Pride as a craftsman – for Konrad Fruhwirth that means doing something as well as possible. For 35 years, the master stonemason has been the fourth generation to manage the company, which was founded in 1878 by his great-grandfather Josef. A lot has changed since then. Especially the way of working. “It used to be a drudgery. My grandfather and grandmother used to load gravestones onto horse and carts by hand, then drove to the cemetery on a moped and the two of us set up the stone there. Today, thanks to cranes and trucks, a lot is easier. Nevertheless, the job is good of the stonemason is still and rightly listed as heavy work,” says Konrad Fruhwirth.
While many structures and contacts with suppliers have existed for decades, the procurement of raw materials has also changed significantly. “When I took over the company, I drove twice a year to the large natural stone works in Carrara or Rotterdam. There I went through it with a watering can and chose the blocks with the most beautiful structures. Today I can save myself the trips. I receive photos of the blocks via e-mail,” explains the master stonemason.
Once selected, the already cut raw material is then delivered to Ried. In their own workshop, Konrad Fruhwirth and his five employees primarily produce grave monuments from natural stone. “That accounts for about 80 percent of our work,” says the Innviertler. The “rest” is made up of a wide variety of orders. These include countertops for kitchens, floors and altars (see large photo above). Regardless of the workpiece, one thing always remains the same for the stonemason: “The quality has to be right.” For Fruhwirth, in addition to sound training, two things are particularly important. “You need a good working atmosphere and a great team. After all, a company is more than a company name or a building. It’s always the people who work that make a company,” Konrad Fruhwirth is convinced. For 35 years, his philosophy has come true. Proof of this are the company’s own employees, who have been with the company for decades – the “youngest” is 15 years old, the “oldest” 40. One of them, who has already completed his apprenticeship here, will take over the company and the company name in the future . “We’ve known each other for a long time and I appreciate him very much. That’s why I know the company is in the best of hands with him,” says Konrad Fruhwirth.
things permanent
But it’s not that far yet. Rieder wants to and will continue to live out the many beautiful aspects of his job for a few years. “Our work is creative. You can design and implement your own ideas in consultation with the customer. In addition, natural stone is a really pleasant working material. None of it is poisonous and each stone or material has its own characteristics. Basically, natural stone is for almost everything usable, you just have to choose the right one,” says the entrepreneur.
(Almost) Even more than the work itself, Konrad Fruhwirth appreciates the consistency of his work. “We make something that lasts. Things that will outlive me and many others. As an old blacksmith once said to me: ‘One day I’ll be in the middle of my work.’ I like that idea,” says the entrepreneur.
The enterprise
The stonemason’s business was founded more than 130 years ago by Josef Fruhwirth, the great-grandfather of the current managing director, and has developed over four generations from a small handicraft business into one of the most modernly equipped businesses in Austria. Konrad Fruhwirth has been managing the company since 1988. His five employees are a well-trained and well-established team with decades of experience and excellent contacts.
The material required for the company (natural stone deposits) is scattered all over the world. The direct import of the raw material guarantees a high quality and enables a favorable calculation for the customers. Customers can choose the color and structure of the stone on the spot from the wide range of raw blocks that the stonemason has in stock. Then the stone is processed from the raw material to the finished object in the well-equipped machine park.
Source: Nachrichten
