AGROLAB GROUP’s usual high quality standards.

Stephanie Nagorny, OU Director of Environment at AGROLAB, is confident about the future:

“The opening in Wallisellen is a strategic milestone for our European network. By combining the local Swiss expertise of the acquired team with the wide-ranging analytical capabilities of the AGROLAB GROUP, we are creating genuine added value for the Swiss market. We are making a conscious investment here in long-term customer proximity.”

Gradual expansion of the site

The range of analytical services in Wallisellen will be further expanded over the coming months. The aim is to gradually integrate additional methods and services into the site and to continuously expand the range of services on offer to Swiss customers.

The successful launch of laboratory operations marks an important step forward. AGROLAB Umwelt Schweiz AG combines local expertise with the AGROLAB GROUP’s Europe-wide network, thereby laying the foundations for successful, long-term development in the Swiss market.