Portrait:Polished technology | |
Tyrolit, the manufacturer of grinding media from Schwaz, is one of the most important innovation leaders and industrial employers of Tyrol.
TÜV AUSTRIA is a long-term partner of the company which is active worldwide and has become the global certification partner for quality and environment management of the group.
Sustainable success always tells a stor y. At the Swarovski parent plant in Wattens tools for grinding and polishing of crystal glass were produced on their own quite early. By setting up his own production in 1919, the founding father Daniel
Swarovski ensured the supply of the required grinding agents. Today Tyrolit is considered worldwide as the leading producer for all kinds of grinding technology applications and complete solutions and is playing in the champions’ league of grinding media production with its 80,000 different products.
All international key industries rely on the products and process solutions from Schwaz and grind, cut and drill nearly any material of any hardness. 4,826 employees worldwide generated a turnover of more than Euro 537 million in 2008. Innovation determines the identity of the company which operates worldwide. This is demonstrated by the fact that 30 % of the annual turnover is achieved with products that are not older than three years.
In the nineties growth was accelerated by targeted acquisitions and joint ventures. In the meantime Tyrolit manufactures in 15 countries and 25 factories in all continents of the world. Two thirds of the staff work outside the Austrian borders.
Partners for decades
Tyrolit and TÜV AUSTRIA “have been working together for decades”, says Walter Schwaiger, Head of the Tyrol TÜV office. The traditional areas such as inspections in the fields of pressure equipment, lifts or lifting devices are the basis of the cooperation. “Technical safety traditionally ranks highly for Tyrolit”, Mr Schwaiger states.
In the fields of quality management and certifications the partnership is still relatively new. After a selection process TÜV AUSTRIA CERT GMBH was commissioned in 2007 for the matrix certification in the field of management systems. The TÜV AUSTRIA subsidiary has since then been carrying out every year all audits at all certified production locations of the company in the fields of quality and environment. “We carry out audits in Buenos Aires as well as in Cincinatti or in Bangkok” – that’s how Klaus Mlekus, sales manager and lead auditor, describes the range of tasks of TÜV AUSTRIA Cert. The cooperation of Tyrolit and the Certification Body of TÜV AUSTRIA rests on a solid basis.
The employees of TÜV have in the meantime also been commissioned to perform product and personnel certifications. TÜV can thus refer to quality certifications in all major types of certifications at Tyrolit. Uniform quality and organisation standards are essential for a group of companies which, based on a division of labour, produces and is active in the whole world. Even in the North Sea.
