Austria’s leading manufacturer of varnishes, paints and wood preservatives, the Adler-Werk Lackfabrik in Schwaz/Tyrol, is not letting the economic downturn take the wind out of its sails, but is taking advantage of the stiff breeze for bold high-altitude flights: the family-owned company will invest a proud 7.5 million euros in 2021: In addition to the focus on digitalization, money will flow into climate protection and energy-saving measures, a new filling plant for disinfectants, future technology and an expansion of the Adler service centers.

“Particularly in challenging times, it is important not to remain in a state of shock, but to take an active approach and actively shape the future,” stresses Adler Managing Director Andrea Berghofer. This bold strategy is confirmed by a look at her eventful family and company history: As late as the Second World War, grandmother Hermine Berghofer bought a car for the up-and-coming paint business. Shortly after his return from the front, company founder Johann Berghofer was already planning a new production building on the outskirts of Schwaz. And while others postponed investments in the face of the oil crisis, his son Günther Berghofer decided to build the most modern paint factory in Europe on a greenfield site on the outskirts of Schwaz. True to the motto: “Never let a crisis pass by unused.

True to this principle, the traditional company also reacted quickly to the corona situation and made an important contribution to the fight against the pandemic by producing disinfectants at short notice. For this new production line, a separate filling plant will now be built next year. In general, the Tyrolean paint factory – always in line with its strategic field of action, sustainability – is working on innovative products that meet the latest criteria and are produced in state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facilities. Adler is therefore continuing to invest in climate protection and energy-saving measures – improvements in the heating and ventilation sector are planned for 2021. Funds will also be freed up for future-oriented technologies, such as a stacking robot and a painting robot. 2.5 million € will be invested in the area of digitization alone. And last but not least, funds are also being invested in the expansion of Adler service centers throughout Austria, Germany and Switzerland, from which Adler supplies the furniture and window industry, carpenters and joiners with high-quality wood coatings. “We are focusing on what we do: now is the right time to position Adler strategically, structurally and in terms of personnel for current and future challenges,” Andrea Berghofer is convinced.