From the first toothbrush to the globally active company

At the end of the 19th century the company already had a workforce of 30 who were mainly employed to manufacture hair and household brushes. It wasn’t until 1903 that the first toothbrush was produced in Triengen. At the end of the 1930s, manual tufting machines largely replaced the work done solely by hand. Tufting machines and various semi-automatic processes were among the most important innovations of the 1940s. In the 1950s, together with the University of Zurich, the first academic paper on toothbrushes was published. Since the mid-1960s, the participative management and participation model has turned employees into co-entrepreneurs. The concentration of the Swiss brush industry and strong growth of TRISA characterized the seventies and eighties. In 1989, TRISA took over the Walther brand and the brush factory Ebnat Kappel AG. In 1996, the sales company TRISA Bulgaria GmbH was founded, and in 1998, TRISA Accessoires AG, another parent company division, became independent.

TRISA History
In 1836, four young men from Triengen, in the canton of Lucerne, set about exporting the local art of linen-weaving to Wiesenthal, a valley in the Black Forest. Whilst there, they learnt the art of brush making. In 1885, commercial brush production started up in Triengen. Two years later, however, operations had to be closed down. In 1887, six citizens from Triengen founded yet another brush factory, known today as TRISA. The new entrepreneurs were blessed with a pioneering spirit, a belief in the future and brimming with confidence.
1887
When all started
August 25th – Founding of «Bürstenfabrik AG» in Triengen by six citizens of the village. Share capital CHF 40’000. Ferdinand Kost, known as «Bürstenferdi» becomes the first foreman.
1887
Management
Xaver Pfenniger-Vonarburg takes over as commercial manager.
1902
Activation
Building of a brush wood production plant and commissioning of an own electric power station.
1903
Brushes
Production of the first hand-drawn toothbrushes with wooden handles. Manufacturing of hairbrushes, clothes brushes, hat brushes, moustache brushes, shaving brushes and many other brush types for household and agriculture.
1908
The range is growing
The product catalogue contains 196 brushes for hair- and body care as well as brushes for the farming sector.
1917
Expansion
The main building is extended integrating a new saw mill.
1921
Extension
Meanwhile the product range comprises no less than 39 toot and 150 hairbrush models.
1926
Marketing
First advertising campaign for the «Dora» toothbrush.
1932
Management
Ernst Pfenniger-Häfliger joins the «Bürstenfabrik AG», Triengen and takes over as Managing Director in 1941.
1940
Improvement
Hydraulic tufting machines increasingly replace handdrawing.
1942
Enlargement
Major expansion of the main building.
1948
Change
«Bürstenfabrik AG» , Triengen uses semi-automatic production machinery and changes its name into TRISA, which stems from: TRI – for TRIengen and SA – for Société Anonyme (plc).
1952
First mechanically rounded bristle ends
Scientifically developed toothbrushes with nylon filaments are generated in close cooperation with the Universities of Zurich and Lausanne.
1961
Change of Management
Ernst Pfenniger-Unternährer, lic. nat. oec., joins TRISA and takes over as Managing Director in 1967.
1964
Upgrade
Construction of a new production site in 1964. In 1968 social equality is implemented followed by the employees’ share capital participation in 1972.
1974
Development
Another new building doubles the production area.
1978
New ways
TRISA develops and produces its own electric toothbrush.
1989
Change of leadership
Adrian Pfenniger, lic. oec. HEC, joins TRISA in 1989, his brother Philipp Pfenniger, graduate ETH engineer, in 1994. Both have been members of the Executive Board since the mid-1990s.
1989
Ebnat Starting
Acquisition of the «Walther» brand and the «Bürstenfabrik Ebnat-Kappel AG».
1991
Existence and success
In 1991 TRISA is awarded the «Annual Swiss Marketing Prize» by the Swiss Marketing Association (GfM) and is certified for the first time to the ISO 9001/EN 29001 standard.
1995
Development
Launch of the first 2-component toothbrush «TRISA flexActiv».
1996
Expansion
TRISA Bulgaria GmbH is founded.
1998
Extension
TRISA Accessoires AG is founded.
1998
Expansion
The most modern toothbrush production facility in Europe with a production area of 7,735 m2 is inaugurated. The ecological wooden building with its own 100 kWh solar plant receives various awards. The building is already extended in 2006.
2004
Extension
TRISA Electronics AG constructs its own ecological new building with a 75 kWh solar plant.
2004
Innovation
TRISA launches a world innovation: The sonic toothbrush Sonicpower. In 2006 the company is awarded the «Marketing Trophy» from Swiss Marketing for this product.
2008
Development/Expansion
TRISA AG expands the production plant in «Werk 3» which had been purchased in 2001.
2010
AFT Technology
TRISA becomes the global leader in AFT-technology (Anchor Free Tufting) for toothbrushes.
2013
TRISA installs an oil-free woodchip heating
The age of fossil fuel heating is a thing of the past at TRISA.
2015
Extension
Start-up of the fully automated high-bay warehouse with optimized, environmentally friendly logistics.
2016
Range expansion
Launch of the TRISA Visage and the second generation of TRISA Sonicpower.
2019
Wooden toothbrushes
With TRISA Natural Clean, we launched an environmentally friendly wooden toothbrush. The handle of these toothbrushes is made from FSC-certified Swiss beech wood. The soft bristles and the brush head are based on a renewable raw material obtained from the castor bean plant.
2020
For our environment
Toothbrushes made of sustainable materials are becoming an important market segment. TRISA is pushing the development of high-quality products with environmentally friendly materials.
2023
New IT solution

New ERP system including warehouse management tool and a powerful smart factory solution for optimal planning and control of production processes.