Gerätewerk Matrei’s history

The hardship of the post-war years pushes people towards self-help. On 15.10.1948, 52 workers in Matrei founded a production cooperative. Their production plan included electrical equipment and low-voltage components.

GWM became established as an important business for the region. 90 employees already have a secure existence.

The factory building in Matrei offers new possibilities. Attractive jobs, efficient production, inexpensive products form the basis of its success.

The glass ceramic cooktop begins its success story. GWM has been supplying the company Schott with attractive stainless steel frames from the outset and latterly providing support in bonding cooktop frames. This is the start of a partnership that still exists today. For GWM it opens up ways of expanding into the foreign market.

The factory in Völs is opened: this provides opportunities for new qualified jobs with a flexible organisation and economic manufacturing capabilities.

Relocating to a new modern industrial building: the mainly metal and glass building blends perfectly into the surrounding natural landscape and provides our employees with the most up to date, light-suffused work stations.

The high-bay warehouse is expanded and new space provided for our development department (including engineering and laboratory).

The change in business management leads to the introduction of lean management in conjunction with shop floor management. The GWM self-image continues to develop. 

The GWM Academy is founded and offers all employees training courses with a separate leadership program and team leader training as well as IT and language courses.