"Smoke and heat exhausts must always work!"
Interview with Ing. Mag. Christian Schober, Managing Director & Co-owner of ZACH Antriebe GmbH
Flawlessly functioning smoke and heat exhaust systems save lives. In the event of a fire, they ensure that toxic smoke gases can be expelled, visibility is improved, thereby reducing hazards. The highest competence and decades of experience have made Vienna’s ZACH Antriebe GmbH the leading provider of such systems, which are complemented by additional drive solutions for windows, gates, and barriers.
With a comprehensive portfolio, ZACH Antriebe GmbH offers its customers sophisticated and high-quality solutions for ventilation, smoke extraction, heat extraction, and for operating windows, swing gates, sliding gates, and barriers. "We are characterized by professionalism, commitment, and extremely high technical know-how," assures Managing Director and co-owner Ing. Mag. Christian Schober. "90% of our employees are engineers and technicians, and almost all of them have contact with customers and suppliers. Moreover, we respond very quickly, have our own warehouse, and go further than some competitors – especially when it comes to solutions that do not conform to standard norms."
Technical Fire Protection
Smoke and heat extraction systems (RWA) – controlled via sensors and motors – are the most important business area of ZACH Antriebe. "This is about meeting the high demands of technical fire protection," explains Ing. Mag. Christian Schober. "Smoke and heat extraction systems must always function. Our systems ensure the highest level of safety."
Another area of activity is traditional ventilation systems. Particularly innovative is the natural ventilation that ZACH Drives is currently establishing with partners in schools. "Natural ventilation means that windows open and close automatically depending on various parameters," says Christian Schober. "Such parameters can be temperature, wind pressure, rain, or even CO2 levels. Up to 25 parameters can be recorded. Using complex algorithms, the system calculates that a window sash needs to be opened a few millimeters. At first glance, the window appears closed. But it is actually slightly open, allowing fresh air to come in without causing a draft." Other products include gates and barriers. The special expertise of ZACH Drives is also demonstrated by the fact that wooden gates—such as those for the historic Vienna Hofburg—can be equipped with drives. "We move everything that has hinges," Christian Schober succinctly puts it. Another special feature is drives for box windows, which the Vienna company has already installed in several projects.
Grown with Partners
The success story of the drive specialists began 32 years ago with the founding of the company by Rainer and Margit Zach. Rainer Zach imported the drive motors for windows and ventilation flaps, which were then unknown in Austria, and sold them right out of his VW Beetle. Together with reliable partners – especially from Germany and Italy – the company has grown over the years. "Today we employ 40 staff and achieve sales between 5 and 7 million EUR," says the managing director. "The main shareholders are Mrs. and Mr. Zach, and I hold a 7% minority stake. Our headquarters is in Vienna, but through various employees, we cover all of Austria." ZACH Antriebe's customers include facade and metal constructors, electricians, as well as the public sector and municipalities. Indirectly, architects also play an important role in the awarding of contracts.
Highly Digitalized
Field service staff – all technicians – supported by internal service, take care of maintaining existing customers and acquiring new ones. Many new orders also come through recommendations and the good reputation of ZACH Antriebe. In marketing, the company relies on direct, customized information, such as newsletters and on partnership-based customer service. Additionally, ZACH Antriebe is represented at roadshows and professional conferences, and exhibits with partners at trade fairs such as ‘Bau’ in Munich and Nuremberg’s ‘Frontale’.
Digitization is a very important topic both in internal operations and in the products. Several employees are dedicated to internal digitization, and service technicians work with self-programmed solutions. On the product side, radio controls, BUS systems, interactive communication with the drive motors as well as proactive maintenance and remote access are state-of-the-art. In terms of sustainability, ZACH Antriebe especially emphasizes packaging. The company culture is characterized by flat hierarchies, appreciation, team spirit, and many freedoms for employees. “In the coming years, despite the currently difficult economic situation, we aim to steadily increase our revenues, push forward new topics such as natural ventilation, open a webshop, and perhaps also acquire more companies,” outlines Christian Schober the plans for the future.