As part of its climate strategy, the AMAG Group has been working with Climeworks for several years and has concluded a long-term DAC contract. The Swiss company’s core business focuses on permanently removing unavoidable and historical carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Climeworks has set itself the goal of removing one million tonnes of CO₂ from the air and storing it every year between now and 2030.
Important Climeworks milestones in 2024
Financing commitments: in 2024, Climeworks secured significant financial commitments from government and private funding sources. The company received a total of 300 million euros to develop its technologies further and expand its capacities.
New plants: in 2024, Climeworks managed to put several new plants for carbon removal into operation. Of particular note are the plants in Iceland and Norway, which can each remove 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ every year.
Climeworks made some significant technological breakthroughs in 2024. For example, the company developed a new generation (Generation 3) of CO₂ filter materials that increase the efficiency of carbon removal by 50%. The company has also successfully completed pilot projects to integrate carbon removal into industrial processes.
Partnerships and collaborations: Climeworks concluded several strategic partnerships in 2024, including collaborations with leading industrial companies and research institutes.
The owner of the AMAG Group AG is also one of Climeworks’ anchor shareholders.
The cleantech scale-up company Synhelion is helping to defossilise the transport sector by replacing fossil fuels with renewable solar fuels. Synhelion was founded in 2016 as an ETH Zurich spin-off and is now commercialising sun-to-liquid technology. Synhelion’s technology uses solar energy and closes the carbon cycle, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuels. The AMAG Group has held a stake in Synhelion AG since 2021.
The partnership between Synhelion and AMAG is based on the shared vision of significantly reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector and supporting the transition to sustainable energy sources. The companies are planning to implement several projects as part of the partnership, including pilot programmes to use solar fuels in vehicle fleets.
In June 2024, Synhelion opened the world’s first industrial solar fuel production plant in Jülich, Germany. Construction work on Synhelion’s first commercial production plant is also underway in Spain and is set to start producing solar fuel in 2027. The AMAG Group will then acquire and commercialise the solar fuel produced at this location. Offtake agreements have also been signed by the Lufthansa Group with SWISS, as well as Zurich Airport, Pilatus Aircraft, Navigation Company of Lake Lucerne (SGV) and the Arosa Lenzerheide ski resort.
Together with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) and the chemicals manufacturer Motorex, the AMAG Group conducted research into using synfuels in historic vehicles to make them more environmentally friendly.
The project also involved analysing the compatibility, performance and driving characteristics of synthetic fuels in classic cars. EMPA analysed their chemical and mechanical properties and effects on engines, while Motorex provided special lubricants to ensure the longevity of the vehicles and test oil compatibility.
Results and outlook
The tests carried out to date show that synfuels are a suitable and sustainable alternative to conventional fuels for classic cars. They can also help reduce their carbon footprint. There were no changes to components such as seals and hoses and no corrosion of metal alloys. Driving performance and exhaust emissions were either the same or slightly better and there were no abnormalities in the engine oil that could be attributed to the use of synthetic fuels.
This initiative is helping to make historic vehicles more climate friendly and reduce the carbon footprint of this sector.
In addition to our commitment to sustainable mobility, the AMAG Group also takes responsibility for culture, education and society. We promote cultural exchange in Switzerland and help to make culture accessible to everyone by entering into long-term partnerships with renowned institutions.
Bringing automotive history to life
A passion for vehicles is deeply rooted in AMAG’s DNA, and we consciously pass this enthusiasm on to future generations. At the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, AMAG played a key role in constructing the Road Transport Hall. Visitors can immerse themselves in the history of mobility, see historical models and explore the technical development of the automotive industry.
The museum is also home to the AMAG play garage for children, where they can playfully repair vehicles and drive through a car wash.
Another highlight is the special exhibition entitled «75 Years of Montage Schinznach», which opened in 2024 and commemorates a previously unknown part of AMAG’s history. Since 2024, the AMAG Group has championed sustainable energy production with its «Tiny Planet» installation in the House of Energy at the Museum of Transport, highlighting the importance of renewable energy for the mobility of the future.
Music brings people together, and that is exactly why AMAG has been involved in the classical music scene for decades. The roots of this commitment go back to the 1960s, when Walter Haefner began sponsoring the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. Today, his son Martin Haefner continues this tradition. AMAG is the exclusive main partner of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, supporting an outstanding ensemble that delights both national and international music lovers.
In addition, the AMAG Group’s public performances at the Zurich Opera House give a wide audience access to first-class opera and ballet performances at discounted prices. This initiative helps to ensure that culture is not just reserved for an exclusive target group but is accessible to everyone.
Family Business Award: promoting entrepreneurial values
As a value-based family business, the AMAG Group is actively committed to the importance and future of family businesses. Since 2012, the AMAG Group has presented its Family Business Award to a particularly sustainable and responsibly managed Swiss family business every year. In 2024, the coveted award was presented to Max Zeller Söhne AG, which has been an expert in top-quality herbal remedies for 160 years.
