Fronius International GmbH

Fronius International GmbH is an Austrian company with headquarters in Pettenbach in Upper Austria. Fronius is active in the areas of welding technology, photovoltaics and battery charging technology.

  • 2.1 Perfect Welding
  • 2.2 Solar Energy
  • 2.3 Perfect Charging
  • 3.1 Austria 3.1.1 Pettenbach
  • 3.1.2 Sattledt
  • 3.1.3 Thalheim bei Wels
  • 3.1.4 Wels
  • 3.1.5 Stone House

History

Creation and development

In 1945 Günter Fronius and his wife Friedl founded the company Fronius International GmbH in Pettenbach. A qualified business Günter Fronius dealt with the development of battery charging systems. A little later he hired 15 employees. The mid-1960s, the company began an electronics manufacturing and welding torch. 1972 Fronius opened a second location in Wels, where the production has been moved. Günter Fronius in 1980 handed over the management to his two children. From now on, the company focused more on expansion and internationalization. In the following years stores were opened, both within and outside Austria. At the same time Fronius developed further in the fields of battery charging technology and welding technology. In 1993, as a new focal point to the PV. In 2001, Fronius opened a plant in Pettenbach, the birthplace of the company. 2007 Opening of logistics and production site Sattledt took place. With the conquest of the American space in the years 2002-2007, the company also summarizes foot outside Europe.

Presence

In 2012, Fronius employed 3,239 people worldwide. In addition to the headquarters in Pettenbach and other sites in Wels, Thalheim, Sattledt and stone house has Fronius production facilities in Czech Republic and Ukraine. Furthermore, the company has presence in 19 countries distribution sites.

Divisions

Perfect Welding

In 1950, Fronius International launched its first welding transformer with a magnetic yoke control on the market that allows continuous adjustment of the welding current. 50 years later, the company managed the launch of CMT (Cold Metal Transfer ) that allows a thermal joining of steel and aluminum. It was followed by the presentation of the world's first completely digitally controlled MIG / MAG welding power sources ( TransSynergic 4000/5000 and Trans Synergic 2700/4000 / 5000). The introduction of welding system DeltaSpot ( resistance spot welding system ) makes it possible to produce aluminum car frames in large series. This leads to a much lower vehicle weight and thus reduced fuel consumption. The result is a significantly reduced CO2 emissions. A further development of the company is the only plasma cutter TransCut 300 Here, a liquid serves as a cutting medium, whereby the emissions of harmful substances are significantly reduced.

Solar Energy

Fronius International GmbH is since 1992 deals with the field of photovoltaics. The inverter series, such as " Fronius IG Plus" and the transformerless series "Fronius IG TL" convert direct current, which is produced via solar modules to alternating current in ready. Thus, eco-friendly, "clean energy" are fed into the public power grid, for which the operator receives a feed-in tariff. Another project from Fronius is " HyLOG ": it demonstrates a CO2-neutral internal logistics at Fronius Sattledt with photovoltaic, electrolysis and hydrogen power.

Perfect Charging

The division Perfect Charging is the oldest at Fronius International. Since the company was founded in 1945, conducts research and development in the field Fronius charging technology. In the 1990s, it put the know- how of the first inverter technology for a timed chargers for charging of automotive starter batteries. With the series ACCTIVA electronically safe and powerful charge of starter batteries is possible. In the area of ​​drive batteries are available from Fronius SELECTIVA the series. Different power classes provide for a variety of industrial trucks and lifts for efficient and economical drive. Loading the Batteries provides not only energy savings but also for longer battery life and lower maintenance. Both product ranges are based on the so-called " Active Inverter Technology." Special features of this technology from Fronius are very high energy efficiency, guaranteed electronic safety, consistent performance throughout the charging process, highest safety standards and compact design.

Locations

Austria

Pettenbach

Pettenbach is the founding place and once the headquarters of Fronius. Covering an area of ​​6,000 square meters, it is the competence center for Fronius welding torch and Finance & Controlling.

As part of the facade renovation 2010, there were also simultaneously involve the desire photovoltaics. By covering the facade with a superior, ventilated semi- transparent photovoltaic - Appendix 3 problems were solved simultaneously: Due to the shadowing effect of the PV modules direkete the sunlight could be reduced into the building. Thus, a much lower cooling load has been reached. Secondly, a new architectural design was made ​​possible by the large glass elements with integrated solar cells. The specially made for modules with a size of 3595 x 2450 mm ² and a weight of about 450 kg could cope. The total area of ​​216 m² photovoltaic produces an output of 20 kWp and thus provides an annual electricity yield of approximately 13,200 kWh. As part of the energy produced directly at the site Fronius won ( an IG TL 4.0 with 4000W and two IG Plus ( 1x150V / 1x50V9 ) with 12 kW / 4 kW output power) experience for the new transformerless inverter generation in building integration through the use of its own inverter.

Sattledt

In Sattledt is the production and the logistics company location. Since 2007, here all battery charging systems, welding systems and solar inverters are produced in an area of ​​over 100,000 square meters. On the roof of the house is one of the largest photovoltaic systems in Austria with a module area of 3,600 square meters, and a biomass heating plant, which provide most of the required energy.

Thalheim bei Wels

Wels is the research and development center of the company. This was expanded to 22,500 square meters in 2011. The special features of the site Thalheim include electricity by photovoltaics, geothermal probes ( geothermal fields) and consistent use of waste heat from the experimental laboratory.

Catfish

In Wels is the marketing and sales headquarters of Fronius. Location Opened in 1990, with a total area of ​​17,000 square meters starting point for the international activities of all three Fronius divisions. The active energy construction, the photovoltaic system and modern environmental technologies ensure that as much energy is produced in order to meet their own needs. A highlight of this site is the " water feature " that simultaneously reflects its architecture and functionality of the three departments of Fronius. The basic idea of this architectural center point was to accomplish some of the energy supply for lighting and water pumping through solar power. :

  • The element of stainless steel, whose surface is sandblasted, is used for the cover and perimeter of the tank and is available for the division welding.
  • Photovoltaics is used for the division inverter. About embedded in glass cells defines a curtain of water. Rounding out the overall appearance nor by the incorporated in the base area water fountains and also integrated in the glass wall lighting which is realized by means of fiber optic cables. For the front view of the fountain only ONE large-area glass element with integrated solar cells should be used. For this module was prepared having a dimension of 2113 x 4828 mm and a weight of more than 485 kg. It has an output of 900 Wp and produces an annual yield of about 700 kWh. The inverters used to convert the direct current generated come from Fronius.
  • The red points of light, which can be seen next to the lighting also available for the department charge controller.

Stone House

In stone house is located since 2010 in the former Sattledt be moved Repair Center International ( RCI). On a total area of over 4,000 square meters, the property in the areas of repair Perfect Welding, Solar Energy and Perfect Charging creates optimum conditions and requirements to enable efficient RCI processes. Furthermore, an existing building was purchased ( in addition to the Repair Center International) where only automation components are manufactured in stone house.

International Locations

In addition to the five locations in Austria, Fronius has (as of 2012) over 19 international Fronius subsidiaries and sales partners / representatives in more than 60 countries. These are located in Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Awards and Prizes ( excerpt)

  • Plus X Award (2013, products, brand )
  • European Change Communications Award (2012, branding )
  • Silver Dolphin in Cannes (2011, corporate video )
  • Austrian State Prize for Innovation (2009)
  • Innovation Award Upper Austria (2008)
  • Climate Change State Prize Austria (2008)
  • World Energy Globe (2008, HyLOG )
  • Energy Globe Austria (2008)
  • Family Oscar the state of Upper Austria (2008, operating kindergarten)
  • Austrian State Prize for Environmental and Energy Technology (2008)
  • Energy Globe Award ( 2007)
Types of business entity
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