AUSTRIAEXPORT - Advantage Austria

AUSTRIAEXPORT Further information on Austrian companies: www.advantageaustria.org
Accessories from glass to
hammocks
ceramics and art objects play an important role in helping interior
concepts create the perfect effect. for this area also, there are some
outstanding companies who are reliable partners.
For more than a century now, Gmundner
Keramik Manufaktur have produced
high­quality art and utility ceramics. according
to their outstanding tradition, up to
10,000 items are painstakingly made by
hand every day, for coffee and dinner services,
home accessories and gifts.
at present, approximately 250 employees,
including 60 painters, are involved. thanks
to high quality standards, gmundner Keramik
manufaktur have not only become
austria’s market leader, they are also the
largest ceramics manufacturer in central Europe.
about 25% of production are exported
to germany, italy, France, Switzerland, and
also the uS and japan.
in the field of lighting for hotels and prestigious
interiors, austria has a number of
companies that have preserved a craftsmanship
tradition and whose exclusive products
can be found in many parts of the world.
two examples are Lobmeyr, founded in
1823, and Bakalowits, founded in 1845. in
the beginning, lobmeyr concentrated on
sales of glasses in the biedermeier style,
though they soon began to develop their
own decorative glass pieces. the company’s
greatest success in its early years were the
first shipments to the imperial court ­ a noteworthy
collection which can still be admired
in Vienna’s court Silver and table room.
until his untimely death in 1864, josef lobmeyr
enjoyed a great deal of success with exports
(e.g. to the middle East), while ludwig
devoted himself to production and design
work. Nearly 100 drink services are products
of his creativity. in the 1970s and 1980s,
work done for the Kremlin, the opera house
at Washington, dc’s Kennedy center, and
the palaces of Saudi arabia’s royal family are
some excellent examples. in 1990, a branch
was opened in tokyo to take care of major
projects. the E. Bakalowits Söhne company
supplied some of the finest crystal chan­
deliers in the austro­hungarian monarchy.
in 1885, the first exports were shipped to
america and asia, and close collaboration
with architects began in 1960. For example,
the largest chandelier the world has ever
seen was made for the parliament building
in belgrade.
Laserplast GmbH in Vienna’s 14th district,
founded in 1975 by hans prihoda, originally
specialised in the manufacture of
acrylic­glass objects. later, the company
moved on to processing semifinished products
of acrylic glass and was taken over in
2006 by richard Wagner, an engineer, who
still manages it. laserplast focus primarily on
showcases for exhibitions; protective covers
for various kinds of items; containers for
donations, tickets, etc.; in addition to
producing artworks, awards and trophies,
prototypes, etc.
the Markus Tröster company has been in
business since 1982. one decade after it was
founded, the room­fountain product line
was launched, and this now represents the
company’s most important business field.
Within a brief amount of time, markus tröster
became austria’s market leader and,
thanks to success with exports to the rest of
Europe and america, their expansion is continuing.
Pass’Partout ® bilderrahmen of Vienna
manufacture and present frames and mounts
in their own workshops, which cover a total
of 600 square metres. Expert advice, an exceptionally
large selection of picture frames,
mirror frames, mounts, art prints and various
accessories are also available.
Chico Hängematten GmbH, a weaving
mill located in Eugendorf, specialise in producing
hammocks in the style of the South
american indios (tightly woven and tied in
the shape of a cradle). in their woodworking
shop, the Salzburg residents work with domestic
ash exclusively. ❚
© Lobmeyr
The repertoire of the world-renowned
Lobmeyr company extends from high-quality
utilitarian glass to specially produced runs
and collectors items, and also includes
antiques with the Lobmeyr seal.
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