Valley partner Bühler recently unveiled the Vocational Fast Track, a new form of vocational training for its customers. The programme enables companies to send employees to Bühler for several weeks or months to complete a compact apprenticeship based on the Swiss model. Classroom instruction at Bühler’s in-house training center is combined with hands-on experience in real production environments.

“The Vocational Fast Track offers companies an unprecedented opportunity to build skills in a focused and efficient way,” said Irene Mark-Eisenring, Chief Human Resources Officer at Bühler. “We bring the strengths of the Swiss dual education system – the close integration of theory and practice – into a compact and scalable format for industrial needs.”

This new offering directly addresses some of today’s most pressing labor market challenges: growing skills shortages, increasingly flexible and unstable job markets, and rising education costs. In this context, continuous training and upskilling are becoming increasingly important.

A pioneer in vocational training for over a century 

Bühler has been a pioneer in vocational training for more than 110 years, having trained its first apprentices as early as 1915. Since then, the company has continuously advanced and modernized its approach to vocational education. The Vocational Fast Track initiative builds on this foundation and reflects Bühler’s broader, long-standing commitment to education and training.

Education is deeply embedded in Bühler’s DNA and spans a wide spectrum – from developing young talent in Switzerland and abroad, to supporting employees through continuous learning, and collaborating with universities, industry associations, and policymakers to help shape the workforce of the future. Apprenticeship programs are run in 26 locations across Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa, and South Asia. Bühler’s ambition extends beyond meeting its own talent needs: it aims to strengthen the wider industrial ecosystem by investing in people and skills.

Today, Bühler trains more than 520 apprentices worldwide, 40% of whom are based outside Switzerland. Since the foundation of the programme in 1915, more than 8,400 young professionals have completed an apprenticeship at Bühler in Switzerland alone.

Dual education: an economic success model

The Swiss dual education system is internationally recognized for its strong integration of theory and practice. It delivers high job placement rates and excellent career mobility. Around 70% of Swiss students choose an apprenticeship in one of more than 230 recognized professions. This contributes to one of the lowest youth unemployment rates in the world, below 4%. Sonja Studer, Head of Education at the Swiss industry association Swissmem, said: “The economic success of Switzerland – and of Bühler – is closely linked to the dual education system. It ensures a steady pipeline of skilled workers, aligns education with industry needs, and strengthens innovation power.”

From Switzerland to the world

Bühler recognized the strategic value of dual education early on and began internationalizing the Swiss model years ago. Today, Bühler runs apprenticeship programs in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, India, South Africa, Brazil, and the United States. Global vocational training hubs are located in cities such as Minneapolis, Raleigh, Johannesburg, Bengaluru, Zamberk, and Curitiba.

The Swiss dual education system could play a vital role in solving current education and workforce challenges, especially in the United States. In the US, the skills gap in manufacturing exceeds 1 million unfilled positions, half of them in the industrial sector. At the same time, the cost of a college education ranges from USD 26,000 to 60,000 per year, making formal education inaccessible for many. Apprenticeships are still often viewed as a “second choice” compared to university degrees, and there is a lack of consistent national standards. Tracy Bayer, Head of Human Resources North America at Bühler, explained: “The US urgently needs scalable, cost-effective workforce development models. The Swiss dual education system is a proven solution: it is affordable, delivers high-quality skills, and creates direct pathway into qualified jobs. With our Swiss-style apprenticeship program at the Bühler Apprentice Academy in North Carolina and Minnesota, we are showing how this can work in practice.” Bühler’s US programs combine community college education with on-the-job training at Bühler facilities. Graduates earn associate degrees and journeyman certificates, with many moving into full-time roles within the company.

Education as a shared responsibility

Bühler works closely with industry associations such as Swissmem, policymakers, and local communities to adapt the dual system to different cultural and economic contexts. Irene Mark-Eisenring said: “Only through partnerships between companies, governments, and educational institutions can vocational training succeed internationally. It is a model that benefits not just individual companies but entire economies.” With the Vocational Fast Track, Bühler is taking another bold step to globalize the Swiss education model, making it more accessible and modular for the needs of industrial customers around the world.

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Nestlé today announced the strengthening of its R&D expertise in biotechnology and the creation of a new center for deep tech, to boost its innovation pipeline and increase efficiency in research, innovation and operations.

Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé S.A. said: “These new capabilities in bio tech and deep tech will fuel growth by meeting changing consumer needs and accelerating the digital transformation of Nestlé. This is about putting the Nestlé Virtuous Circle in action: unlocking investment through efficiencies to drive more focused and impactful innovation and growth.”

Enhanced R&D expertise in cutting-edge biotechnology and clinical research will lead to new nutritional solutions. This will further bolster Nestlé’s consumer-centric innovation pipelines for maternal, early life and medical nutrition, and support new growth platforms such as healthy longevity, women’s health and weight management. Science-based solutions will also be leveraged for Nestlé’s pet care business, including pet therapeutics. New capabilities include the development of the next generation of screening assays, enhanced capabilities in precision fermentation, as well as a re-enforced clinical research program. These competences will drive significant advances in precision nutrition and the development of new generations of highly effective bio-actives and biotics including post- and synbiotics.

The creation of a center for deep tech will be a first-of-its-kind in the food and nutrition industry. Nestlé will build on existing expertise in sensor systems, solutions for product recognition, remote control and display solutions. The new center will screen, test and develop new generations of sensors, robots, coding systems, high-performing AI and virtual/mixed reality solutions to increase efficiency in research, innovation and operations. New technologies will enable the development of smart coffee machines, innovative solutions for precision nutrition, self-controlling equipment and new solutions for dynamic quality assurance. The center will be officially opened in the first half of 2026, at the existing facilities of the Nestlé System Technology Center in Orbe, Switzerland.

Stefan Palzer, CTO of Nestlé S.A. said: “We continue to transform our R&D organization to embrace science and technology trends and to seize current and future growth opportunities. The industry-leading biotechnology capabilities will deliver new ingredients with clinically proven bio-efficacy for precision nutrition for people and pets along their entire lifespan. The upscaling of our unique capabilities in deep tech are key to maximize efficiency in innovation and operations. And all of this is powered by a leaner and more agile R&D organization.”

Nestlé’s global R&D organization responds to business and consumer needs, as well as to environmental and technology trends by leveraging its industry-leading science and technology platforms. In close collaboration with the commercial teams and with a clear focus on fewer but impactful projects, R&D develops differentiating product and technology innovation fueling Nestlé’s growth.

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Swiss tech leader Bühler Group has integrated NapaRoast’s advanced steam vacuum pasteurization technology into its nut processing portfolio, enhancing food safety, efficiency, and sustainability. This strategic move positions Bühler as a comprehensive solution provider amid growing global demand for healthy, traceable snacks.

Swiss technology company Bühler Group has integrated NapaRoast’s pasteurization and roasting technology. With the addition of the NapaRoast steam vacuum pasteurization technology to its broad portfolio, Bühler strengthens its market position in the nuts processing industry to cater even better to trends such as healthy snacking, regulatory compliance, and sustainable practices. “The integration of NapaRoast puts us in the unique position to be a one-stop shop for our customers. The best-in-class pasteurization process guarantees food safety and traceability, and, in combination with our proven technologies for nuts processing, added efficiency. With the integration of the NapaRoast solution into our portfolio, we look forward to sharing the benefits of this technology and serving the NapaRoast customer base – not just for nuts, but for many of the food processing solutions Bühler offers as well,” says Cathrin Flühler, Head of Market Segment Nuts at Bühler.

The global nut market is growing at an annual rate of up to 7%. The popularity and reputation of tree nuts and ground nuts as healthy snacks due to their high levels of protein, fiber, and antioxidants is growing steadily. With this developing worldwide demand comes an increased focus on food safety. NapaRoast’s steam-vacuum pasteurization process provides the best answer to the stringent microbial contamination requirements that processors are facing today. “Our pasteurization process offers a high pathogen reduction of >5 log in nuts, seeds, and all low moisture foods. During our process steam is used to raise the surface temperature of the product to kill pathogens effectively,” explains Dr. Cameon Ivarsson, Co-Founder of NapaRoast. By pasteurizing with saturated steam, the products can be treated effectively at lower temperatures in a partial vacuum. The high efficiency of saturated steam does not require a drying step thus protecting the quality, texture, color, and flavor of the product.

The missing piece to the puzzle

“We already covered the most important steps such as transport, sorting, storage, roasting, and grinding in our portfolio. When it came to the pasteurization process, however, we had to rely on solutions from suppliers. Now, our customers can get all the important technologies along the value chain from Bühler, which creates valuable synergies for everyone involved. This collaboration is a perfect match between two companies with the same values such as quality, ingenuity, and creating value for customers and consumers,” says Cathrin Flühler.

Cameon Ivarsson adds: “With Bühler, there is a huge opportunity to multiply the impact of our pasteurization technologies across the globe. Their large customer base paired with decades of experience in plant and process engineering will get the most out of the technology. We could not be more excited about the future for nuts processing.”

The NapaRoast pasteurization technology is installed in over 40 processing plants around the world, mainly in the United States, Europe, and Africa. Pasteurization and roasting lines are offered in throughputs ranging from 1 tonne per hour to 6 tonnes per hour. Because of the unique design of the process where the product is treated in bulk bins, there is no breakage, dust, and waste, and down time for product changeover is minimized. Its flexibility allows for the processing of whole pieces, chopped ingredients or powders as well.

A unique playground for nuts processors

To showcase its position in nuts processing and to give customers the unique opportunity to test and train along the value chain, Bühler has upgraded its Flavor Creation Research and Training Center in Uzwil, Switzerland. “Of course, the pasteurization step is integrated into our state-of-the-art facility for our customers to get first-hand experience of the technology. We are excited to open our center in August this year for trials and to invite them to the first exclusive training session on November 4 and 5,” says Cathrin Flühler.

More information about Bühler’s Research and Training Centers can be found here.

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