Stöckli Ski Manufacture: From Research Lab to the Slopes

At the Stöckli manufacture in Malters near Lucerne, wood, fibres, and resins come together like elements of a carefully composed symphony. At the last remaining ski manufacturer in Switzerland, traditional craftsmanship and automated processes merge. The skilled eye and years of experience complement reproducible, machine precision work: Adjustments and perfection are achieved by hand. Each pair of skis emerges from a constant dialogue between manual expertise and industrial methods. Additionally, another driving force works in the background: scientific research.

"If you want to optimize a ski, you must understand how skiers, material, and snow interact," explains Mathieu Fauve, head of the company's research and development department. This approach involves several disciplines: tribology, biomechanics, dynamics, or surface physics. Snow is a highly complex and unpredictable material, and its reactions are not yet fully understood.The scientific interest at Stöckli serves a purposeful role, fueling the group’s growth for decades. Over the past ten years, the company has increased its sales from around 35,000 pairs of skis to almost 80,000 pairs per year. Today, 65 percent are exported, with estimated revenues nearing 60 million Swiss Francs. This economic momentum also creates new jobs. Stöckli now employs 220 to 250 people, including around 80 in production at the Malters location — twice as many as ten years ago.

The Skis of Marco Odermatt

The research team has expanded from two to five persons. "We have hired new employees in recent years, which is certainly not the norm in the ski industry," says Mathieu Fauve. In a period when many brands are shifting production to Asia, the Lucerne SME has taken a different path: It remains committed to its Swiss location and emphasizes close collaboration with universities and research labs.

The importance of the scientific contribution is demonstrated by looking at Davos. Here, the SLF, the renowned Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research and a proven partner of Stöckli, is located. Together with the SLF team, the company has analyzed the characteristics and behavior of ice crystals depending on temperature and humidity. This collaboration resulted in faster bases with less snow friction.

This slight speed gain can determine a race. The results of this research are also embedded in the skis of Olympic champion Marco Odermatt, who is contracted with the Swiss outfitter. The races in downhill, Super-G, and giant slalom serve as an extended laboratory. "Innovations that we develop for top-level sports often flow into serial models for popular sports," explains Mathieu Fauve. Science provides the impulse, competition confirms the research.

A Tortoise Shell as a Starting Point for Innovation

One of Stöckli’s most unusual projects began far from the slopes with a scientific publication on the structure of tortoise shells. During a seminar on bio-inspired materials, researcher Véronique Michaud from the EPFL’s Laboratory for Composite and Polymer Technology was inspired by this architecture from the animal kingdom. Tortoise shells behave flexibly or rigidly depending on the load.

Could a ski also respond adaptively? This idea led to collaboration with Stöckli in 2016. "This project is exemplary of our approach: Research sends a signal, we evaluate its relevance in collaborative work, and eventually, the industrial implementation follows," summarizes Mathieu Fauve. This was also the case here: A study opened new doors, prototypes emerged in the workshop, and test series began. Nearly three years elapsed from the idea to serial production. Years later, this technology is still present in several of the brand’s models. It’s original, effective, and easy to explain in ski sales. A perfect example of successful collaboration between research and application.

Hand in Hand with Universities

For its R&D projects, Stöckli regularly relies on Switzerland’s academic ecosystem. "It’s a win-win situation: At Stöckli, we progress faster, and the universities can fund positions, publish and gain visibility.” Currently, the company is examining the durability of its products and aims to reduce biomechanical stress so that ski enthusiasts tire less quickly. These issues create new partnerships with students and research centers, proving that the innovation cycle never truly closes.

This dynamic extends beyond the production site in Malters: Involved are a network of predominantly European suppliers and over a thousand distribution partners worldwide, as well as ten own sports retail shops in Switzerland (5 permanent and 5 seasonal). Stöckli’s growth is stimulated by cooperation with the research world, enriching the entire region and reinforcing Switzerland’s image as a center of excellence.

The text of this news and further information is available on the website of the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Press contact:
Swiss National Science Foundation
Communication Department
Email: com@snf.ch

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