The Gmunden-based family business celebrates and provides insights into the company history and secrets of success.

2020 is a very special year for Rauch Furnace Technology from Gmunden. The family business with a worldwide operating customer base celebrates its birthday. Even in a challenging environment this is a reason to celebrate. After all, it is not every day that a family-run global player turns 45. Managing Director Martin Rauch reviews the company's history and shares insights into a regional success story.

Start as commercial agency

In 1975 Ing. Erich Rauch founded his company Rauch Furnace Technology Gmunden. Because of his extensive knowledge of the industry, he quickly made a name for himself as a dealer of die casting equipment. A few years later the second generation joined the company. "Together we realized that it was time to take the next step and to focus on building our own plants", explains Martin Rauch. Today, the son of the company founder manages the successful company together with his brother Ing. Peter Rauch. Finally, in 1985, production of zinc hot chamber furnaces was started and with it the starting signal for expansion.

The path to becoming a global player

At the beginning of the 1990s, Rauch Furnace Technology was able to launch the development of magnesium dosing furnaces for cold chamber die casting. The basis for this was a major order from an Austrian company. Magnesium furnace number two was already going to Australia. "Within two years, our furnaces were installed in many European countries, the USA, Canada, China and Taiwan," says Martin Rauch proudly. The final breakthrough came with a major order from BMW in 2000, which commissioned Rauch to develop a magnesium melting plant in Landshut. Today, Rauch Furnace Technology is one of the world's leading companies in the field of industrial melting furnaces for light metals. The products from Gmunden are successfully used in more than 60 countries around the world. " "Global Player" sounds good. But you also have to know that we occupy an absolute market niche. There are only a handful of successful companies in this segment worldwide. With our know-how, we are right at the forefront", says Martin Rauch.

Sustainability for mobility and applications of all kinds

"The focus of our work is clearly on magnesium. It is currently in greater demand than ever before as an inexpensive lightweight construction material. It is used wherever weight reduction is a priority," explains Martin Rauch. The company's business is made up of three major areas, which are roughly evenly distributed. "Our customers come from the aerospace-, automotive- and special applications industries. But magnesium is also used in toolmaking, biomedicine and many everyday applications," explains Martin Rauch. Sustainability is an important issue here. "As a complete system provider, we not only supply and install the energy-efficient melting furnaces. We also ensure sustainability - from the use of waste heat to the flow of materials and the almost one hundred percent recycling of waste," says Rauch. The energy-efficient product portfolio is complemented by the company's own 200 kWP photovoltaic system, which went into operation in 2019. Rauch Furnace Technology is also certified to the environmental management standard ISO 14001 in addition to ISO 9001.

With teamwork and know-how into the future

For Martin Rauch, the question of the secret of success of the past 45 years is quickly answered: "The combination of a committed research drive, many years of know-how and a strong team has made us strong for decades". In fact, the average length of employment in the company of more than 14 years is remarkable. Many former apprentices now hold leading positions and pass on their experience in this way. This recipe for success also makes the company resilient to challenges such as the corona pandemic. "In fact, Corona is mainly a logistical challenge for us. Our production has now stabilized to a certain extent. But the many different entry and quarantine regulations around the world are problematic. That makes life not easy for our commissioning and service technicians," explains Rauch. For the next 45 years, the managing director of the family-owned company would like to see a prolongation of the success story. To achieve this, he is counting on his team above all. "Identification with the company is very important to us. Everyone is pulling together and does not give up, even with challenging orders. This climate of solidarity characterizes us," Rauch is proud. On the occasion of the company's 45th birthday, this strength cannot be celebrated due to the current security measures. "But we'll make up for it by the 50s at the latest, I promise," confirms Martin Rauch.