Kraiburg celebrates 50 years and new designs:

Five decades ago Kraiburg started production at its Geretsberg site with just eight employees. The customs barriers between Germany and Austria were the reason why the directors of the Kraiburg family business with its headquarters in Waldkraiburg in Bavaria decided to go across the border. After two decades of producing in Germany they purchased a saw-mill with 11 hectares of land in Geretsberg, Austria and built up Kraiburg Austria.

This year, the retreading specialists exhibited at the Reifen fair inside a white box. The box was designed to have a large, welcoming opening at the front through which visitors can enter the booth in the Galeria. Sections of the new K228, K700, K800 and K801 designs at the front next to the entrance were positioned to attract the visitors. The combination of headphones and “viewing slit” were arranged to draw people in and arouse curiosity with an entertaining image clip of the Kraiburg family produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

The outside wall featured black and white photographs which, among other things, show that the first Original came off the production line in 1970 – at that time under contract to a major retread company. Seven years later, a serious fire brought the production to a standstill. A misfortune which ultimately turned out to be godsend: The reconstruction including the installation of new machines brought a considerable boost. At the beginning of the 90s the first quality treads made by Kraiburg Austria are produced in Kuala Lumpur. The Upper Austrian company begins a joint venture with the Malaysian manufacturer Goodway. At the end of the same decade – on the 35th anniversary – the Kraiburg family has 350 employees who do all they can to continue the pursuit of the vision and values of the company founder Fritz Schmidt Senior to convince customers with quality, decency and awareness for tradition. And the retreading specialists continue on this course.

In 2007 the millionth kilogram of rubber solution is registered at the Geretsberg site. The economic crisis of 2009 does not leave the company unscathed. But they brave the storm and recover. In 2013 Kraiburg Austria consolidated the previous year’s sales level with more than 83 million euros – for all divisions including workplace mats ergolastec and fibre-reinforced elastomer mixtures fiberlastec. The retreading business accounts for about 75 per cent of the sales. Against the background of continuing stagnation of the tyre market in large parts of Europe, Kraiburg Austria was pleased with the result. The goal was to maintain the level again in 2014 and to defend its market position as one of the leading providers of quality materials and mixtures for retreads in Europe and to expand it where possible. With strong will, enthusiasm and optimism the Kraiburg family wants to secure the future for the next generation.