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Velohuus: functional, high-quality bicycle shelters – straight out of Dornach

10-10-2023

Translation: Katherine Martin

Dornach-based company Velohuus GmbH has been producing high-quality bike shelters for five years. And in sticking to their local roots, they’ve given the regional economy a boost. Here’s what happened when I visited the SME’s headquarters a few kilometres outside the city of Basel.

It’s a rainy Monday morning in September. Perfect weather for the matter at hand – bicycle shelters. I’ve come to Dornach, a few kilometres outside of the city of Basel, to pay Velohuus a visit (website in German). Founded in the Solothurn municipality by Urs Widmer and Marco Schäuble in 2018, the SME has been producing high-quality bicycle shelters in Dornach ever since.

Managing director and co-founder Marco Schäuble in Velohuus’ Dornach workshop.
Source: Patrick Bardelli

Local manufacturing, community wealth

Marco Schäuble takes pride in being the only Swiss manufacturer to produce all of its bike shelters in-house, keeping a large portion of the added value it creates within the local area. Most Velohuus customers are based in the region or other parts of Switzerland. Although you’ll now find Velohuus shelters in Mallorca, Salzburg and Berlin, the domestic market is the company’s main focus.

The basic raw materials used in manufacturing the bike shelters are aluminum profiles, which are further processed at Velohuus. Not only that, but Velohuus also manufactures the small components needed during the production process itself. A company in the neighbouring municipality of Aesch, Basel-Landschaft carries out the powder coating. Meanwhile, the smallest components, as well as the acrylic glass for the shelters, are purchased elsewhere.

Aluminium blanks ready for further processing.
Source: Patrick Bardelli

Moshe Hinojosa welding an aluminium blank.
Source: Patrick Bardelli

Consultations, assembly and service

The Velohuus website has a configurator (in German), which allows customers to virtually assemble a shelter. As they do so, they can tailor the product to their needs and the number of bicycles to be accomodated. If required, the Dornach team is more than happy to share their expertise in order to help customers find the right product. Prices per shelter vary depending on the model and size, starting from around 2,000 or 4,000 Swiss francs. The average delivery time is four to six weeks.

On delivery, the Velohuus team then assembles the finished shelter on site. Shelters generally don’t require a building permit. Customers who’d prefer to put up the shelter themselves can do so if they’ve ordered the Nima model, which accommodates 2-4 bicycles. It takes about two hours to assemble. For larger bike shelters, however, the DIY approach isn’t recommended. These models are more complex and subsequently more time-consuming to put up. Velohuus Managing Director Marco Schäuble says the shelters have a five-year warranty. If the shelter is damaged – say, the acrylic glass is broken – Velohuus is always on hand to offer advice and assistance.

A clean weld seam.
Source: Patrick Bardelli

A variety of models: the new «Velogarage» is the shelter with the white doors on the far right.
Source: Patrick Bardelli

30 metres worth of bikes

Velohuus Basel’s customers are mainly individuals who need a place to stash their bikes in front of their house or apartment block. Nevertheless, Marco Schäuble says an increasing number of companies are contacting Dornach looking for shelters to house their employees’ bicycles. He’s currently dealing with an enquiry from the Liestal Cantonal Hospital. The product in question? A 30-metre bike shelter. However, since the shelter has a modular system, the number of bikes it can accommodate can be increased as needed.

Standard models provide space for 2-6 bikes, regardless of whether they’re mountain bikes, racing bikes, city bikes or kids’ bikes. Security – in other words, bike theft – is also an important issue at the SME in Dornach, with countless bicycles stolen in the Basel region every day. Velohuus offers a lockable shelter (the Sonam), and a new product (the «Velogarage») is in the pipeline. It’s also planning to adapt its existing models, for example by fitting them with folding doors.

You’ll find further information on Velohuus here.

Header image: Patrick Bardelli

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Patrick Bardelli

Senior Editor

Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.ch

From radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.

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