• Firmenportrait

KAISER EASTERN EUROPE

In 2006, KAISER took the decision to look for a suitable company in the Czech Republic, Poland or Slovakia with a view to making an acquisition. The aim was to establish a stronger presence in its Eastern European sales markets as well as creating a different cost base through the addition of another production site in addition to Liechtenstein. These countries were chosen as potential locations due to their geographical proximity to Liechtenstein as well as their tradition in vehicle and machine manufacture. In spite of an intensive search and contract negotiations with two potentially interesting companies in the Czech Republic, a suitable acquisition candidate was not found, and KAISER decided to set up a new company and build a new plant. In 2007, KAISER went ahead with the construction of an additional production site for municipal vehicles on a green field site in the municipality of Krakovany, not far from the well-known spa town of Piestany in western Slovakia. Key figures in this process were Markus Kaiser, Walter Ott and welding engineer Petr Port who was originally from the Czech Republic and worked for KAISER at the time, where he was responsible for the quality of steel sourced from the Czech Republic und Poland.
“Kaiser Eastern Europe”, as the new subsidiary was called, started production in February 2008. Today, the plant manufactures the vehicle models EcoCombi and Eco 3.0 as well as the CityCycler and CityCleaner. In addition to the manufacturing facility, which like the Liechtenstein plant has a high level of in-house production, the company has its own sales and a service department for sewer cleaning vehicles and mobile walking excavators.
When it came to recruiting personnel, KAISER focused on candidates from the Krakovany area as far as possible. Every effort was made from the outset to foster a strong identification with the KAISER company on the part of the new workforce. As part of this approach, the Slovakian team spent several months in Schaanwald for on-the-job training.

Roman Marek has been operations director at KAISER Eastern Europe since 2007. He explains what working for KAISER means from his perspective:

“First of all, the opportunity to work for a first-class company in a very specialised area. In terms of production, manufacturing products that belong to the very top segment in the industry. Then working with people from different countries, with different opinions, mentalities and cultures, but with one goal: bringing to market top products with no compromises. It’s the combination of all these factors which makes the work so fulfilling. I can be creative, develop, and I enjoy what I do. By working for KAISER we can also show that we have good professionals in Slovakia who are capable of working to KAISER ’s standards and providing excellence as well as contributing new ideas. The constant technical development is another thing that makes the work so exciting. The informal atmosphere and open communication within the company is something quite special. Another aspect I find important is the teamwork, the way people work together and the willingness to help one another. It’s a good feeling when you can say at the end of the day: ‘Guys, you’ve done agreat job!’”

Roman Marek

THE KAISER GROUP: STRONG TOGETHER

Family-run business with social responsibility

The foundations for KAISER AG were laid back in 1913. CEO Markus Kaiser is the third generation to run the business. The clear ownership structure across the entire group guarantees sustainable strategic development. Reliability in our relationships with customers and a strong sense of social responsibility are important entrepreneurial principles.

Technology as Core Competence

The availability of key competencies within the company is a fundamental part of corporate strategy. KAISER’s products excel with their high technological autonomy. Consequently, the technology and development department plays a key role within the company. The large number of development and design engineers enables in-depth coverage of various areas of technological competence.

Professional customer contacts

KAISER attaches great importance to professional consulting and customer care. Our customers can rely on experienced and technically accomplished employees. Professionalism in direct customer contact takes top priority.

Customer-oriented

Selling a product marks a beginning and not an end: we accompany and support our customers so they can fully exploit the potential of our vehicles. We aspire to enthral them with our KAISER products and services.


Company History

The history of KAISER AG is built on a capacity to innovate and inventive genius. It is a history of innovations and inventions which for a century have continually enabled technical improvements or led to entirely new products.

past
1913
Josef Kaiser Senior files his first patent, which relates to a weaving loom. A wool spinning factory is set up some time later.
1925
Liechtenstein's customs union with Switzerland leads to the loss of textile customers in Vorarlberg. The opening of an auto and machine repair shop marks the beginning of the motor vehicle period.
1928-1955
Around one hundred auto tractors are built. During World War II, tractors are equipped with wood gasifiers.
1950
Josef Kaiser Junior takes over management of the company. He initiates the transition from a small workshop operation to an industrial enterprise.
1957
Development of the company’s own suction-pressure tanker. The “Kaiserfass” acquires a legendary reputation.
1963
Presentation of the first sewer cleaning vehicle – a sludge vacuum vehicle.
1965
Josef Kaiser Junior develops the walking excavator.
1974
Development of the KDU jetting pump, which is fitted to a sewer cleaning vehicle for the first time.
1979 - 1984
KAISER teaches the walking excavator how to drive. A walking excavator with four wheels is built, known as the mobile walking excavator. A crawler excavator is presented in 1980 and a tracked dumper known as the "Kettenbär" in 1984.
1985
The first sewer cleaning vehicle is equipped with a water recycling system.
1996
Presentation of the high-capacity AquaStar and the first mobile walking excavator with all-wheel drive. Both models become industry benchmarks.
2001
Foundation of KAISER Fahrzeugtechnik in Nenzing/Austria.
2005
Markus Kaiser takes over operational management of KAISER AG in the role of CEO. In 2013, Markus Kaiser is voted Liechtenstein's "Entrepreneur of the Year".
2008
Setting up of the production plant in Krakovany/Slovakia.
2011 - 2014
Acquisition of EUR-MARK based in Nykarleby/Finland. Another acquisition follows in 2014: MORO based in Fiume Veneto/Italy. The KAISER Group now becomes the world's leading manufacturer in this industry.
2013
KAISER celebrates its anniversary "100 Years of Innovation - 100 Years of Kaiser" with various events.
2016
A new road-rail excavator is presented: the S22RR. New developments in the area of environmental technology include vehicles for water treatment using vacuum distillation or flocculation.
2017
Acquisition of the US company Premier Oilfield Equipment, a manufacturer of hydro-excavators. KAISER retained the entire workforce, which was absorbed into the new subsidiary KAISER PREMIER in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
2022
HVD, based in the French town of Mazingarbe, is acquired and integrated into KAISER France.
present

100 YEARS OF INNOVATION. 100 YEARS OF KAISER.

A book about our history

When marking our milestone birthday in 2013, our first aim was to take advantage of this opportunity for a more in-depth look at our past and also to document it. This was the context which gave rise to the idea of the book. As a result of our collaboration with the author and historian Veronika Marxer as part of our team in Schaanwald over an 18-month period, a work has been created which vividly tells the story of how the company developed from a small workshop operation to become an international industrial enterprise.

You can order copies of our anniversary book here.


KAISER Corporate Video