SSP Kälteplaner arranges succession with management buy-out

SSP Kälteplaner from Oensingen is implementing its succession plan with a management buy-out. After 32 years under the management of Beat and Jeannine Schmutz, the Swiss planning and engineering company for refrigeration technology is passing into the hands of an internal team of three. Long-standing employees Fabian von Allmen, Mario Bernhofen and Michael Moser take over responsibility as the new owners.

The announcement of the succession solution took place on March 21, 2026 in front of around 200 invited guests as part of SSP's midsummer celebrations and, alongside the fireworks, was a highlight of the event. For the company, the handover marks an important milestone in its history.

Carefully planned handover

Future-oriented, as SSP has always planned refrigeration solutions, the succession plan was also carefully prepared, sustainably set up and implemented in line with the company's values. With the chosen solution, SSP is relying on continuity from its own ranks. The new owners have been with the company for many years, have broad expertise in refrigeration planning and management experience and have made a significant contribution to the technical and entrepreneurial development of SSP in recent years.

Fabian von Allmen takes over the management, Mario Bernhofen and Michael Moser are responsible for the areas of technology, quality assurance and finance as members of the management.

Continuity as a key strength

The previous owners Beat and Jeannine Schmutz will remain active in the company and support the transition phase - Beat Schmutz as Chairman of the Board of Directors and member of the Executive Board. Jeannine Schmutz-Zäch is responsible for accounting as a member of the Executive Board. Operational responsibility lies with the new team of owners with immediate effect.

«With this succession solution, we are ensuring the continuity and independence of the company and at the same time creating the basis for stable long-term development. It was always our wish to solve the company succession internally with an MBO. We are convinced that SSP is in the best hands with Fabian, Mario and Michael,» summarizes Beat Schmutz.

The existing team of employees with their extensive know-how and broad professional expertise will be retained. For customers and business partners, this means familiar contact persons, continuity in quality, reliability and project management.

Focus on decarbonization and natural refrigerants

Strategically, SSP continues to pursue a clear course: the company will continue to be managed independently, sustainably and with a high level of technical depth. The focus is on healthy organic growth, long-term customer relationships and technical excellence. At the same time, existing expertise will be developed further in a targeted manner and new fields of activity in the area of decarbonization will be opened up. These include energy-efficient overall systems, the consistent further development of natural refrigerants and integral solutions for reducing CO₂ emissions in industrial and commercial buildings.

«Today, SSP is one of the most important planning companies for refrigeration technology. The fact that we are able to help plan the largest industrial refrigeration systems in Switzerland is primarily thanks to the previous owner Beat Schmutz. We are taking over a strongly positioned company with a high level of professional credibility and will do everything in our power to further develop this basis in a targeted manner,» says Fabian von Allmen, representing the MBO team, summarizing the desired goal.

The new owner team

Fabian von Allmen (35), Managing Director of SSP Kälteplaner, completed further training in construction management and business administration following his apprenticeship as a refrigeration fitter. After completing his bachelor's degree in building technology at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, he continued his career as a project manager at SSP from 2017. In 2024, he took over the position of Deputy Managing Director at SSP.

Mario Bernhofen (49), a member of the management team at SSP Kälteplaner, studied energy technology at the HTWK Leipzig, specializing in TGA and graduated with a degree in engineering. He joined the SSP team in 2011 and has been a member of the management team since 2017. The experienced expert in refrigeration and energy technology is responsible for technical management and quality assurance at SSP.

Michael Moser (33), member of the management team at SSP Kälteplaner, has been working as a project manager for refrigeration planning at SSP since 2021 and is responsible for implementing challenging projects for SSP's industrial customers. Originally a heating planner, Moser trained at the Higher Technical College for Building Technology, GIBB Bern to become an HF technician specializing in refrigeration.

SSP has been planning and implementing customized refrigeration solutions for industry and commerce for 32 years - with a focus on energy efficiency, sustainability and technical quality. This is why only natural refrigerants are used. The company is known for its depth of expertise, its personal support and its commitment to developing refrigeration solutions that really make sense.

More information: www.kaelteplaner.ch/