NBG Group – The Big Plans of the “Fiber King”

Karl Bauer is responsible for Gmünd appearing on the high-tech world map in the Waldviertel. His NBG group has set up a factory there for a total of €70 million to produce glass spheres, from which optical fibers for internet lines etc. are then drawn. “They are each 2.5 m long and weigh 80 kg. We are the most modern factory in the world and also produce the purest glass in the world. Production is now increasing, we supply the material for five million kilometers of fibers per year.”

In addition to a company in Italy, NBG is now the second largest manufacturer of blanks in Europe and one of the few in the world. According to studies, the worldwide demand for fiber is growing from the current 530 to 680 million kilometers. Bauer therefore already has other big plans.

“By optimizing the system, we will soon increase the capacity to 7 million kilometres. And I’m also thinking of extending it so that we can pull the glass fibers ourselves. We currently sell the glass vials to specialists for this purpose.” For the time being, however, the large investment in which Bauer Invest AG has financed Raiffeisenbank Oberösterreich with a 24.99% stake.

The umbrella company NBG Holding consists of 20 participations (250 employees, turnover € 45 million) and since the buyout of three co-shareholders in 2014, it has been solely owned by Bauer. In addition to the booming demand in the telecom industry, which accounts for 60% of sales, NBG is big in the oil and gas industry, which, thanks to sensors on fiber optic cables, can monitor their resources and even increase production up to four times. In addition, there is the sensor monitoring of underwater cables and security systems for buildings or bridges.

There are also great opportunities in Smart City applications such as “Liquid Traffic” in Linz, where NBG collects data from roads, railways, etc. and thus improves traffic control.