November 12, 2026 (Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, Switzerland / Los Angeles, CA) — FELCO, a world-leading manufacturer of professional cutting tools renowned for Swiss quality since 1945, and its US subsidiary PYGAR USA Inc. have received the 2026 Avantgarde Award from the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce Southern California. The award recognizes outstanding contributions by Swiss companies to the US economy, with a particular focus on business leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and excellence in cross-border business.
The award was presented at the fifth annual Avantgarde Award Gala on 7 November 2026 in Los Angeles. The event brings together leaders, partners, supporters and friends of Swiss-American business community to celebrate the close economic ties between the two countries.
Recognizing outstanding achievements
The Avantgarde Award honors companies and organizations whose achievements make a significant contribution to the US economy and strengthen economic relations between Switzerland and the United States. It highlights the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship and international collaboration in creating sustainable economic value across borders.
For FELCO and PYGAR, the award recognizes the importance of the US market and the close collaboration between FELCO’s Swiss headquarters and its American sales subsidiary.
Founded in Switzerland in 1945, FELCO has established an international reputation for its professional pruning shears, vineyard tools and cable cutters. Its products combine Swiss precision with durability and repairability. Through PYGAR, FELCO maintains a presence in the US market and builds close relationships with customers and business partners across the country.
A two-way transatlantic partnership
“This award is particularly meaningful because it recognizes a choice we have made for decades: to keep manufacturing and developing our know-how in Switzerland while building lasting relationships with customers in the United States. We believe that a tool should be designed to work for years, be repaired rather than discarded, and help professionals do their jobs better. Our teams at FELCO and PYGAR bring that conviction to life every day. We are all the more delighted by this distinction because we have succeeded in establishing ourselves ahead of strong competitors, Logitech and REOR20, to whom we extend our warmest congratulations.” said Nabil Francis, CEO of FELCO.
“As the third generation of my family involved in FELCO’s US business, this recognition holds special meaning for both me and my family. For more than 80 years, FELCO has combined Swiss craftsmanship, innovation and a commitment to producing professional tools built to last. California has long been our strongest US market, and the lasting relationships we have built with growers, landscapers, horticultural professionals and independent garden centres are at the heart of our success. What makes FELCO special is not only the precision of our tools, but also their durability and repairability. These enduring relationships and shared values are what make the FELCO Family so special”, adds Ryan Amberg, General Manager of PYGAR.
“The Avantgarde Award recognizes Swiss companies that make a significant contribution to the US economy while strengthening the ties between our two countries. FELCO demonstrates the value of combining Swiss expertise with a strong presence in the American market. Their achievement illustrates how quality, innovation and international collaboration can create lasting value across borders,” adds Rahul Sahgal, CEO of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce.
“Southern California is one of the most dynamic markets in the world, while Switzerland is renowned for its innovation and precision. When these strengths come together, extraordinary partnerships and business opportunities emerge. FELCO and PYGAR exemplify this transatlantic collaboration, combining Swiss expertise with a strong presence in the American market and creating lasting value on both sides of the Atlantic”, said Mat Hausherr, Executive Chairman of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce in Southern California.
The award was accepted on behalf of FELCO by Jennifer Thomson, West Coast Sales Manager at PYGAR in front of an audience of approximately 200 distinguished guests from the Swiss-American business community at the Avantgarde Gala in Los Angeles.
About FELCO
FELCO is the world market leader in professional pruning shears and cable cutters. In 1945, Félix Flisch, the company’s founder, invented the modern pruning shear. Since then, the company has produced more than one million pruning shears annually, 95% of which are exported to more than 120 countries. The company remains family-owned and employs 300 people worldwide. FELCO is committed to sustainability, reducing its environmental footprint through the manufacture of durable and repairable cutting tools. Its manufacturing operations rely on renewable energy sources, including solar and hydropower. All production residues are fully recycled, helping to reduce waste.
About PYGAR USA Inc.
PYGAR is FELCO’s U.S. subsidiary, and supports American farmers, winegrowers, arborists, landscapers and gardeners through a nationwide commercial network and local services. Demonstrations, training and feedback from professional users in the United States help inform future product development in Switzerland. The partnership creates value on both sides of the Atlantic: high-quality Swiss tools support American professionals, while US market insight shapes FELCO’s innovation.
About the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce
The Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce is a key platform for promoting and strengthening business relations between Switzerland, the United States and the global market. It supports its members, ranging from multinational corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises, in advancing their business interests through strategic advocacy, public relations and direct engagement with policymakers. Through its activities, the Chamber fosters dialogue, contributes to shaping the economic policy environment and creates valuable opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
About the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce SoCal
The Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce SoCal (SACCSoCal) connects entrepreneurs, executives and innovators across the Swiss-American economic corridor. Serving Swiss, American and international businesses, SACCSoCal provides a platform for networking, market insights, strategic positioning and facilitation, and cross-border collaboration. By bringing together Switzerland’s strengths in sectors such as life sciences, cleantech, industry 4.0 and precision engineering with Southern California’s dynamic business ecosystem, SACCSoCal fosters partnerships, creates commercial opportunities and strengthens economic ties between the two regions.
