Schäfli AG

The Business

Schäfli AG is a moving and shipping company based in Schaffhausen in northeastern Switzerland, operating since 1971 when founder Viktor Schäfli established the business. The firm has grown to become a full-service mover handling private relocations (Privatumzüge), business moves (Geschäftsumzüge), specialty transport (Spezialtransporte), and storage (Lagerung). It is certified by ASTAG PLUS (the Swiss Association of Road Transport Companies' quality certification) and holds membership in FEDEMAC, the Federation of European movers associations representing over 1600 professional moving companies in more than 27 European countries.

The company is also certified by the Swiss Excellence Forum and operates to EFQM standards (Excellence Forum Quality Management), which establish the framework for all work processes documented in an employee handbook. The firm holds a cross-border commercial goods transport license, enabling them to handle international relocations and freight.

What It Does for Someone Arriving

Schäfli arranges complete moves for people relocating to, within, or from Schaffhausen and the surrounding regions. For private individuals arriving from abroad, they manage the transport of household goods, disassembly of furniture before transport, and reassembly at the destination. For businesses relocating offices or operations, they coordinate the logistics of moving equipment, furnishings, and records.

Beyond standard moves, they specialize in tricky relocations: piano transport, safe and machinery transport, and shipments to Spain (regular routes established over years). They also coordinate new-furniture logistics, receiving, storage, inventory management (picking), delivery, and assembly of brand-new furniture for distribution, which suggests they have handled contracts with furniture retailers or wholesalers.

Storage comes in several forms. The firm operates Corlettenlager (Corletten storage, a specific type of climate-controlled facility), individual Möbelbox (furniture boxes), and 20-foot containers for temporary holding of goods. Multiple storage locations are available, and the business operates a workshop for equipment maintenance and repairs.

Company History and Development

The business traces its growth through documented milestones. Founded in 1971 by Viktor Schäfli, the firm acquired the furniture-transport operations of another company (Tanner AG) in 1977, expanding the fleet. In 1982, they constructed dedicated business and residential premises at Schweizersbildstrasse in Schaffhausen. In 1987, Viktor's daughter Beatrice Schäfli and her husband Hanspeter Hümbeli assumed ownership and management. In 1995, they expanded with a modernized workshop to maintain the growing vehicle fleet. In 1999, they added parcel delivery services as the authorized agent for DPD (Schweiz) AG in the Schaffhausen region. In 2005, they acquired Crespo Transporte and began regular Switzerland-Spain transport routes.

The business relocated to expanded premises at Mühlentalstrasse 174, Schaffhausen in 2006. In 2008, they broadened services to include new-furniture logistics (receiving, warehousing, commissions, delivery, assembly for a major furniture retailer). Storage capacity expanded in 2014. In 2017, they began providing external services through their in-house vehicle workshop and continued facility expansion.

Team and Equipment

The firm employs a leadership team of owners and managers plus operational staff. Named leadership includes Beatrice Schäfli Hümbeli (owner and board chair), Hanspeter Hümbeli (owner and board member), Viktor Hümbeli (CEO and board member), and David Hümbeli (workshop manager and board member). Support roles are filled by a personal manager, two move coordinators, a commercial accountant, and apprentices. The operations team includes move specialists (Umzugsfachmann) qualified as drivers and various driver categories (CE, C1E, B classifications), plus supporting equipment specialists and cleaning staff.

Specialized equipment expands their scope. A furniture lift reaches up to 27 meters (nine-story buildings) with a 400-kilogram lifting capacity. A piano-specific lift (Pianoplan) handles pianos, grand pianos, and heavy safes with 600-kilogram capacity. A Bimobil heavy-lift vehicle for safes, machinery, and special equipment lifts up to 3000 kilograms. A staircase mover (Treppensetzer) for safes, machinery, fireproof cabinets, and ovens lifts 500 kilograms. This breadth of specialized equipment explains their capacity to move items beyond typical household moves.

Services and Scope

Standard private moves include disassembly of existing furniture, transport, reassembly, and placement in the new location. A move checklist is provided to clients. For businesses, the firm coordinates office relocations, equipment transport, and logistics planning. They offer packing materials and services. Storage options range from temporary holding during a move to longer-term warehousing.

International service extends beyond Switzerland. They operate regular routes to Spain (with established contacts developed through the 2005 Crespo acquisition) and accept custom shipping to other destinations.

What the Site Does Not Settle

The website does not publish hourly rates, daily rates, or volumetric pricing. You request a quote through their contact form or call directly. The firm does not specify insurance coverage limits, what categories of goods are insured, or what damage compensation applies if items are damaged or lost. For high-value moves, this is important to clarify in writing before committing.

The site mentions storage options (Möbelbox, containers, Corlettenlager) but does not publish pricing, minimum rental terms, or monthly costs. Storage access hours and whether there are weekend or evening access options are not stated. The site does not specify how far in advance you should book for a move during peak seasons (summer).

Language capabilities are not mentioned. All copy is in German. For someone whose primary language is English or French, whether staff speak those languages is unstated.

The site lists specialty equipment and expertise but does not specify rates for specialty transport (pianos, safes, machinery). These moves are priced individually, requiring a custom quote.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not

Schäfli AG is well suited for people relocating within or to Schaffhausen and northeastern Switzerland who have straightforward household moves or require specialized equipment handling. The ASTAG PLUS certification and FEDEMAC membership provide third-party assurance of professional standards. The documented 50-plus-year history with named, stable ownership suggests an established, trustworthy operation.

If you are moving items that require specialty handling, a piano, antique furniture, valuable art, heavy machinery, Schäfli's specialized equipment and long experience with these items make them a good fit. If you have regular transport needs to Spain or established European routes, their routine moves to that destination mean competitive pricing.

The firm is less suitable if you need published pricing before talking to them; their model requires a custom quote. If you are relocating to or from Switzerland's German-speaking regions far from Schaffhausen (such as central Switzerland), you would need to confirm they serve your destination. If English or French is your primary language, German fluency or staff multilingualism should be confirmed upfront.

For a standard apartment move within Schaffhausen or the region, the firm's full-service model and quality certification make them a solid choice, but you will need to request pricing for budget planning.