He left deep marks – “Salt Baron” Androsch and the beloved Ausseerland

It is also possible to meet at a beer table. When “Krone” editor Jörg Schwaiger sought out a conversation with Hannes Androsch in the Altausseer Kirtag this year, he found himself among an honorable group of mayors, entrepreneurs and club presidents. The focus was clearly on the ‘salt baron’.

A small episode, but it shows how Androsch was connected to the Ausseerland for decades and how he shaped this special region. He always talked about two mountains of bread: the Sandling, where his Salinen AG extracts salt. And the Loser, where he was the main owner of the mountain railways.

Honorary citizen and honorary drummer
Here he fought for years for a new gondola lift. The fact that there was local resistance made Androsch grumble: he described the project’s opponents as ‘eco-dictatorial’. But the entrepreneur showed perseverance, the lift was officially opened on October 25 this year and has been taking skiers to the slopes for a few days.

“The panoramic railway was one of his favorite projects,” says Altaussee Mayor Gerald Loitzl in his first reaction to the “Krone”. The local boss is deeply affected by the death of the ex-politician: “I recently spent an afternoon with him at a party in Bad Ischl.” he also visited the Hollywood Hotel Mayrlife, which was popular with celebrities and has long been owned by his daughters.

Power struggle won at AT&S
The industrialist also shaped Leoben economically; the printed circuit board manufacturer AT&S, which he acquired, has its head office here. This has recently been expanded by 500 million euros! Until the end, he was actively involved as chairman of the supervisory board, as was evident this year from the power struggle he won with ex-boss Andreas Gerstenmayer. As long-term chairman of the university council, Androsch was also affiliated with the Montanuniversität Leoben.