Buy company addresses in Winterthur

From industrial location to technology hub

Over the past two decades, Winterthur has transformed from a former industrial city into a modern service and technology location. The city uses its position in the Canton of Zurich, just 25 minutes by train from Zurich main station, while offering significantly lower rents for office and commercial space. This combination of strong connectivity and lower location costs is attractive for companies that want to remain close to Zurich.

Winterthur's historic industrial culture, once home to Sulzer, Rieter and the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM), has transformed into a network of high-tech SMEs, education and services. Urban development in the Sulzer site and the Technopark district symbolises this shift. Winterthur is growing steadily and, together with nearby Schaffhausen and Kreuzlingen on Lake Constance, is one of the most dynamic locations in north-eastern Switzerland. The population has increased by more than 25 percent over the past 20 years.

AXA, Sulzer, ZHAW: three pillars of the city economy

AXA Insurance has its Swiss headquarters in Winterthur and, with more than 4'000 employees, is the city's largest private employer. The insurance industry has a long tradition in Winterthur; the former "Winterthur Insurance" shaped the city for decades. Sulzer, as an international industrial group, is still based in Winterthur and employs around 1'000 people here in pumps, Chemtech and services.

ZHAW (Zurich University of Applied Sciences), with more than 14'000 students, is one of Switzerland's largest universities of applied sciences and has its main campus in Winterthur. The departments of engineering, health, applied linguistics and the School of Management and Law drive knowledge transfer into the local economy. Technopark Winterthur provides space for more than 60 technology and young companies and acts as a bridge between academic research and entrepreneurial practice. Other important employers include Kantonsspital Winterthur, Zürcher Kantonalbank (regional office) and Burckhardt Compression.

Sulzer site, Neuhegi, Lagerplatz: where the SMEs are based

The city has an above-average SME density, with a mix of established industrial suppliers, modern IT firms and growing service companies. From airport-adjacent Bülach to the Sulzer site, the Lagerplatz district and Neuhegi, several areas have developed into attractive locations for innovative companies. Technopark Winterthur hosts more than 60 young companies and connects academic research with entrepreneurial practice.

The clusters around insurance and financial services, machinery and plant engineering, IT services and healthcare are densely populated. Their reach extends as far as the Thurgau cantonal capital Frauenfeld. ZHAW provides a steady stream of spin-offs in data science, medical technology and energy technology. Many Winterthur SMEs are specialised, internationally active and still locally rooted. The mix of moderate location costs, strong links to Zurich and a robust educational offering makes Winterthur attractive for many companies.

Winterthur still carries traces of its industrial tradition: companies value directness, concrete results and easy-to-understand offers. The local network is tight; anyone who wants to gain a foothold in Winterthur can quickly connect through the trade association, ZHAW alumni networks and the regular innovation aperitifs at Technopark.