KLINGER Gebetsroither, a full solutions provider for gaskets, valves, technical products and hot water units, is a venerable company whose history spans an impressive 99 years so far. Founded in 1918 in Amstetten, Lower Austria, the company soon moved to Wels in the Federal Province of Upper Austria, where it has put down firm roots and has thrived ever since. After joining the KLINGER Group in 1975, the steady growth of KLINGER Gebetsroither has necessitated a number of local moves to larger premises over the years. Now, the company has taken the next logical step in its evolution by commissioning new headquarters.
The company selected the town of Marchtrenk, located just outside of Wels, as the site of their headquarters and began construction on May 18, 2016, with a groundbreaking ceremony. Rather than adapting an existing structure, KLINGER Gebetsroither decided to erect new headquarters from the ground up, commissioning a building that can fulfill all of the company's requirements in a single location. Doing away with separate buildings and multiple sites, the new headquarters unifies all divisions under one roof.
As architect Hermann Eisenköck explains, form follows function, but not at the expense of quality. "The newly constructed office, production, and warehousing facilities are primarily functional buildings, but given the history and tradition of the company, the quality of materials, as well as the modern, contemporary design received special attention."
KLINGER Gebetsroither's new headquarters
Regional ties
KLINGER Gebetsroither and Upper Austria have become inextricably linked and as such, the decision to locate the new headquarters in the vicinity of Wels was a foregone conclusion. Remaining in the area kills two birds with one stone: Close ties to important customers remain intact, while the company’s staff – the majority of which is now employed in Marchtrenk – will not be inconvenienced by extended commutes to and from work. Additionally, the KLINGER Group values its principle of "Global Regionality". Thus, investing within the region specifically and committing to Austria as a business location is an important aspect of corporate philosophy. As a region, Upper Austria is an attractive business location for major industrial corporations and global players. The town of Marchtrenk, in turn, is enthusiastic to welcome KLINGER as a provider of jobs in the region and has done its utmost to facilitate and expedite the construction of the new headquarters with a minimum of red tape.
Marchtrenk's Mayor Paul Mahr is optimistic and believes that KLINGER Gebetsroither's presence will be a positive factor: "March-trenk's growth and development requires strong economic partners from the private sector. As such it is gratifying that KLINGER Gebetsroither has chosen Marchtrenk, which has been voted Austria's most popular town of 2016, as the location of their new headquarters. I wish them lots of success and am looking forward to a great working relationship."
"The newly constructed office, production, and warehousing facilities are primarily functional buildings, but given the history and tradition of the company, the quality of materials, as well as the modern, contemporary design received special attention."
Hermann Eisenköck, Architect
Touring the KLINGER Fluid Control production area
Efficiency
Less than a year after the groundbreaking, the facility went into use in December 2016, while the official opening celebration, was set to coincide with the 99-year anniversary in May 2017.
Markus Eder, Managing Director of KLINGER Gebetsroither sums up the advantages of the new building: "The former location in Wels had grown and developed organically over the years, but eventually became incompatible with modern business processes and practices. This is why we decided to commit to the construction of our new company headquarters. The new location is made to measure and offers room for expansion and growth with 1,500 m2 of additional development space."
The new headquarters certainly have room for growth and house not only offices, production, and warehousing facilities, but also offer space for a certification training facility. Furthermore, efficiency has become a key word at the new facility, since the building's design relies on the latest energy efficiency and resource conservation principles, which should lower operating costs in the long run. Designing and constructing a building has also given KLINGER Gebetsroither the opportunity to factor in all of their workflow requirements and processes, resulting in efficient communications and business practices.
Marchtrenk's growth and development requires strong economic partners from the private sector. As such it is gratifying that KLINGER Gebetsroither has chosen Marchtrenk, which has been voted Austria's most popular town of 2016, as the location of their new headquarters. I wish them lots of success and am looking forward to a great working relationship."
