EGGER CEO celebrates special birthday

Michael Egger will be 60 on Monday, 27th August 2007. His dedicated entrepreneurial drive has made the EGGER family business – based in St. Johann in Tyrol – one of the largest manufacturers of wood-based products in Europe.

Michael Egger C.E.O. of the EGGER Group

EGGER manufactures and finishes wood-based products in fifteen plants in Germany, the UK, France and Russia, and will soon be producing in Romania as well. Today, the EGGER group employs over 5,000 people.
 
Michael Egger has learned all aspects of his father's business since the late 1960s, when he completed his training in wood commerce at the specialist wood college in Kuchl. After the unexpected death of their father, Fritz Egger Snr., in 1982, the three brothers Michael, Fritz and Edmund Egger inherited a great deal of commercial responsibility at a very early stage. With an awareness of risk, long-sighted business sense and a leadership style based on trust and awareness of responsibility, the three brothers developed the family business – which then concentrated mainly on Austria – into an internationally active group of companies known in the sector as a trendsetter and innovative leader. EGGER is now one of the leading manufacturers of wood-based products in Europe.

Internationalisation since the 1980s
In the 1980s the group took over a chipboard plant in Hexham, England (1984) and a producer of laminates in Gifhorn, Germany (1989). The plant in Brilon, North Rhine Westphalia began work in 1990. During the 90s, a plant producing prefabricated furniture components in Bünde, Germany (1994), one manufacturing thin-MDF in Bevern (1995) and a chipboard plant in Rion des Landes (1994) in France were also purchased. Commissioning of the raw chipboard plant in Barony (UK) in 1998 was followed by the opening in 1999 of the largest EGGER plant to date in Wismar, Germany. In the same year EGGER took over a coating plant in Marienmünster. In 2000, a factory in Rambervillers was acquired.

"Our mission-statement is: 'creating more from wood'. This statement will guide us in the future as we continue to develop the business", explains Michael Egger, who continues to value strong working partnerships with colleagues, clients and suppliers. "EGGER is on a dynamic growth path and, unsurprisingly, its face is changing as a result. However, our core values of trust, awareness of responsibility and loyalty are still of great importance. I will personally ensure that this remains the case."

Today, Michael Egger determines the business direction of the EGGER Group together with board members Ulrich Bühler (sales and marketing), Thomas Lessing (administration and accounts) and Walter Schiegl (production and technology), and in close collaboration with his brother Fritz, who is an important partner and advisor.

The largest investment programme in the company's history
EGGER is currently carrying out the biggest investment programme in its history, amounting to more than EUR 500 million in total. With the opening of the factory in Shuya, Russia, the first step was made into eastern Europe. In 2006, construction of a chipboard plant in Raduti (Romania) commenced. Alongside this the existing production facilities in Hexham (UK) Wismar and St. Johann were refurbished and expanded.

At the headquarters in the Tyrol, the EGGER Eurolight lightweight board has been manufactured since late summer 2006. In autumn of the same year, work began at Brilon on a new direct printing system for flooring production. These two sector highlights demonstrate that EGGER continues to point the way to the future.

With the recent decision to open a sawmill in Brilon, Michael Egger is planning a return to the roots of the family business, which started in 1960 with a sawmill in St Johann in Tyrol.

Retaining the spirit of the family business
To mark his birthday, Michael Egger outlined his business philosophy: "Retaining the spirit of the Egger family business is a high priority for me and I hope that the next EGGER generation will continue this tradition."

Michael Egger has two daughters and a son. His daughter Theresa joined the company straight after completing her international business studies degree. His son Michael has graduated from the specialist wood college in Kuchl and is starting to take on his first jobs in the company.