The Upper Austrian family business Fronius is growing by double digits and is expanding its fast-growing solar technology division. But they are also accelerating in welding and battery charging technology and are looking for a total of 1300 new employees this year, 800 of them in Austria.
With the solar bomb, the collectors are more noticeable, but nothing works without an inverter, which converts the direct current into the alternating current that can be used for electronic devices. And for this, the local family company Fronius is “very reliable in numbers from the largest manufacturers in Europe,” says Martin Hackl, head of the Upper Austrian solar technology division.
Thanks to the strong double-digit growth in this area, Fronius achieved a turnover of one billion euros for the first time last year and in 2018 it was “only” 757 million euros. Solar energy already generates about two-thirds of this turnover. Massive investments are being made for this, especially in the factory in Sattledt. Hackl: “Over the course of the year, we want to increase inverter production by 65% from 32,000 to 52,000 units per month.” To this end, the investment budget for the group has been increased again this year to 233 million euros. And given the global potential, “we will see if production should also take place at other locations outside of Upper Austria. The labor market is exhausted here, and it is also about risk spreading and short transport routes.”
It currently employs 7,000 people worldwide, with 4,500 in its five domestic operations. Currently 1300 are still being sought, of which 800 in Austria! Technologically they are at the top worldwide, also with the intention to offer an energy ecosystem including intelligent grid control and storage. The owner families support the course, the founder’s granddaughter, Elisabeth Engelbrechtsmüller-Strauß, also leads the group.
This is also successful in the two original divisions. It all started with battery charging technology, which now provides major customers such as KTM for optimal charging of electric lift trucks. Then came welding machines and accessories, with which Fronius also achieved a record year in 2022.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
