You can already see them from the A1 at Safenwil AG: the many cars stacked on a huge area, framed by a concrete wall. They belong to the B. Wilhelm car recycling of owner Andreas Hauri (61). He’s trying to get rid of his junkyard. However, the price has to be right.
A tour of the area makes it clear: A potential buyer has to understand something about the scrap business. There are cars everywhere. Old, newer, rusty ones or those that are barely recognizable because they have been here for so long that nature has almost swallowed them up. “But there are also wagons that you could possibly do something with,” explains Hauri. Like an old bus that he had to pick up for disposal: “I’m still looking for an idea what to do with it.”
Around 800 vehicles at 18,000 m2
It also happens again and again that a beautiful classic car is disposed of. “My heart always bleeds,” says Hauri. “Although I know for sure that you can no longer use it.”
There are currently around 800 vehicles on its 18,000 m2 large area that he bought from his predecessor Bruno Wilhelm in 2009 for a price that he does not want to reveal. On the other hand, he proudly says: “There is actually space for 1,300 cars on the site.”
Many of those in the car junkyard, which has been around for 60 years, look as if nothing is broken in them. “Nowadays people want a new car much faster and dispose of the old cart even if the slightest damage occurs,” says Hauri. “These are patched up and sold abroad by subtenants of mine.”
“You don’t get rich in this business”
Other vehicles that have actually reached the end of their kilometers would be broken down into usable individual parts. Hauri: “They are also sold, but only in Switzerland.” Only the damaged vehicles with total write-offs would be resold practically untouched for shredding after a certain period of time.
But you don’t get rich in this business, says Hauri. “It always depends on the current scrap prices,” he says. “If someone brings us an old car that doesn’t cost us anything to dispose of, it’s free.” If, however, he has a financial outlay himself, “it will cost a couple of Franks”. He could not give concrete figures. “The price always depends on the individual case.” There have been times when he even had to pay 60 francs to even pick up a ton of scrap.
“And anyway,” says Hauri, “the times are no longer like they used to be.” The conditions are tough to run a car recycling. “You always have to make sure that the liquids are removed from the cars immediately.” In addition, regular controls would take place, “which of course we have always passed”.
Purchase price is “a matter of negotiation”
Nevertheless: Of five employees, only he and one other person remained. “We also felt the corona phase,” says Hauri. In addition, he is “no longer the youngest”. This is why the trained chimney sweep decided to sell his car recycling. “If the right buyer comes, I’ll make a switch.” Hauri doesn’t want to say how much the car recycling costs. “It’s a matter of negotiation – but certainly in the single-digit million range.”
As an early retiree, Hauri would not be lazy. “I would continue to work in the trade,” he says. He has also been running a car garage for 35 years and has been building his own three-wheeled vehicles, so-called trikes, for 30 years. “And if all else fails, I can still pursue my favorite leisure activity – yodelling and singing.”