Stage 2: Hot weather and cold drinks
Ramona Senoner | 3. July 2025
Today’s tour starts in Zuchwil. Despite it being early in the morning, it’s already hot and sunny. It seems that today is going to be the hottest day of our tour. But of course, that’s not going to stop us from continuing our bike tour! Ramona, our first rider, cycles through the countryside until Niederbipp, where Frédéric takes over. On our way, we spot a stork’s nest, as it’s breeding season. He cycles on to Egerkingen, home to the Swiss igus subsidiary.
Once we arrive, we head up to the Blüemlismatt viewpoint, located 814 metres above sea level. From there, we enjoy spectacular views of the Jura’s hills and valleys. Blüemlismatt is a paradise for nature lovers and hikers. We enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and fresh air to the full. We can already see the igus office from above — of course, we want to say hello to our colleagues!
After visiting the office and taking a short lunch break, Axel hops on the bike and rides to Rivella AG, Switzerland’s second largest soft drinks producer. On our way we pass the Laufkraftwerk Ruppoldingen, a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant located on the Aare River near Boningen. The plant generates around 115 GWh of electricity annually, enough to power thousands of homes. It also features environmental measures like shallow water zones and islands to support local wildlife.
Rivella has been one of the country’s most popular and best-known brands for years. The drink is even listed in the country’s inventory of culinary heritage. Rivella’s unique flavour, resulting from a combination of milk serum obtained from whey and secret fruit and herbal extracts, is both refreshing and mildly sweet with subtle acidity. The drinks are bottled in Rothrist, in the canton of Aargau — with the support of igus! Ismail Ibraimi, Project Manager Technology and Innovation, shows us the bottling plant, in which the Apiro system is used, where we have realized a height adjustment as well as a terrain adjustment.
Watch the full interview with Rivella here:
Our riders:
Ramona Senoner
Hi, my name is Ramona Senoner and I’m 33 years old. I have been working as an Online Marketing Manager at igus Switzerland for over 3 years. My role involves managing our digital presence in the Swiss market, including website maintenance, email marketing, social media and search engine marketing. This tour offers a great opportunity to let customers share their stories with igus motion plastics and to strengthen teamwork within the company, both locally and on an international level. Outside of work, I enjoy travelling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Frédéric Hubler
My name is Frédéric Hubler, I am 47 years old, and I have been working at igus for 9 years. I joined igus in 2016 as Regional Sales Manager for the West region and became Product Manager for energy chains in 2022. In this role, I am responsible for providing strategic support and further developing this product segment. Close dialogue with the entire sales team, as well as cooperation with a large number of customers from a wide range of industries and projects, makes my work particularly varied and exciting. Outside of work, I am interested in VW camper vans and oldtimers. I’m looking forward to testing the igus:bike myself.
Axel Ebert
Hello, I’m Axel Ebert. I started at igus GmbH in Cologne in 2005 as a junior product manager, later moving into technical sales for the North Rhine-Westphalia region. Since 2014, I have been working for igus Switzerland in eastern Switzerland. Since 2019, I have been a Key Account Manager specializing in linear and plain bearing technology for German-speaking Switzerland. Outside of work, I have been passionate about mountain biking for over 30 years and am interested in lubrication-free bike components.
Map of this stage
