In 1970, mining engineer Dr Rudolf Amberg founded the Hagerbach Test Gallery as a research and development facility for tunnel construction.
The focus was initially on testing drill and explosives technology: between 1974 and 1976, the blasting facility and blasting chamber were built, the firing gallery and the observation bunker were constructed, and a second access point was created to allow operation with circulating air.
1979 the marks the date for the opening of the canteen and the beginning of our gastronomy activities, a business that has not stopped growing since then.
In the 1980s, a shooting range was constructed for the investigation of mechanical properties on artillery.
The opening of the building materials test laboratory in 1984 was a significant change of course with respect to the services offered at VSH.
Our independence and expertise is continuously under review and has been confirmed by accreditation from SAS since 1994.
The following years saw the construction of a concrete plant to assist with concrete injection tests (1995) and the development of special education and training courses to expand our range of services with respect to tunnel safety.
In December 2024, the Federal Council designated our Hagerbach Test Gallery as a “research infrastructure of national importance”. This recognition is not only a significant milestone for us, but also proof of Swiss innovative strength, future-oriented research and pioneering technologies. The federal government's recognition marks the start of a new chapter for the Hagerbach Test Gallery, which is full of exciting developments.
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