About Us
UBVA and the transmission of fire - traditionally innovative...
In 1856, the industrialist Florian Pojatzi (1830 - 1917) in Deutschlandsberg (Styria), after whom we were named, began producing matches in a cellar. Soon his factories were among the most modern and efficient in the Austrian Imperial and Royal Monarchy.
In 1873, the son-in-law Franz Czerweny Edler von Arland, who married Florian's daughter Marianne, received extensive powers and began to restructure the company. Franz Czerweny originally came from a family of craftsmen in Bohemia and had successfully completed a commercial apprenticeship in Vienna at the instigation of his brother Moritz. From the age of 18 he worked for Florian Pojatzi as a commercial manager. Due to his technical talent and strategic thinking, he shone in his function with numerous inventions and improvements that constantly increased productivity and quality. In 1892 Pojatzi withdrew from active participation in his company, handed over the management to his son-in-law and only acted as a silent partner.
In 1873, the son-in-law Franz Czerweny Edler von Arland, who married Florian's daughter Marianne, received extensive powers and began to restructure the company. Franz Czerweny originally came from a family of craftsmen in Bohemia and had successfully completed a commercial apprenticeship in Vienna at the instigation of his brother Moritz. From the age of 18 he worked for Florian Pojatzi as a commercial manager. Due to his technical talent and strategic thinking, he shone in his function with numerous inventions and improvements that constantly increased productivity and quality. In 1892 Pojatzi withdrew from active participation in his company, handed over the management to his son-in-law and only acted as a silent partner.
PRODUCT INNOVATION
Pojatzi owes his success, among other things, to the invention of the so-called brilliant sticks, whose ignition material was coated with colored lacquer and which were exported to China as "Vienna matches". In addition to the Danube countries and southern Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Syria, Egypt and South America were among his main customers. From 1880, the companies that once started with 10 employees constantly employed 600 to 700 workers in their factories. For the time, thanks to partially automated production, they were able to achieve considerable productivity and quality.
PROCESS INNOVATION
Another 1,000 people found a good side income by making the wooden cans needed for packaging.
Another 1,000 people found a good side income by making the wooden cans needed for packaging.
STRATEGIC THINKING
In 1903, the factories of Franz Czerweny in Deutschlandsberg and Stallhof near Stainz were merged into the newly founded cartel company, the "SOLO Zündwaren- und Wichsefabriken Act.
Act. (1903-1924) and SOLO Flammables and Chemical Works Act. Ges. (1924 – 1982) merged. As a result, on January 1, 1903, the world's largest match company was born. In 1913 Bernhard Fürth and Franz Czerweny resigned as directors of the company, whereupon Dr. Ernst Fürth became general director of the group and Robert Czerweny Edler von Arland became director of the headquarters. His brother Viktor left the operative business in Deutschlandsberg in 1920. The Czerwenys had thus handed over the operative business and devoted themselves to other tasks.
SUSTAINABILITY
With the exception of the years 1944, 1946, 1953, 1954 and 1967, the companies brought in by the Czerwenys in Deutschlandsberg and Stallhof near Stainz constantly distributed dividends in the period from 1921 to 1970.
With the exception of the years 1944, 1946, 1953, 1954 and 1967, the companies brought in by the Czerwenys in Deutschlandsberg and Stallhof near Stainz constantly distributed dividends in the period from 1921 to 1970.
BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION
With Viktor and Robert Czerweny Edler von Arland, Florian's two grandsons, at the urging and with the financial support of their father Franz, began developing a matchstick machine as early as 1898. The "Czerweny automatic matchstick" achieved world fame with the completion of machine no. 23 in 1912.
With Viktor and Robert Czerweny Edler von Arland, Florian's two grandsons, at the urging and with the financial support of their father Franz, began developing a matchstick machine as early as 1898. The "Czerweny automatic matchstick" achieved world fame with the completion of machine no. 23 in 1912.
This epoch-making Czerweny automatic machine produced a million matches an hour and received a place of honor in the Technical Museum in Vienna. The globally patented machine was produced in large numbers by the Voith company in Sankt Pölten as early as 1908 and is still in use today.
INNOVATION
Innovation was and is the only key for us to escape the limited growth of a saturated market with sideways movement.
The story of the match not only impressively shows what is possible despite the global economic crisis and two world wars, which were riddled with hunger, fear of death, cold and occupation. We also see it as an outstanding example of product innovation (invention of brilliant sticks), process innovation (outsourcing of the manufacture of matchboxes and numerous others....) and ultimately business model innovation (from matchmaker to machine builder) and live this approach in all our projects and activities.
INNOVATION
Innovation was and is the only key for us to escape the limited growth of a saturated market with sideways movement.
The story of the match not only impressively shows what is possible despite the global economic crisis and two world wars, which were riddled with hunger, fear of death, cold and occupation. We also see it as an outstanding example of product innovation (invention of brilliant sticks), process innovation (outsourcing of the manufacture of matchboxes and numerous others....) and ultimately business model innovation (from matchmaker to machine builder) and live this approach in all our projects and activities.