100 years ago, Franz Wessenthaler laid the cornerstone for the Wessenthaler consortium by founding a cement-product manufacturing company which today represents about 80 employees with a turnover of 40 million euros.

In Puchheim No. 51, in the Upper Austrian Attnang, Franz Wessenthaler, born in Voecklamarkt, founded cement-product manufacturing company in 1909. This was a time when concrete was becoming increasingly more important as a modern building material. At that time, this small company was producing about 20 pieces of concrete tubes and concrete tiles - by hand. At the same time, Franz Wessenthaler established trade with cement-products and building materials. An advertisement of 1910 shows that he marketed his stock for paving stones, chimney pots, window frames, well borders and tiles.

Thus, Franz Wessenthaler laid the cornerstone for a family business that traditionally considers the production of concrete goods and the trade with building materials as its foundation.

Development in Difficult Times

The first decades of this small company were characterized by upheaval. Shortly after the company was founded, the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy collapsed followed by times of privation during the First World War, the economic depression of the period between the First and Second World War and finally the Second World War itself. Despite the difficult framework conditions in a regional environment, Franz Wessenthaler managed to establish himself as a reliable supplier of concrete goods and building materials.

Good market for building materials

Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler 1946 was able to build on this solid foundation when took over the management of the company after his father passed away. The post-war period was economically difficult but it was accompanied by a great deal of hope for a better future. Bombs left a lot of damage, particularly in Attnang-Puchheim. Therefore, bricks, concrete tubes and building materials were in demand.

Long-Standing Customer Relationships

The family business seized the opportunity:
Bricks and tubes were being produced at the Puchheim location. Ludwig Wessenthaler, a half-brother of Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler, was responsible for the concrete factory. Ludwig's wife Maria was also active in the company. Besides their own production, wholesale-business of high-quality building materials became more and more important.

The customer and supplier relationships forged during this period of development still exist to a large extent today. From the very beginning, the highest quality and outstanding service were the formula for success for this emerging company. After the Second World War, a delivery service using trucks and tractors was established.

Relocation to Salzburger Strasse

In order to have sufficient space for the prosperous company, Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler acquired a property of 56,000 square meters on Salzburger Strasse in the years after the Second World War. In this way, he ensured a place for future growth. At the current headquarters of the company, an office and residential building, a warehouse, a showroom as well as production halls followed little by little.

Development of a branch network

To get closer to the customers, Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler established a network of locations within the region Inn-and Hausruckviertel. He started in 1953 by opening a branch in Mauerkirchen.
In 1961, a location in Ried im Innkreis followed. In 1978, a branch in Braunau was added.
At that time not only commercial customers but also private customers were being supplied. The orange colored truck fleet advanced soon all around Upper Austria and beyond the borders to become a trademark of a service-driven company.

Market Leader in Washed-Out Concrete

In the 1960's Wessenthaler started with the industrial production of washed concrete slabs advancing very quickly to market leadership throughout Austria. In order to meet the demands, shift operations were implemented.

The distribution range stretched from Eisenstadt to Innsbruck. The biggest order for washed concrete slabs was from the garden city of Puchenau which is near Linz. An employee recalls that during the construction stage, trucks delivered washed concrete slabs two times daily.

At the beginning of the 1970's Wessenthaler launched the production of high-quality prefabricated concrete goods. Special concrete products manufactured in Wessenthaler’s concrete-and prefab factory were always subject to strict quality control measures. These external and internal quality requirements are met more than just adequately by the "wessit" product line since all products of this line are awarded with the concrete seal of approval.

Solid Growth

A high equity base and the independence which came along with it was an essential principle for Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler. Profits are left in the company and invested into the further development of the company. So, Wessenthaler was able to grow steadily into an important company in Upper Austria.

In Attnang-Puchheim, the consortium is one of the main employers in the city and the vicinity.

The company discontinued private customer business since building supply stores increasingly were penetrating into this market. So, Wessenthaler focused on its true strength: wholesale and own product production. Commercial and industrial customers were supplied with high-quality branded building materials and concrete tubes or prefabricated concrete elements of the "wessit" brand. The latter was introduced to the market in 1971.

Establishment of the Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler Private Foundation

In 1996 the three companies - Franz Wessenthaler Baustoffgroßhandlung GmbH, Wessenthaler Baustoffvertriebs GmbH and Wessenthaler Beton- und Fertigteilwerk GmbH – were brought into a private foundation. By establishing this private foundation, Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler set the course for the future development of his consortium. By statutes and appointment of a responsible and experienced board he ensures the continued further development of his company as he would have wished.

Milestones at a Glance

1909 Foundation of the company by Franz Wessenthaler

1934 Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler joins the company

1946 Franz Wessenthaler passes away; his son Johann takes over management of company

1948 Building materials trade at the location of the Niederndorfer company

1952 Relocation to Salzburger Straße

1953 The branch in Mauerkirchen opens

1961 Establishment of the branch in Ried

1971 Introduction of the brand name “wessit” for concrete goods production

1972 Closing of the Puchheim Nr. 51/Gmundnerstraße locations after relocation of the concrete factory to Salzburger Straße

1976 Concrete component production is launched under the brand name Bau Montage GmbH

1978 Opening the branch in Braunau

1981 Awarding the national coat of arms to the company

1996 Takeover of the Wessenthaler corporations through by private foundation of Councillor of Commerce together with Chairman Mag. Werner Landl, Dkfm. Reinhard Deutner and Dir. Oskar Hepp

1996 Dr. Mag. Manfred Mueller installed as CEO of the Wessenthaler Baustoffvertriebs GmbH

1996 Renaming of the Bau Montage GmbH into Wessenthaler Beton- und Fertigteilwerk GmbH

2004 Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler passes away, Dr. Mag. Manfred Mueller takes over the management of the entire consortium

2009 100th Birthday of the Wessenthaler-consortium

A Pioneer within the Building Material Business

Franz Wessenthaler

born 1875 in Voecklamarkt; later moved to Puchheim where he founded in 1909 Franz Wessenthaler Zementwaren-Erzeugung (cement production). He traded with building materials and manufactured cement products. Franz Wessenthaler passed away in 1946.

Driver for Growth

Councillor of Commerce Johann Wessenthaler

born in October 1919 in Puchheim, attended grammar school in Attnang, joining his father's company in 1934. In 1946 he took over the management of the company, after his father's death. Besides the production of concrete products, from the very beginning he focused heavily on trading activities and rapidly expands his father's workshop-and business establishment into a wholesale establishment, including concrete-and prefab factory after the Second World War.

1964 to 1979 Chairman of the Volksbank Attnang-Puchheim

1972 Awarded the title Commercial Councilor

1989 Silver Medal of Service to the province of Upper Austria

1993 Honorary citizen of Attnang-Puchheim

1996 Certificate of honor of the chamber of commerce for 50 years of entrepreneurship

1999 Grand Badge of Honor according to his merits for the Republic of Austria

The longtime president of the Austrian Association of cement distributors, Commercial Councilor Johann Wessenthaler passes away in 2004.