In conversation with Marcel Perret

Marcel, you started out as a carpenter and have now been working on the Hundegger joinery machine for almost 27 years, what does a typical working day look like for you?

We work in two shifts and I have the privilege of always working the early shift. My day starts at 5.00 am and ends at 2.30 pm. The first thing I do is start up the compressor and the machines. In the meantime, I look at the day's orders. Depending on the job, tools have to be changed in the machine or preparations made.

Then it's a matter of having the joinery produced by the machine. Our aim is for the machines to run all day - from 5.00 am to 10.00 pm. That's why we work in shifts and with staggered break times.

We recently installed a new Hundegger machine. What technical developments or changes have particularly characterised your work over the years?

The new machine is more compact and smaller, but much faster for simple processing tasks such as post and beam trimming. In terms of operation, however, it is very similar to our previous Hundegger.

I have been lucky enough to experience the great technological leaps over the years. When I started 39 years ago, there was neither CAD nor joinery machines. Everything was drawn by hand, calculated and processed using manual machines.

The first joinery machine can no longer be compared with today's systems. Back then, all data had to be entered manually. Today, everything comes automatically from CAD.

Thanks to these developments, we are much faster today: it used to take us two to three days to build the roof of a detached house. Today, we can do it in one and a half to two hours at most.

Your connection to wood is also evident in your hobby, axe throwing. That sounds super exciting! How did you get into it?

It came about during my apprenticeship - a few friends and I did demonstrations at school and at the village fair. My wife then gave me a throwing axe for Christmas. I've been practising at home ever since. That's how my interest in collecting axes developed.

Which axe from your collection would you highlight as particularly exciting - and why? How many are already in your collection?

I have ordered many of my axes online from America. Here in Switzerland, I find some at flea markets or in second-hand shops. I also have a few pieces from Sweden, as we often go there on holiday. I have around 250 axes in total. The most valuable is a Black Raven axe, which is worth between 1,000 and 1,500 francs because of its coveted pattern.

25 years in the fire service - a remarkable time! Is there an experience from your time in the fire brigade that you particularly remember?

I was in the squad and was commander for six years. That was a wonderful time with many wonderful, but also sad moments. I'll never forget one experience: we were on a training drive in beautiful summer weather. An old VW Beetle drove in front of us, smoking heavily. A few hundred metres further on, we realised that it wasn't just smoking - it was on fire!

The driver hadn't even noticed. We overtook him with blue lights and sirens, slowed him down and drew his attention to it. He didn't realise what was going on at first, but was then glad that the fire brigade was already there before he even had to call them.

What advice would you give young people today? Why is it worth joining the fire brigade?

If you have the time, it's definitely worth it. You learn an incredible amount that you can put to good use in civilian life. And it's top training - and it's paid. What's more, the worst thing you can do in an emergency is to do nothing. Every bit of help counts.

In your free time, you like to go hiking with your wife. Which route would you recommend to our employees - perhaps a less well-known one?

A wonderful hike I did this autumn was the Creux du Van - Tour de Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel.