en.Wedoany.com Reported - Two Austrian family-owned companies, Hargassner and Fronius, have elevated their decades-long technical collaboration into a partnership driving the energy transition, with results spanning from welding technology to photovoltaic power generation.
Their relationship dates back to the 1980s, when Hargassner first chose the Fronius Compact 250 welding machine, known for its longevity and reliability, which remains operational today. The Teflon lining technology used by Fronius in the wire feed system ensures uniform wire feeding and reduces friction, particularly beneficial for sensitive filler metals like aluminum. The machine also features an "automatic program" that derives current and voltage from wire feed speed, a principle seen as an early prototype of synergic welding. Founder Anton Hargassner Sr. recalls testing multiple welding machines at the time, with Fronius clearly outperforming the rest, making the company a loyal user of its technology ever since.
Today, Hargassner relies on advanced welding systems such as the Fronius TPSi platform, which integrates processes like low-spatter control, pulse multi-control, and SyncroPulse to reduce rework, improve weld quality and speed, and enhance energy efficiency. Company welding manager Roman Baumgartner states that boiler quality depends entirely on the welding process. Welds must be clean, spatter-free, and gas-tight, and for fillet welds, maintaining a constant leg length (a-dimension) is equally important to ensure consistently high-quality seams. Gas-tight welding prevents dangerous deflagrations during heating operations, which could cause mechanical damage and serious injury risks. Hargassner continues to use Fronius technology due to its intuitive operation and reliable welding quality.
Energy management and environmental awareness are closely intertwined within the company. Approximately nine percent of Hargassner's solar power generation is used directly in the welding process. Florian Pommer, Head of Technology and Site Development, emphasizes that energy is part of the company's responsibility to people and the environment, and its photovoltaic system contributes to sustainable production.
Inspired by their long-term partnership, Hargassner equipped a 1500 kWp PV system built at the Weng plant between 2021 and 2022 with Fronius inverters, using the robust Fronius Tauro commercial model. This device features active cooling and a double-layer housing design, capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions, maintaining efficiency and avoiding derating even under direct sunlight or extreme heat. Based on initial experience, the company decided in 2024 to expand the system by 1000 kWp, selecting the new Fronius Verto commercial inverter. Its multi-MPPT concept ensures maximum power generation efficiency on roofs with differently oriented modules, delivering optimal yield even under partial shading. Currently, the PV system achieves a self-consumption rate of 80%, with only 20% of the electricity fed into the grid. The total output of the Weng plant's PV system has reached 2500 kWp, with an annual generation of 1.9 GWh, powering not only production and welding equipment but also forklift charging, which uses Fronius Selectiva chargers. Their intelligent Ri charging process adjusts the curve based on battery internal resistance, extending battery life and improving operational safety.
Hargassner itself offers heating systems based on renewable energy, including pellet, log, and wood chip heating systems, as well as air-to-water heat pumps, with output power up to 2.5 MW. Its Eco-control intelligent control system features automatic fuel detection, fine dust reduction, and fire bed adjustment. Managing Director Markus Hargassner notes that Eco-control is a core technology driving the company's environmental efforts.
The company's newly built wooden parking structure is considered a flagship project. The building uses local timber and a split-level design, powered by photovoltaics and equipped with 30 electric vehicle charging stations. The project was designed by Ried-based architecture firm Matulik, ensuring maximum involvement of local companies. This construction method saved over 4,600 tons of CO2 and won the 2025 Upper Austrian Wood Construction Award Gold.
Both companies were founded in Upper Austria and remain family-owned. Markus Hargassner attributes the entrepreneurial spirit to his father's promise to his mother—to build a heating system that doesn't require adding wood. He states that the two companies have broad opportunities for collaboration in automation, artificial intelligence, and process control, with the goal of developing interconnected workflows that are economical, precise, and repeatable.
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