Our Roots

"The exchange of experiences to prevent work accidents is a humanitarian task, a moral and social mission and no effort undertaken for this purpose can be considered as too great".

Founding statement

This conviction gave birth to what is now known as SAFEX International. Marcel Niffeler, President of "Fabrique Suisse d'Explosifs de Dottikon", wrote it in October 1953 when he decided to create an organisation that would prevent work accidents in the explosives industry. He proposed to achieve this through an international exchange of experiences and invited the Austrian company Dynamit Nobel Wien and the Italian company Dynamite d'Udine to participate in the establishment of such an organisation. 

First Members

In 1954, there were 8 member companies from 5 different European countries that voluntary declared their willingness to exchange explosives experiences.

Congresses

The first Congress was held in Zurich on 29 and 30 September, 1960. There were 56 delegates at this Congress representing 26 companies from 14 countries.

It was decided to hold such a Congress every three years, a practice which has continued to this day.