For 500 million euros, the styric printed board specialist AT&S also officially put its new substrate in Operation in Leoben-Hinterberg (Styria) on Tuesday. “A lighthouse project for all of Europe,” says CEO Michael Mertin.
Crisis! Which crisis? In the past financial year, the Leobner -rising company AT&S placed a minus of 95.3 million euros, had to sell a work in Korea and also dismantle employees in Styria. In this year, CEO Andreas Gerstenmayer, who was completely surprising – also – co -owners and chairman of the Supervisory Council, Hannes Androsch, also died in December.
But now in the group with around 13,000 employees worldwide, you look forward – in a roser future. A central part for this was opened on Tuesday in Leoben. A new competence center for research and development and IC substrate production was opened with the new Hinterberg 3 -factory. Speaked approximately, connect the microchips with the printed circuit boards. “Every modern microchip, either in AI data centers, green power plants or smartphones, needs IC substrates as an interface for storing data and food,” explains the new CEO Michael Mertin.
Proud 500 million euros has been invested in the new work. It was built for more than three years – the company has been active since February. “A clear and conscious dedication to the location of Austria,” explains Mertin. Born in German, he is really enthusiastic when he led from top -class guests such as Economic Minister Wolfgang Hartmannsdorfer (ÖVP) at the official opening: “This is a lighthouse for the whole of Europe! There is no system outside of Asia.
700 employees in full expansion
420 employees from around 30 countries are currently working on the newly built, almost 11,000 square meters. In the final expansion staircase and if the full use, it should be a maximum of 700. Without the products of Hinterberg, neither mobile phones, cars or laptops nor aircraft. The minister was also enthusiastic: “A ceremony for the innovative power of the Austrian economy,” said Hartmannsdorfer. And especially in times like this a real silver strip on the cloudy economic horizon.
In any case, it is clear for AT&S Baas Mertin: “Europe must stay on the ball together, the competition is not sleeping. We cannot only defend Europe with weapons.”
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.