Optimistic for this year

Despite growth: Internorm puts the brakes on expansion plans

"We are expecting the strongest year of restructuring in the company's history," says Internorm co-owner Christian Klinger.(Bild: Internorm (2), Krone KREATIV)

Internorm also felt the effects of the "very weak European construction industry" last year - "despite this, 2023 was entirely satisfactory," says Johann Brandstetter, Managing Director for Sales and Marketing. However, the window manufacturer from Traun (Upper Austria) made savings - in terms of personnel and construction plans.

"If not now, then when?" is the motto at Internorm. "The attractive subsidies will certainly convince many customers in Austria of the benefits of renovation," says Christian Klinger, co-owner of the window manufacturer from Upper Austria, looking ahead.

My father told me: "Keep the money in the company, then the head stays in the company." We used to be ridiculed for this conservative dividend policy, but in recent years it has proved to be 100% correct on more than one occasion.

Christian Klinger, Miteigentümer Internorm

Turnover increased to 494 million euros
The previous year was also challenging for the family business based in Traun. "We are proud that we even managed to achieve a small but significant increase of one percent in 2023," says Johann Brandstetter, Managing Director for Sales and Marketing at Internorm. At the end of 2023, turnover amounted to 494 million euros, compared to 488 million euros in 2022.

93 employees had to leave in the previous year
Nevertheless, Europe's leading window brand also had to react to the challenges of the market: By the end of the previous year, Internorm had reduced its workforce by 93 employees. Nevertheless, the company still employs more than 2,100 people in total. Are further reductions planned? "We are trying to get through these challenging times with our core team in 2024 as well," the company says.

Production in Sarleinsbach will not be expanded for the time being
However, it is not only staff cuts that have been made, the brakes have also been applied to construction plans. The new parking deck and the additional logistics hall were built at the plant in Sarleinsbach. The expansion of production, on the other hand, is on hold. "This will only be implemented when the corresponding capacities are realistically called up," says Brandstetter. Internorm will nevertheless invest a total of 70 million euros this year and in 2025 in the expansion of production capacities, innovations and sustainable technologies and processes.