Schoeller Textiles – one of the longest-established technical textile companies, known for its many innovative performance fabrics, smart finishes and sustainability-oriented technologies – is in the final stages of closing down manufacturing at its Sevelen facility in Switzerland.

It has been a family-owned business since 1868 and historically operated weaving, finishing and technology development facilities in Sevelen.

While not shutting down altogether as a brand, the Sevelen plant closure is inevitably being driven by high labour and energy costs, aligned with a strong Swiss franc and weak market demand. These factors have made it to produce specialised technical fabrics in Switzerland.

“Accepting the necessity to cease operations in Sevelen was extremely difficult for us,” said Schoeller’s chairman of the board Franz Albers. “In the past years, we have left no stone unturned to make production in Seleven more competitive. However, the combination of structural disadvantages and weak demand in the outdoor clothing market proved too big an obstacle to return to profitability.”

Some 170 jobs have been affected by the closure and the shutdown has been organised over a transition period during 2025 to manage existing orders and provide support to employees.

In August, Schoeller Textil AG sold its Schoeller Technologies division – a business unit responsible for licensing and marketing its textile technologies – to Swiss textile chemical firm Textilcolor AG. As a result, parts of the company’s intellectual property and technology-related operations are being transferred, and will remain active under new ownership rather than disappearing.

While Swiss manufacturing in Sevelen is closing, the company intends to continue producing its high-tech textiles in collaboration with partners in Asia, including Formosa Taffeta in Taiwan, and at its Eschler Textil subsidiary operation in Germany.

www.schoeller-textiles.com