We think long-term”

We think long-term”

Markus Ringer about the current business – which is developing surprisingly well:
Business is doing significantly better than last year. We are expecting an increase in sales of around 20 percent this year – despite the continued difficult environment. The foreign markets contribute to this, but we are also recording double-digit growth in Austria.

Renovation as a driver

Where the growth comes from:
A key driver is renovation. There is still little happening in new construction, and there is a standstill in residential construction in particular. But renovations are increasing - and our scaffolding system is in great demand. We are seeing good developments, particularly in the commercial sector.

How the market for formwork and scaffolding is developing:
The liquidity of construction companies is sometimes weak and the decision is often made in favor of renting instead of buying. This is fundamentally changing our business. Rent means significantly more effort: If I sell scaffolding or formwork, I have a one-off expense. Things are different when it comes to renting: the material that goes out comes back. It needs to be counted, cleaned and stored. We need significantly more staff for this, but the rental price is very low due to competitive pressure. Rental rates in Austria are the worst in Europe.

How Ringer reacts to the current market situation:
We rely heavily on customer proximity and service. With our network of locations in Austria, we are always close to the customer - that is a decisive advantage we have over our competitors. We operate seven locations in Austria – and it will stay that way.

What other measures the company is currently taking...
We consciously act countercyclically: we invest in new products and develop lighter, more efficient systems. Our Dekplus ceiling table in combination with the lightweight Aludek ceiling formwork is one such example. We also presented our new, lightweight aluminum formwork for residential construction at Bauma at the beginning of the year, which will come onto the market in 2026. The new Alplus is made of particularly high-quality alloys that make it possible to work with thinner walls. This allows us to achieve lower weights. One thing is very important to us when it comes to product innovations: the new products must be compatible with the old ones so that a customer who bought something five years ago doesn't suddenly run into a problem.

... and some more:
At the same time, we are investing in the automation of production by purchasing new robotic systems. This is necessary because staff is difficult to find. We also opened a new branch in Germany last year – not an easy step because no one was waiting for us there. But we think long term. We are now active with locations or partners in 15 countries.

On a message he has for the industry:
Everyone should calculate so that they earn something from their orders - and not from repression. I would also like to see more regionality: a construction company from the district should also build in the district. It makes little sense for companies to drive across the country just to get the order. In the end, the quality suffers – and so does the road.

What he expects for the next year:
The situation will probably improve slightly in 2026, but at a low level. The big jump will not happen. As long as politicians do not provide strong impulses, little will change. In any case, the billions in housing from the old government have not reached us.

And what he wants from politics:
In addition to investment funding, I would like to see more planning security. People are holding back their money, not because it is missing, but because they see no prospects. A positive mood is needed again. I see good approaches to pension regulation: adjusting low pensions to inflation and high incomes only across the board - that's a step in the right direction.