1zu1 invests seven million euros in expansion and machinery

The two managing directors of 1zu1, Hannes Hämmerle (left) and Wolfgang Humml, will invest another seven million euros in the Dornbirn location by 2020. (In the picture: The operational expansion in 2006.) (Copyright: Adolf Bereuter)

The high-tech company 1zu1 in Dornbirn will expand its office and production spaces by more than a third to 8,500 square meters by 2020. (Source: State of Vorarlberg – data.vorarlberg.gv.at)

Investments of seven million euros are planned by the high-tech company 1zu1 in Dornbirn for the years 2019 and 2020. They will be directed towards expanding office and business spaces as well as new facilities in the fields of 3D printing, injection molding, and rapid tooling. The largest individual investment to date will be put into operation this year: a state-of-the-art laser sintering system that enables larger batch sizes in the highest quality. This year, there are setbacks in prototype manufacturing. Consequently, 1zu1 also expects a slight decrease in sales this year.

Expansion, new facilities, additional operational equipment: "2019 and 2020 will be very investment-intensive years for us," explains 1zu1 managing director Hannes Hämmerle. The Dornbirn-based high-tech company plans to invest around two million euros this year and about five million euros in 2020. For comparison: in 2018, total investments amounted to approximately 1.3 million euros.

By autumn, the first phase of expansion at the Rhomberg factory headquarters will be completed. Production will grow by 500 square meters. Afterwards, 1zu1 can optimally organize its existing production. At the end of the year, the second construction phase will begin, creating an additional 2,000 square meters of office and production space.

3D printing is booming

Several procurement projects are also underway for production facilities. A new laser sintering system of the latest design will be operational this autumn. With costs of nearly one million euros, it is the largest individual investment in the company's history. The system allows for significantly higher output at lower unit costs.

“This responds to developments in 3D printing,” explains co-managing director Wolfgang Humml. It is increasingly used for plastic series parts. The result: a sharply rising demand alongside falling prices. The rapid tooling business area, especially injection molding, is experiencing growth.

Decline in prototypes

However, 1zu1 is experiencing declines in prototype manufacturing, particularly in vacuum casting. “Many customers are currently postponing their development projects,” Humml notes. This affects all industries and regions, especially automakers and their suppliers. Therefore, 1zu1 expects, for the first time since its founding 23 years ago, a slight decrease in sales from around 19 million euros in 2018 to 18 million euros this year.

The number of employees is also expected to decrease slightly by about ten this year. This is mainly due to a shortage of skilled workers, emphasizes managing director Hämmerle: “We are still looking for qualified employees.” Interested career changers who have learned a craft, as well as skilled workers from the plastics and metal industries, are equally welcome.

In the medium term, 1zu1 aims to continue growing clearly: “With the current investment program, we are laying the foundation for this,” explains Hämmerle. This also involves continuously adjusting the structures and processes within the company: “1zu1 is growing into a medium-sized enterprise.”