- The company Passiflora has been nominated for a company award for its massage device.
- An anonymous person claims that the device actually comes from China and is being sold as a proprietary product.
- Passiflora founder Sandro Aeschbach defends his product: He emphasizes CE conformity and Swiss development.
In the canton of Aargau, the best cantonal companies are being honored this week. The company Passiflora, which has a massage device, is nominated, among others in pain therapy is used, has developed how the «Aargauer Zeitung» reported.
But an anonymous person contacted the “Aargauer Zeitung” and stated that the couple Sandro Aeschbach and Andrea Zulauf, who are behind Passiflora, had not developed the “Wood-i easy” device themselves. Because products that look exactly the same come from China and are available online for 139 francs instead of 499 francs.
Accusation of label fraud
Passiflora sells two versions of the device: one made of wood and one made of metal. According to the unknown, the metal version is identical to the devices from China – except for the logo. The accusation: The Aargau company sells “imported goods from the Far East” under its own name.
Compared to 20 Minutes, Passiflora owner Sandro Aeschbach points out that products from platforms such as Amazon or Temu are not comparable devices. In Switzerland there are clear legal requirements, for example regarding safety, conformity and liability.
Products from abroad often do not comply with these regulations. “The use can involve considerable safety risks, and in the event of damage – for example in the event of defects or fires – there may be no insurance cover,” says Aeschbach.
The entrepreneur continued that they have been in contact with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) “for quite some time” in connection with non-compliant imported products.
When asked by the “Aargauer Zeitung”, Sandro Aeschbach emphasized that the “Wood-i easy” is the only product of this type that meets the safety and health regulations applicable in Europe. The Chinese products are banned in Switzerland.
Therapy application is also innovative
The innovation achievement also lies in the therapy application. The original product was developed and manufactured in Switzerland: “A clear in-house development.”
Since the loss of Swiss production partners, part of the production has been relocated to China, but this does not mean a loss of our own innovative strength. Aeschbach also points out the risk of untested products: “In the event of a fire, for example, no insurance will pay.”
How important are the origin and originality of a product to you?
At the request of the “Aargauer Zeitung”, the Aargau trade association made it clear that the focus for the jury was on “innovation in pain therapy as an overall concept” and the use of the original, wooden “Wood-i”. The cheaper product plays a less important role.
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Reto Bollmann (bre), born in 1991, has been supporting the 20 Minuten news desk as editor since the end of 2021. He has a preference for political, scientific and historical topics.
