Based in Austria, pewag is a world-leading manufacturer of chains whose quality demands are reflected in the corporate slogan it has chosen: ‘Strong is not enough’.
The company’s product portfolio includes high-quality, custom-engineered solutions for all applications, ranging from snow and traction chains for passenger cars, trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles, tire protection chains, forestry chains and tracks to conveyor and lifting chains, replacement springs brand Apex for passenger cars and products for the DIY sector.
pewag is one of the oldest-established chain manufacturers worldwide. The company’s origins can be traced back to the year 1479 and the first documented evidence of a forging plant in Brückl in Carinthia.
The first snow chains were produced in 1912. In 2005, pewag split into two separate companies: pewag Schneeketten, based in Brückl, for all snow chain activities and pewag austria, based in Graz, which is responsible for all industrial and technical chains. “Today, we have manufacturing plants in the Czech Republic and the USA and sales offices in more than 60 subsidiaries worldwide,” says Maria Köck, Managing Director.
pewag employs a total of 1,500 people and has annual sales of approximately 50 million EUR, including industrial chains. The company is highly appreciated by the workforce for its autonomy-promoting work climate. “We want motivated staff and give everyone the opportunity and scope for bringing in their own ideas,” Ms. Köck describes the human resources policy of the Austrian chain manufacturer.
pewag is not only a very pro-employee enterprise, it is also a highly innovative one that attaches great importance to constant research and development. Two of the latest product novelties are pewag snox pro and pewag servo, which are both very easy to handle: Simply pull the chains over the tires.
“Easy mounting and removal are important sales arguments and make snow chains a genuine convenience product,” states Ms. Köck. The high quality of pewag snow chains was impressively underlined by a show run organized by the Red Bull Formula 1 racing team in Kitzbühel this January.
Pewag was chosen as the partner for the spectacular event because of its first-rate products guaranteeing optimum performance and traction under all conditions, even on a steep ski slope. “Originally, the team had planned to use tires with spikes, but there was far too much snow,” explains Ms. Köck. “Our technicians had exactly half a day to adapt snow chains to fit on a Formula 1 tire.”
pewag produces its chains exclusively in Europe and the USA and makes very high demands regarding product quality and environmental compatibility. “We are strongly committed to Europe and the USA as manufacturing locations,” says Ms. Köck. “You just have to ask yourself what kind of product you would like to have in the boot of your car.”
pewag supplies its chains to automotive supplies stores, tire dealers, municipal customers, vehicle makers and importers worldwide. The main promotion events for the company are Frankfurt’s Automechanika, the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hanover and Munich’s Bauma exhibition.
“We also sponsor a triathlon team which participates in competitions worldwide,” states Ms. Köck. “Sport in general is very important at pewag. We have our own running groups and swimming workshops at the company.”
The sporting ambitions perfectly match the corporate objectives of pewag. “Just like an athlete, we are constantly expanding our capabilities and pushing the frontiers of our activities to develop new markets and new applications.”