We are turning eighty
Success story: 80 years of innovation
From its roots as a simple one-man operation back in 1945, Fronius has grown to become an integral part of the industrial landscape. Over the past eighty years, we have developed as a family business from a regional specialist repair shop into a player on the global stage. Our story starts with the company’s founder, Günter Fronius, who made a living as a repair and maintenance man. Then came the idea that changed everything: the trained electrical engineer built a device for recharging car batteries, allowing them to be used for longer. And with that, Fronius was born.
Interview: The Fronius and Strauß families
How did it all begin? Which products and, above all, which people have had a lasting impact on the company?
And what motivates us today? In informal conversations with the owner families, we embark on an exciting journey through eight decades of company history.
And we were able to bring a few historical photos back to life.
3 generations: Fronius in an era of change
Notice
“I have opened a specialist repair shop for radios and electrical equipment at the ’Rankleiten’ hotel. All repairs are carried out by me personally at any time, both in my workshop or at your premises. I ask my valued customers to turn to me with complete confidence.”
The beginnings
On June 20, 1945, Günter Fronius signed the above notice, thus opening the first chapter in a story of success that has continued to this day, now under the stewardship of the third generation of Günter’s family.
It all began in the Austrian market town of Pettenbach, where our headquarters are still located today. Günter Fronius lives and works here after taking over an old military barracks as payment for some repair work.
At the time, charging car batteries was not a matter of course – a fact that he does not want to accept. The trained electrical engineer therefore develops simple battery chargers using the resources at his disposal. Building on this same technology, he expanded his product range in 1950 to include welding transformers.
Over the following decades, Fronius grows steadily into a respected medium-sized company.
Years of growth
In 1980, Günter Fronius handed control of the company to his children, Brigitte Strauß and Klaus Fronius. The siblings pursue a strategy of growth and internationalization, with numerous subsidiaries being established around the world.
At the beginning of the 1990s, the two CEOs start to place an additional emphasis on the pioneering topic of solar energy. Written off by some at the time as nothing more than dreamland, this sector has since established itself as an important branch of the business.
Today we stand on three solid pillars: Solar Energy, Perfect Welding, and Perfect Charging
Shaping the future
In 2012, the baton was passed to the next generation: Elisabeth Engelbrechtsmüller-Strauß. As the granddaughter of the company’s founder, she has continued to set a course for growth and remains true to our commitment to innovation, quality, and service.
This means that we are constantly researching into cutting-edge technologies from which new business ideas can be derived. Our mission, which unites about 7.000 professionals in more than 30 countries around the world, is clear: to research and control electricity as the fuel of the future.
Put simply, Fronius uses its products to convert solar energy into alternating current, supply battery-powered intralogistics vehicles with new energy, and use electricity from the outlet for revolutionary welding processes.
While the basic concept has remained the same, countless opportunities for change have presented themselves over the years. We are no longer ’just’ a manufacturer, but have instead long been recognized as a high-tech enterprise. All our products are based on highly complex software solutions, data management systems, and apps for user-friendly solutions. We hold a total of 1,752 patents.
