History

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.

Opening of the “VSH Shooting and Training Center AG” shooting range for private and official use. The underground shooting and training center for authorities, hunters and marksmen.

Construction of fire tunnels for safety research in tunnels (early detection, prevention, protective equipment, firefighting, damage repair)

Active in security research since the turn of the millennium. The focus is often on underground spaces and facilities such as tunnels, underground railways, car parks, etc.

In 2010, we took over the exhibition "Alpenqueren" (Crossing the Alps), which came to us from the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne.

The expansion of the Event Cavern is an important step in the catering and events sector, enabling further development and creating unforgettable moments for people in a unique underground location.

Foundation of SCAUT (Swiss Centre of Applied Underground Technologies). The aim of SCAUT is to pool the knowledge, expertise and technologies developed in underground construction and other industrial sectors in order to develop them further as the world's first competence centre of its kind.

The survival of the Earth is the top priority. That is why Mission Earth First connects underground space with outer space, goes beyond the obvious and promotes the planning of sustainable underground spaces.

NXT50 Festival - Hagerbach is celebrating its 50th anniversary with forward-looking projects - streamed live around the world

At the heart of the concept was the Hagerbach snow sports facility, a training and research environment within the mountain that can be used year-round. The plan was to use the existing infrastructure of the Hagerbach Test Gallery and expand it in a targeted manner.

Hagerbach Test Gallery is looking for pioneering startups to develop solutions for the visionary idea of living on Mars or other planets. Solutions include those that offer products/services that could make life on Mars possible. Be it solutions for constructing buildings/caverns, energy, air or water management, health & safety, transportation, food production, or communication. The ultimate goal is a self-sustaining habitat based on the principles of a circular economy.

Platform for the harmonised development, prototyping and installation of new technologies that promote best practices for the sustainable use and storage of energy and combine above-ground and underground facilities.

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.

After many years of successful cooperation between Gusatest GmbH and VSH AG, the takeover of Gusatest GmbH by VSH AG is seen as a strategic development of both companies. This takeover demonstrates our mutual trust and confirms our shared strengths and future prospects. With this takeover, we are expanding our service range and strengthening our market position. We now have four laboratory sites and access to a team of highly qualified experts, including laboratory technicians, engineers, geologists and material scientists. This strategic expansion creates new opportunities for us and enables us to better respond to our customers' needs.