We met with Astrid Huter, Managing Director of Julius Fritsche GmbH, and talked to her about the history, opportunities and future of the family business. And there’s a lot to tell, as the privately run glass, metal and plastics wholesaler has been around since 1907.
The history
Julius Fritsche GmbH has been one of Austria’s leading privately managed trading companies in the glass, metal and plastic product ranges for several decades. With its own fleet of trucks, it supplies craft, commercial and industrial customers both in Austria and in international markets. As a full-service provider, Fritsche offers its customers well thought-out and efficient complete solutions: From glazing systems to complex façades including substructures or plastics for construction and advertising to aluminum sheets and bar stock, you get everything from a single source.
Since 1994, there has also been a branch in Anthering, which started selling plastics with 2 salespeople and 2 warehouse employees. The success was not long in coming and as all employees felt so comfortable in Anthering, 2 more locations were added in 2005 and 2010. The product range now also included building and furniture fittings, as well as aluminum. Finally, in 2016, the glass and logistics division was also relocated from the city of Salzburg to Anthering.
The “parent company” in Itzling was rebuilt in 2021 and equipped with modern office and warehouse space for the all-glass systems and fittings divisions. The building space this freed up in Anthering was filled with the department for aluminum panels and bar products and ventilated facades. The Fritsche company now has around 12,000 m2 of storage space at 5 locations.
Values and goals
Ms. Huter tells us that her team currently comprises 143 employees. She is particularly pleased that many of her employees have been with the company for years. This means that new recruits always have someone who can help them with advice and support. This relaxed and trusting approach is particularly important to Ms. Huter, as it reflects the values she lives by in a family business.
The company was able to survive the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences – as a system holder in the construction industry, it never closed – and come to terms with the challenging times. Ms. Huter believes this is primarily due to the perfect cohesion and flexibility of her team.
In contact with its professional customers from the commercial and industrial sectors, Fritsche GmbH focuses on competent advice and a willingness to provide service even after the sale. With its market partners, both customers and suppliers, it maintains a fair relationship at eye level that is designed for the long term. Accordingly, many of them have been with the company for decades.
The location in Anthering is ideal in the eyes of Ms. Huter, as it is easily accessible for colleagues from the city of Salzburg as well as those from Flachgau. It also has a good village infrastructure and is close to the highway.
The rural location also fits in with another major issue that Fritsche has been addressing for some time: sustainability. As a result, all warehouses have been equipped with photovoltaic systems, which produce a total of around 320,000 KWh per year. Investments were made in heat pumps to reduce gas consumption. The first electric car has also already been purchased to be available as a pool car for short journeys. In order to also support employees in a resource-saving lifestyle, free job tickets are provided on request for travel to the company site.
“More and more environmentally friendly alternatives are also emerging in our product range, which we are actively promoting,” says Ms. Huter, “For example, we have solutions for PV carports and PV façades in our range.”
Career opportunities
Motivated applicants with an interest in technology are always welcome at Glas Fritsche. The team is also constantly being expanded in the area of warehouse handling and truck drivers. So if you are looking for a new job in a successful family business with stable future prospects, then take the opportunity now!
This is how you can reach Julius Fritsche GmbH:
Julius Fritsche GmbH
Industrial park 3
5102 Anthering
E-mail: office@fritsche.eu.com
Phone: 06223 32 12 – 0
Web: www.fritsche.eu.com