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The Upper Austrian special machine manufacturer Wintersteiger was converted from a private to a public limited company as of October 1. "This new corporate form is the appropriate form for our enterprise, and gives us the opportunity for further expansion," explained Rainer Bartram, majority shareholder and chairman of the Supervisory Board. However, he added that there were no plans in the medium term to place the company on the stock exchange.

Turning to the current financial year, Bartram announced the prospects of a new turnover record. "We expect at least 10 % turnover growth in all the sectors." The Engineering Division with its output of wood processing machinery was making a substantial contribution to the increase in turnover. Alongside the acquisition this year of the German saw manufacturer Banholzer, the sale of thin-cutting machines was also progressing very satisfactorily, and the target for the year had already been surpassed in August.

New sales branch in South-East Asia

Sales in South-East Asia have also made a major contribution to the turnover growth. "In order to enable us to make better use of the potential in the future, we have set up an operation in Singapore, the company's 14th location," continued Bartram.

The growth in turnover has also had led to an increase in personnel levels at Wintersteiger. An additional 48 jobs have been created this year at Ried, and Wintersteiger is now employing a labour force of 500 around the world (355 in Ried). The number of apprentices has also grown considerably. 10 new apprentices started their career in August, making Wintersteiger, with its total of 35 apprentices, one of the largest providers of apprenticeship training in the Region.


WINTERSTEIGER AG is a special machine constructor from Upper Austria and has concentrated on niche markets since its establishment in 1953. Today WINTERSTEIGER is a global market leader in each of its three business divisions:
- Division SEEDMECH: Total solutions for agricultural field experiments
- Division SPORTS: Total solutions for the rental and servicing of skis and snowboards
- Division WOODTECH: Total solutions for precise thin-cutting of wood

WINTERSTEIGER’s Division SEEDMECH provides solutions for the entire process of agricultural field experimentation. This enables the research, breeding, testing and seed increases of agricultural crops and special crops at the highest level. The product range covers plot combines, plot seeders, laboratory equipment and equipment for fertilising and plant protection.
Headquarters in the Upper Austrian town of Ried/Innkreis, 16 proprietary company sites and 60 subsidiary offices supply a total of 130 countries throughout the world. This secures WINTERSTEIGER an export share of approximately 88%. Group sales of the enterprise, which employs around 600 staff, were just short of EUR 85 million in 2007.

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