Special edition | en Edited by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber AdvAntAgE AuStriA FRESH VIEW Special edition: Austria’s Hidden Champions FRESH VIEW 1 Contents 02 Introduction 04 A spotlight on sustainable excellence 14 Hidden Champions 3.0 – A selection (2013-4) 188 Hidden Champions Index (2013-4) 200 ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Offices Worldwide Disclosure according to §25 Media Act: FRESH VIEW is the international magazine showcasing the Austrian economy • Publisher, media owner and editorial: Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, A-1045 Vienna, Wiedner Hauptstraße 63, T +43/590 900- 4491, W www.advantageaustria.org • Publisher: Service GmbH of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, A-1045 Vienna, Wiedner Hauptstraße 63 • Concept: ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA • Editor in chief: David Bachmann • Text: ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA • Original design: ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA and Inhouse Media/Inhouse GmbH of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber • Graphics: badinger.cc • Project management: Christian Zauner/assist communications • Cover and stock images: ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA and badinger.cc • Proof-reader: Michael Gray, London • Print: Wograndl Druck GmbH, A-7210 Mattersburg All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted only if the source is indicated and prior agreement is given. Despite careful checking of the contents,errors cannot be ruled out. No liability can therefore be accepted for the accuracy of the content. Company texts and images are supplied exclusively by the companies. The publishing company, the editor and the authors accept no liability. Spring 2015. Austria’s Hidden Champions Hidden Champions 3.0 DER PRÄSIDENT DER WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH DR. CHRISTOPH LEITL BITTET _______________________________________________ PROGRAMM _______________________________________________ 11.00 Uhr Einlass ANLÄSSLICH DER EHRUNG IHRES UNTERNEHMENS ALS ÖSTERREICHISCHER 11.30 Uhr Begrüßung Dr. Walter Koren Leiter der AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT ÖSTERREICH HIDDEN CHAMPIONS 3.0 Laudatio Dr. Christoph Leitl Präsident der WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH AM DONNERSTAG, DEM 24. JUNI 2014, UM 11.30 UHR, Ehrung österreichischer „Hidden Champions 3.0“ für ihre Verdienste um die österreichische Wirtschaft durch Präsident Dr. Christoph Leitl IN DIE Moderation: Mag. Christian Gessl WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH WKO SKY LOUNGE | 12. STOCK Im Anschluss bitten wir zu einem Empfang. WIEDNER HAUPTSTRASSE 63 | 1045 WIEN U.A.W.G BIS 18.06.2014 Die Einladung ist beim Eintreffen vorzuweisen. PER E-MAIL: [email protected] Austria’s Hidden Champions Can Help Your Business Succeed! In this special edition of Fresh View you’ll find a selection of Austrian companies I am especially proud of. We call them our ‘hidden champions’ – they are our major league stars, top players at European or global level. Around the world, Austria’s biggest companies are already well known for their innovative products and services. But Austria’s prospering small and medium- sized businesses are also key players in their various niches and are “technology wizards”. Their exceptional achievements in research, design, engineering, production and services are what lie behind their success. In this edition, we put these abilities under the spotlight. This is the story of ‘Austria’s Hidden Champions’ and their constant drive for excellence. These and other Austrian companies would be glad to explain how their innovative products and services can help your business succeed. Christoph Leitl President Austrian Federal Economic Chamber 2 FRESH VIEW Austria’s Hidden Champions Hidden Champions 3.0 DER PRÄSIDENT DER WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH DR. CHRISTOPH LEITL BITTET _______________________________________________ PROGRAMM _______________________________________________ 11.00 Uhr Einlass ANLÄSSLICH DER EHRUNG IHRES UNTERNEHMENS ALS ÖSTERREICHISCHER 11.30 Uhr Begrüßung Dr. Walter Koren Leiter der AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT ÖSTERREICH HIDDEN CHAMPIONS 3.0 Laudatio Dr. Christoph Leitl Präsident der WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH AM DONNERSTAG, DEM 24. JUNI 2014, UM 11.30 UHR, Ehrung österreichischer „Hidden Champions 3.0“ für ihre Verdienste um die österreichische Wirtschaft durch Präsident Dr. Christoph Leitl IN DIE Moderation: Mag. Christian Gessl WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH WKO SKY LOUNGE | 12. STOCK Im Anschluss bitten wir zu einem Empfang. WIEDNER HAUPTSTRASSE 63 | 1045 WIEN U.A.W.G BIS 18.06.2014 Die Einladung ist beim Eintreffen vorzuweisen. PER E-MAIL: [email protected] “Surprisingly Ingenious” is our way of expressing how we want people around the world to perceive Austrian business. We know many Austrian companies have an essential “ingenuity”, evident in their creativity, entrepreneurship and passion for what they do. But many could also be considered “hidden champions”. They are often not well known on the world stage, but their products and services are essential to the success of whole sectors from steel and cable to bespoke glazing, car parts and many more. In the past three years, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, the official trade promotion organization of the Republic of Austria, has honoured more than 300 Austrian companies for their outstanding contribution to the Austrian export industry. Each one is a “Hidden Champion” in its respective industry. This special edition of Fresh View showcases these companies alongside their products and services. These great companies are ready to apply their expertise and innovative solutions to your business. Many are also on the look out for additional international distribution partners. With local offices in over 70 countries, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA is your gateway to Austria’s leading innovators. Walter Koren Director General ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA FRESH VIEW 3 Austria’s Hidden Champions Hidden Champions 3.0 DER PRÄSIDENT DER WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH DR. CHRISTOPH LEITL BITTET _______________________________________________ PROGRAMM _______________________________________________ 11.00 Uhr Einlass ANLÄSSLICH DER EHRUNG IHRES UNTERNEHMENS ALS ÖSTERREICHISCHER 11.30 Uhr Begrüßung Dr. Walter Koren Leiter der AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT ÖSTERREICH HIDDEN CHAMPIONS 3.0 Laudatio Dr. Christoph Leitl Präsident der WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH AM DONNERSTAG, DEM 24. JUNI 2014, UM 11.30 UHR, Ehrung österreichischer „Hidden Champions 3.0“ für ihre Verdienste um die österreichische Wirtschaft durch Präsident Dr. Christoph Leitl IN DIE Moderation: Mag. Christian Gessl WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH WKO SKY LOUNGE | 12. STOCK Im Anschluss bitten wir zu einem Empfang. WIEDNER HAUPTSTRASSE 63 | 1045 WIEN U.A.W.G BIS 18.06.2014 Die Einladung ist beim Eintreffen vorzuweisen. PER E-MAIL: [email protected] A spotlight on sustainable excellence When Herman Simon started his major research on Hidden Champions, he was looking for big, international companies that were not household names. What made them hidden was that the highly technical products they produced were made for other companies, rather than sold directly to the end consumer. Yet despite their low profile, the Hidden Champions included companies that were only slightly smaller than the world’s biggest three players in their sector, or themselves market leaders on a certain continent. The particular characteristics of the German, Swiss, and Austrian economies make them especially conducive to Hidden Champions like these. An Austrian example illustrates the phenomenon: Voralberg-based ALPLA is the world market leader in plastic bottles and capsules, products we all use on a daily basis. Though few of us know the company, we all know the drinks, shower gels, shampoos and other cosmetics that come packaged in its products. ALPLA may be a familiar name to bottling companies, and it is an attractive potential employer, but it is almost invisible to the general public, and hence a Hidden Champion. Various definitions of Austria’s current Hidden Champions have emerged since Herman Simon first started his work on the phenomenon. But what about the future? The aim is to take a slightly different approach, focusing on the prospects for Hidden Champion companies in years to come. How fit are they for the future? How sustainable are their working practices? More importantly, how aware are they of potential challenges ahead, and what are they already doing to tackle them? 4 FRESH VIEW Austria’s Hidden Champions Hidden Champions 3.0 DER PRÄSIDENT DER WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH DR. CHRISTOPH LEITL BITTET _______________________________________________ Future challenges PROGRAMM _______________________________________________ 11.00 Uhr Einlass ANLÄSSLICH DER EHRUNG IHRES UNTERNEHMENS ALS ÖSTERREICHISCHER The global economy has changed significantly11.30 Uhr Begrüßung Dr.over Walter Koren the last few decades. Leiter der AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT ÖSTERREICH HIDDEN CHAMPIONS 3.0 Globalized markets and global product value chainsLaudatio Dr. Chris havetoph Leitl led to falling margins Präsident der WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH for producers of “me-too” products. To compete, cutting-edge technology, AM DONNERSTAG, DEM 24. JUNI 2014, UM 11.30 UHR, Ehrung österreichischer „Hidden Champions 3.0“ für ihre Verdienste um die österreichische Wirtschaft durch world-class organization, motivated employees,Präsident five-star Dr. Christoph Leitl management, and a IN DIE high-quality product targeted at a future-proofModeration: Mag. Christian niche Gessl market are all essential WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER ÖSTERREICH WKO SKY LOUNGE | 12. STOCK prerequisites, which need to constantlyIm Anschluss adapt bitten wir zu toeinem