VSAS - Verband Schaltanlagen und Automatik Schweiz

What VSAS - Verband Schaltanlagen und Automatik Schweiz does

VSAS - Verband Schaltanlagen und Automatik Schweiz, operating under the parallel names USAT (French) and USAQ (Italian), is a Swiss professional trade association founded in 1974 that serves the switchgear construction and industrial automation sector. Headquartered in Biel/Bienne with 16 employees and a network of 7 regional sections, the association represents approximately 186 active member companies, 107 sympathizing supplier members, 59 individual professionals, and 17 honorary members; member companies collectively employ more than 3,000 workers and generate over CHF 500 million in annual revenue. The association is the official responsible body for federal professional examinations in switchgear construction and automation in Switzerland, and is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 21001, and eduQua.

The core product portfolio is anchored on training and certification. VSAS operates a multi-tier training pipeline delivered from its own Ausbildungszentrum in Biel/Bienne, including the Fachkraft Schaltanlagenbau certificate, the federal Berufsprüfung Projekt- und Werkstattleiter (5 modules, 448 lessons), and the federal Meister Schaltanlagen und Automatik diploma (5 modules, 400 lessons). The association also issues the VSAS/USAT/USAQ Quality Label (3-year validity, independent audit), maintains standardized Kalkulationsgrundlagen (calculation bases) for switchgear pricing, operates the Branchenlösung Arbeitssicherheit Nr. 67 sector safety solution including KOPAS training, publishes the VSAS-INFO magazine three times per year, runs a job board, and delivers the annual Schaltanlagen Praktikertag practitioner conference in partnership with Electrosuisse.

Revenue is generated through a combination of recurring annual membership fees across multiple tiers (Vollmitglied, Sympathiemitglied A/B, Einzelmitglied), training course fees with member-discounted pricing (Meister full package CHF 16,800-19,800, individual modules CHF 2,755-4,500), Quality Label audit and certification fees, partner-affiliate benefits (Shell fuel card with 6 Rp./liter rebate), and event income. Course participants who sit the federal examination receive a 50% federal subsidy on eligible course fees. The association's strategic positioning rests on its statutory role as a federal examination body, its 50-year brand, its deeply embedded supplier and institutional partner network (ABB, Wago, Harting, Hager, Electrosuisse, SUVA, Swissmem, Swissmechanic), and its trilingual service coverage across the German, French, and Italian regions of Switzerland.

Name

VSAS - Verband Schaltanlagen und Automatik Schweiz

Legal name

Verband Schaltanlagen und Automatik Schweiz

Website

https://vsas.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VSAS (Verband Schaltanlagen und Automatik Schweiz), founded in 1974, is a Swiss professional trade association serving approximately 200 active member companies in the switchgear construction and industrial automation sector, delivering federal professional examinations, quality certification, training programs, and industry events from its Biel/Bienne headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Trade Association Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safety, Compliance & Regulatory (OSHA/HSE/GxP) Certifications (EDAAANAJ), Professional & Occupational Licensing Examination Authorities (EDADAFAD), EHS Auditing, Inspections & Assurance (BPAHAJAG)

Keywords

• Switchgear association
• Professional certification
• Automation training
• Industrial membership
• Occupational safety services

Headquarters

HQ city

Biel/Bienne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: VSAS generates revenue through annual membership fees from active members, sympathizing members, individual members, and honorary members. Membership categories include Vollmitglied (full member), Sympathiemitglied A and B, and Einzelmitglied (individual member).
2. Professional Training Courses: The association offers preparation courses for federal professional exams (Projekt- und Werkstattleiter, Meister Schaltanlagen und Automatik), with module-based pricing. Course fees vary by membership status, with subsidies available for federal examination participants.
3. Quality Label Certification: Revenue from issuing and maintaining the VSAS/USAT/USAQ Quality Label certification to member companies, including audit fees and certificate renewal.
4. Shell Fuel Card Program: VSAS offers Shell tank cards to members with fuel discounts (6 Rp. rebate per liter), providing member benefits through this partner program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VSAS is a Swiss professional trade association for the switchgear and automation industry, founded in 1974. It delivers membership services, professional training and federal examination preparation (Projekt- und Werkstattleiter, Meister Schaltanlagen und Automatik), a three-language quality label certification program (VSAS/USAT/USAQ), industry-specific workplace safety solutions (KOPAS), quarterly market sentiment surveys, technical documentation, and an annual practitioner conference. The association operates a training center in Biel/Bienne and organizes activities through seven regional sections across Switzerland.

Product overview

VSAS (Verband Schaltanlagen und Automatik Schweiz) is a Swiss professional association for the switchgear and automation industry, founded in 1974. The organization offers a portfolio of professional services including the VSAS Quality Label certification, professional training programs (Projekt- und Werkstattleiter im Schaltanlagenbau and Meister Schaltanlagen und Automatik), industry events (Schaltanlagen Praktikertag), statistical services (Stimmungsbarometer), technical documentation resources, job board services, and workplace safety solutions. The association operates its own training center in Biel/Bienne and publishes the VSAS-INFO magazine. VSAS is not a software product company but a membership-based industry association providing certification, education, and networking services to approximately 200 active member companies in Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VSAS Quality Label Certification (VSAS/USAT/USAQ)

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% federal subsidy on eligible course fees for examination participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FinderminorOthersComponent supplier partner listed on VSAS website, providing relay and connection technology solutions.
• EHS Switzerland AGminorOthersPartner company providing products/services to VSAS members, listed in the partners section.
• WisarminorOthersPartner company listed on VSAS website.
• Elvatec AGminorOthersPartner company providing automation/electrical solutions.
• Lovato AGminorOthersPartner company providing electrical components and automation solutions.
• AGRO AGminorOthersPartner company in the VSAS partner network.
• AlmatecminorOthersPartner company in the VSAS partner network.
• OptecminorOthersPartner company in the VSAS partner network.
• WagominorOthersMajor component supplier partner, providing terminal blocks and connection technology.
• SatomecminorOthersPartner company in the VSAS partner network.
• comat RELECOminorOthersPartner company providing relays and contactors.
• HartingminorOthersMajor industrial connector manufacturer partner.
• HagerminorOthersPartner company providing electrical installation solutions.
• ABBminorOthersMajor automation and electrical equipment manufacturer partner.
• VolTech gmbHminorOthersPartner company in the VSAS partner network.
• ElectrosuissecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss electrotechnical association partner for the Schaltanlagen Praktikertag conference. Electrosuisse handles registration for VSAS events with member pricing available.
• ShellcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerShell fuel card partnership offering VSAS members a 6 Rp. discount per liter. This is a member benefit program providing discounted fuel to association members.
• SwissmemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss industry association for mechanical engineering, listed as partner association alongside Swissmechanic. VSAS collaborates with Swissmem on industry initiatives.
• SwissmechaniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss professional association for the metalworking industry, partner association working with VSAS on vocational training and professional development.
• SUVA (Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUVA is a key safety partner, providing the Safety Charter framework (STOP bei Gefahr/Gefahr beheben/Weiterarbeiten) that VSAS participates in. VSAS operates KOPAS safety training and sector solutions in alignment with SUVA guidelines.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swissmem: Swiss mechanical and electrical industry umbrella association. Directly comparable as a national industry association providing training, standards, advocacy and member services to Swiss industrial SMEs, with formal partnership ties to VSAS.
• Electrosuisse: Swiss electrotechnical industry association and core VSAS partner. Directly comparable as a national industry association running standards, training, events (e.g., co-organizing the Schaltanlagen Praktikertag), and serving similar electrical/automation members in Switzerland.
• VSEI (Verband Schweizerischer Elektro-Installationsfirmen): Swiss association of electrical installation companies. Directly comparable as a national trade association governing vocational training, federal examinations and quality standards for the downstream electrical installation market that VSAS's members supply.
• Swissmechanic: Swiss professional association for the metalworking and related trades. Directly comparable as a national trade association delivering vocational training, federal examination support and member services in adjacent industrial trades, partnered with VSAS.

Others

• SUVA (Schweizerische Unfallversicherungsanstalt): Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund and core VSAS safety partner. Not a direct competitor but an enabler/ecosystem partner: VSAS implements SUVA's Safety Charter framework through Branchenlösung Nr. 67, so the two are functionally coupled for workplace safety training.

Emerging players

• BG ETEM (Berufsgenossenschaft Energie Textil Elektro Medienerzeugnisse): German statutory accident insurance and occupational safety body for the energy/electrical sector. Comparable in operating the equivalent of VSAS's Branchenlösung Arbeitssicherheit Nr. 67 and KOPAS training in the energy/electrical domain, but as a regulatory rather than member-funded body.
• DGQ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Qualität): German quality management and certification body. Comparable in operating independent-audit quality label/certification programs of the kind that underpin VSAS's Quality Label, though with a broader cross-industry scope.

Broad incumbents

• VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau): German mechanical and plant engineering industry association. Comparable as a large industry body providing vocational training, sector solutions for occupational safety (Branchenlösungen) and industry statistics - the same bundle of services VSAS offers at Swiss scale.
• ZVEI (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie): German electrical industry trade association. Comparable as a much larger industry association covering electrical, automation and switchgear manufacturers; relevant cross-border reference for VSAS's standards, training and advocacy role.
• Orgalim: European technology industry association (formerly CECIMO). Comparable as the European-level umbrella for electrotechnical/automation associations, including Switzerland; relevant for benchmarking how VSAS positions training and standards at a smaller national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vsas

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VSAS - Verband Schaltanlagen und Automatik Schweiz