Gerhard Lengauer, managing partner of the Mühlviertler housing specialist Metalltechnik Schinko, describes the situation in material procurement as “challenging”: From steel to Nirosta to aluminum, almost all raw materials are affected by enormous price increases. “Our production was never closed. But you have to plan far ahead.” For customers, there could be delays “of the week”.
Schinko develops and produces housings for machines and devices of all kinds: “The big advantage is that we have a broad base,” says Lengauer, who cites eye lasers, packaging machines, 3D printers, disinfection devices and casings for the semiconductor sector as examples. “It doesn’t matter which machine, it needs a protective function for the device and the people around it,” says Lengauer: In the past fiscal year 2021/22 (as of January 31), sales increased by a good quarter to 19.5 million euros (2019/20: 15, 4 million euros) to be increased. The export rate is 44 percent. 1.7 million euros were invested in the digitization and technologization of the machine park, for example in a clean room cell for semiconductor technology.
Schinko employs 140 people, and is looking for ten more: “It involves massive effort.” In order to be successful, the approach must also change: “You can’t just look for someone who has 22 years of experience.” A woman in her early 50s has just been hired. 25 women are employed, three girls are training to become sheet metal technicians. One employee started out as a cleaner and now works full-time in metal technology: “You shouldn’t whine, you should just do it.”
Source: Nachrichten
