By 2024, the people of Traun want to invest the “record sum” of 160 million euros, reported co-owner Christian Klinger and managing director Johann Brandstetter in a press conference on Tuesday.
Brandstetter spoke of a surprising year and sees the reasons for the success in the growing importance of living comfort and the strong demand for energy-efficient products. The philosophy of 100 percent “made in Austria” also contributed to the success, as a result of which production and supply chains were fully maintained throughout the pandemic. More than 99 percent of the raw materials also come from Europe. Brandstetter stated that price increases were not reflected in orders until October. The first two months of the new year were very successful, with incoming orders up 34 percent on the good previous year.
Double-digit sales growth in core European markets
The company recorded double-digit growth in all European core markets in 2021, in Austria it was 30 percent and in the DACH region 19 percent. In Italy, the Traun-based company even doubled its incoming orders with a plus of 110 percent, which is due to an attractive and unbureaucratic funding model for thermal renovation. You can see what that can do, commented Klinger. For years he has been calling for unbureaucratic funding in Austria in the area “if we take the climate goals seriously and want to achieve them”, too little is happening at the moment. In Italy, around 55 billion euros were distributed in 2021/22, the renovation rate was 86 percent in the previous year. In Austria, 250 million euros were distributed, which Klinger compared with 9.2 billion euros in fines that could be expected if the Paris climate targets were not achieved. Klinger called for investing money in the future instead of wasting it on fines.
Money for expansion into production
The “record sum” of 160 million euros is to be invested in the expansion of production capacities, new product innovations and digitization measures by 2024. The three plants in Traun, Sarleinsbach and Lannach in Styria are to be expanded, and a parking deck is already being built in Sarleinsbach. “In this way we will create more than 200 jobs in the next two years,” announced Klinger. 50 new employees were hired last year, Internorm has 2,024 full-time equivalents.
Klinger emphasized that 25 percent of all profits would go to all employees as part of a participation. He calls for the apprenticeship “window fitter” to be installed. There are currently unskilled workers in production who also do not have the opportunity for part-time training. This year they want to start with three new products – two window models and designer front doors – including a window frame in which the fittings can no longer be seen through a small flap. That increases safety and you can produce leaner.
Internorm is active in 21 countries with sales partners, in the Ukraine and Belarus there are no partners, business connections to Moscow play a subordinate role, according to Klinger.
Source: Nachrichten
