For just over 60 years, young Walter Rüegg, founder of the Swiss indoor and outdoor fireplace manufacturer Rüegg Cheminée Schweiz AG, rode his bicycle through the dusty streets of the small village of Zumikon with a mission. To enchant his customers with the use of fire in their living rooms. However, this alone was not enough for the resourceful craftsman and in 1959 he invented the first fireplace whose combustion chamber could be closed with a glass door. At first he received more scorn and derision than enthusiasm for his idea. However, Walter Rüegg refused to be discouraged. He continued to experiment and eventually developed the first fireplace with a sliding fire door, which he immediately patented. His invention caused a sensation worldwide, setting the basic standards for efficient heating with lower wood consumption and low emissions. The patents have long since expired, making the Rüegg undoubtedly one of the most imitated prototypes. Matthias Rüegg and his team are now proud of this fact. “If others copy you, then you can’t be that bad!” says the current chairman of the board of the family business based in Hinwil, Switzerland. Rüegg Cheminée Schweiz AG employs 34 people and is headed by Matthias Rüegg, the second generation to run the family company since 2005