Many Austrian companies with a global footprint have won a reputation as reliable business partners, with products of admirable quality and expertise that is much in demand.
An independent jury has been acknowledging their commitment in awarding the most successful firms an Export Prize in six main categories.
The following firms (in alphabetical order) have struck gold this year:
Whether a disease is considered a rare disease is generally determined by how widespread it may be in a population – there is no fixed global definition. Medicines and remedies to treat such conditions are required all round the world, however, and the pharmaceutical company AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH are specialists in the field, garnering a reputation throughout Europe as pioneers in treatments for rare conditions. Research and development is carried out in their Vienna (Austria) headquarters and they have production facilities located across Europe. Their solidly interdisciplinary scientific expertise, wide knowledge of a range of local regulations (including clinical standards, safety guidelines, licensing procedures and marketing) combined with their dogged commitment have ensured that patients in more than 55 countries have access to medication supplied by AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals.
Founded in 1600, Hotel Stefanie is the oldest hotel in Vienna and has been run by the same family of hoteliers for almost 140 years. The site selected was central even 425 years ago – close to the main entrance to the capital from the northeast, right under the old city walls and a stone’s throw from the Danube. Nowadays, this means that it is the perfect place to start a sightseeing tour – all the sights of Vienna’s Old Town can be reached on foot, and there are great public transport links to reach other destinations that are further afield. Despite its long history, which is clearly reflected in its architecture and interior, the hotel is anything but a museum – it is a lively hostelry that (of course) upholds all the traditions of a warm Viennese welcome, combined with new and innovative approaches to hospitality. Hotel Stefanie is also officially recognised as one of the sights of Vienna and plays its part in Austria’s international positioning; some 95% of its guests hail from countries from all over the world.
KEBA Group AG develop and manufacture automation solutions (both hardware and software) that have enabled them to score international success in three business sectors: in the field of industrial automation, they develop and deliver bespoke solutions to suit specific requirements and meet technological constraints; in handover automation, they deal with the secure exchange of goods and services (such as cash, package deliveries and supply of goods); and in energy automation, they provide infrastructure to charge electric vehicles, control heat pumps and run wind farms. They have also thrown their hat into the ring of digital, AI-supported transformation with their KEBA Digital initiative. With their 28 facilities in 16 countries, the KEBA Group have amassed experience and expertise in international markets and sectors, providing first-class, high-performance solutions with a wide range of innovative uses.
LieberLieber Software GmbH is a software engineering firm specialising in model engineering. Model-based software development (MBD) is used to develop complex products and in safety-critical technologies in everything from the automotive and medical sectors to energy and defence systems – and even in space travel. The tools created by this Austrian company help to make change more transparent and prevent faults from being overlooked and becoming a danger; complex systems in particular can thus be developed more safely and speedily, increasing the reliability and safety of products and applications. LieberLieber Software’s wide expertise is based on a blend of practical knowledge, modelling experience and the findings from a host of research projects, allowing the Austrian firm to set new international standards for safety and clarity in software development that have earnt the trust of organisations such as NASA and NATO.
mechatronic Systemtechnik GmbH is an Austrian firm that develops and manufactures precision equipment for the semi-conductor industry, specialising in handling highly sensitive and non-standard substrates that are used to manufacture cutting-edge wafers. These automated handling systems make it possible to increase productivity and efficiency in e.g. manufacturing sector facilities, logistics and the healthcare sector. mechatronic Sytemtechnik develops bespoke solutions for specialist machinery and delivers international projects to meet local market requirements. Sales are coordinated from Austria with the support of global OEM partners, and mechatronic Sytemtechnik has support and service teams in Europe, Asia and North America. The firm’s export ratio is over 90%.
UnitCargo Speditionsges.m.b.H. is an Austrian transportation and logistics company specialising in truckload and less than truckload (LTL) freight along a corridor that runs from Scandinavia to Central Europe and the Balkans and back. UnitCargo has six facilities in five countries in southeastern Europe, all coordinated from their headquarters in Vienna. The Austrian firm also offers intermodal transport, whereby goods are forwarded by rail and road, as well as warehousing solutions. Firms from a host of different sectors rely on UnitCargo for the safe delivery of their goods – everything from foodstuffs, wood and paper to products from the chemical, automotive, steel, infrastructure, machinery and construction industries. UnitCargo is one of Europe’s leading logistics firms, delivering more than 40,000 consignments each year, and its international character is reflected in both its workforce and its excellent integration into local markets.
