The Schwarzmüller Group, an Austrian company with an annual turnover of €390 million and a workforce of 1,950, manufactures specialised vehicles. Their product range includes lightweight trailers, tipper semi-trailers, tankers, container transporters, truck bodies, low-loaders, walking floor trailers, and timber/stanchion vehicles.
This partnership will see the integration of Schwarzmüller’s four production sites located in Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Austria into the Krone Commercial Vehicle Group. This move is expected to consolidate the companies’ local presence across Europe and enhance distribution and service networks.
Both companies will retain their brand independence, with Schwarzmüller continuing under its existing management. The owner’s family, Paletar, will remain actively involved in the company’s operations.
The alliance will broaden the Krone Group’s product portfolio and service offering to better meet the diverse needs of its customers. The cooperation is subject to approval by the competition authorities.
“We see this partnership as a significant step towards an even broader product portfolio and an expanded service world. Our aim is for customers to find the right transport solution from us at all times. The inclusion of Schwarzmüller in the Krone Commercial Vehicle Group ensures that we can meet this requirement to an even greater extent,” explained Bernard Krone, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Krone Group, emphasising his clear vision of customer orientation.
The owner of the Schwarzmüller Group, Beate Paletar, added:
“We see the industrial partnership in the new ownership structure as an opportunity to further professionalise our modern, traditional company together, to optimally counter regulatory obstacles and thus ensure a secure future with stable jobs. Both family-run companies have proven in the past that they have very similar values. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration in these exciting times.”