Bucher Specials consists of several independent businesses: machinery and equipment for winemaking (Bucher Vaslin), systems and machinery for processing fruit juice, drying food and dewatering municipal and industrial sludge (Bucher Unipektin) as well as the Swiss distributorship for tractors and agricultural machinery (Bucher Landtechnik). In 2010, Bucher Specials generated CHF 190 million in sales with some 550 employees.

A passion for grapes and wine, coupled with decades of experience, has made Bucher Vaslin the world's leading manufacturer of premium quality equipment for winemaking. Bucher's DELTA destemmer prevents the grapes from bursting or being damaged. Versatile in adapting to different grape varieties, the Bucher tank press produces superior grape must. Bucher VINIMATIC fermentation vessels give control over the wine quality, ensuring maximum extraction of flavour, colour and tannins. Bucher CLIMAT chillers provide the best temperatures for vinification. Bucher Vaslin cross-flow filters are a byword for perfectly clear still wines and stable sparkling wines, maintaining the properties and characteristics of traditional wines. Bucher OSMOTOP concentrators promote enrichment of the grape must and retain the specific character of the terroir. Local field service is provided by our global network of distributors, trained and supported by Bucher Vaslin technicians, to assure 24-hour service worldwide.

The product portfolio of the beverage technologies business unit encompasses machinery and equipment for processing fruit and vegetables into not-from-concentrate juices, concentrates and purées, for manufacturing milk powder and for vacuum drying malt, coffee and other natural extracts. High quality products and services have positioned Bucher Unipektin as the world's market leader in fruit juice processing equipment. Bucher's fruit reception lines are designed to satisfy the most rigorous standards of hygiene in cleaning the raw material. Then highly sophisticated mills ensure optimised mash preparation. With its drainage system, the Bucher hydraulic press with a self-optimising control system gives a maximum juice yield with very low sediment content. Equipped with organic, ceramic or metal membranes, Bucher's cross-flow membrane filtration systems produce clear and stable juices, while adsorption and ion exchange systems improve the long-term stability of the products. The multistage vacuum evaporators come with integrated distillation columns for aroma recovery. This array of products is rounded off by vacuum and freeze drying systems that are designed in particular for producing malt beverages, coffee, instant soups and natural extracts and allow products to be dried gently to retain their flavour.

Environmental technologies
The large installed base of drying systems in the food industry has earned Bucher Drytech recognition as the world's leading expert in vacuum drying technology. Highly specialised vacuum drying systems allow products to be dried gently to retain their flavour. A vacuum drying cabinet provides a wide range of conditions for processing a variety of products. Zeodration vacuum systems ensure high flavour retention when drying fresh and frozen products.

Operating in Switzerland, Bucher Landtechnik offers a range of products tailored specifically to the needs of Swiss farmers. The company imports New Holland, Case IH and Steyr tractors; Vicon, Deutz Fahr and Taarup hay and forage equipment; and Case IH combine harvesters. Selling the machinery through networks of premium brand dealers across Switzerland, Bucher Landtechnik provides comprehensive advice, training and spare parts services. Most models in the product lines are on display at the New Holland and Case IH Steyr Show Centre in Niederweningen where product specialists are on hand to give you any advice you may need.