Getzner Werkstoffe increases turnover once again

Buers (AT). In the 2016 financial year, Getzner was able to increase its turnover to 80.4 million euros. The success can be attributed to the excellent order situation and innovations such as Sylodamp® or the new Sylomer® Aluminium Vibration Damper floating floors for rolling stock.

Getzner, the leading specialist for vibration protection, has had a successful year. The company was able to increase its turnover of 77.9 million euros in 2015 to 80.4 million euros in 2016, thus continuing the positive trend of previous years. “We would first and foremost like to thank our dedicated employees for our economic success,” said Juergen Rainalter, Chief Executive Officer of Getzner. “Together with our team, we will build on our involvement in the core European markets in 2017. However, Asia, with India, China and South Korea, the USA, the Middle East and Australia are increasingly important for us.” Last year the Getzner team grew significantly around the world. Getzner currently employs 380 people – 40 more than in the previous year and 260 of them in Vorarlberg alone. This makes the company an important and multi-award-winning employer and educator in its native country.

Product highlights of 2016
The polyurethane material Sylodamp® numbers among the innovations from the last 12 months. The vibration protection solution is specially designed for the damping of powerful impacts. “Our high investment in product development has paid off once again in 2016. With Sylodamp®, people, machines and the environment are protected,” explains Juergen Rainalter. Another innovation from 2016 sets a stellar example for the successful cooperation of two companies: together with Sapa, the market leader for aluminium profiles, Getzner has developed the Sylomer® Aluminium Vibration Damper. Elastic floating floors for rolling stock on an aluminium basis mean fewer vibrations in the carriage interior and weight savings for rail vehicle manufacturers, not to mention increased comfort for passengers.

From Gotthard to Versailles
Getzner can look back on numerous exciting projects that were completed in 2016. A special highlight was the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland – the longest railway tunnel in the world. Approximately 250 trains travel through it daily at speeds of up to 250 km/h. The vibration protection in the tunnel was supplied by Getzner. To tackle these especially high demands over 57 kilometres, the company developed its own solution that optimally withstands the high frequency of use, ambient temperatures of up to 40°C and air humidity of up to 70 percent. Getzner was also able to win the largest contract for floating floors for rolling stock in the company's history. The rail vehicle manufacturer Hitachi extended its supply contract with Getzner that had been in place since 2014. As a result, Getzner is equipping all rail cars manufactured up to 2018 for the British Department of Transport's “InterCity Express Programme” with elastic floating floors made from Sylomer® Fire-retardant. “We are the only provider on the market that is able to combine the “vibration-isolating” and “fire-retardant” properties in a single material. Sylomer® Fire-retardant facilitates maximum comfort and a low level of noise in trains,” highlights Rainalter.

Building protection: the only materials in the world with national technical approval (abZ)
The materials Sylomer® and Sylodyn® are also used in buildings for vibration and noise protection. With the vibration protection for the new auditorium in the Palace of Versailles, Getzner carried out another prestigious project in the construction sector in 2016. Two hundred and seventy discrete bearings made from the elastic materials from Buers ensure undisturbed use of the auditorium and also protect the neighbouring rooms. Getzner is the only provider of vibration protection solutions in the world whose materials – Sylomer® and Sylodyn® – have been granted national technical approval (abZ) by the German Institute for Building Technology. 

What the future brings
Getzner is looking confidently ahead to the future. “Our company's growth shows no sign of stopping,” summarises Rainalter. There will be more than just the innovations from 2016 running off the production line, too. “In the research and development department we will also be focusing on creating new materials and processes,” concludes Rainalter.