Lisec - 50 Years of Strength in Development

The company’s success story was celebrated with an exciting gala show at the Lisec site in Seitenstetten.



A Journey Through Five Decades of Lisec

At the beginning of the anniversary celebrations on the 16th of September, there was a great reception for more than 200 international customers. CEO Karl Gruber and CFO Gerhard Sonnleitner welcomed customers, representatives from politics and civil society as well as employees from subsidiaries all over the world to the Seitenstetten production site (Lower Austria). The celebrations were opened with an outstanding one-hour gala show.

During this show, the audience first took a journey back to the 1960s, before they were guided back to the present time decade by decade. The combination of numerous video clips, living pictures and live music performed by the United Voices gospel choir demonstrated in an impressive way how the former one-man company developed into an internationally recognised manufacturer of glass machines with approximately 2000 employees worldwide. That evening also Management brought the company’s impressive history to life. Short interviews and statements gave the evening a very personal touch and provided the audience with a confident outlook to a common, promising future.

Following a gala dinner, a concert of Austrian pop star Rainhard Fendrich and a grand display of fireworks, the international guests had the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the evening in a pleasant atmosphere.

Start into the Future of Glass

Innovation, technology, mechanical engineering, automation and operators’ know-how – after 50 years of successful development and pioneering achievements, one looks forward with high expectations and anticipation to the number of major challenges ahead.

In the future Lisec will continue to consider itself as an innovator who actively shapes market developments in the flat glass industry by doing intensive research. Striving for first-class products and close proximity to both our customers and the market will continue to be our response to changes in the highly dynamic markets involved. With satisfied customers, motivated employees and innovative products, we will secure sustainable profitability and growth.

From a One-Man Business to a Global Group

The company’s success story began when Peter Lisec founded a one-man business named 'Glastechnische Industrie PETER LISEC' on the 20th of October in 1961. Even at that early stage work in the company was based on own ideas. The year 1966 marked the beginning of insulating glass production. As hardly any insulating glass machines existed then, they were built with own know-how, and then sold to customers on an international level. After years of ongoing growth, the company invested in the mechanical engineering department, buying factory premises of 20,000 m². From this moment on, the sale of machines has dominated and Lisec has continued to this day to shape the flat glass industry with technology and innovation.

In their impressive track record, the founder and the company itself received numerous awards for outstanding technological and economic achievements. Already since 1976, Lisec is entitled to carry the Austrian State Crest. In 2007 the company was awarded the Austrian State Prize for Innovation for the revolutionary flat bed tempering process it developed.

On the 17th of August in 2009, owner and founder of the Lisec Group of Companies, Kommerzialrat Peter Lisec, passed away at the age of 73. Throughout his 48-year career he created a life’s work without parallel, leaving behind a go-ahead and innovative company with a huge technological know-how.

With effect from June 15, 2010 Karl Gruber and Gerhard Sonnleitner are appointed CEO and CFO, respectively. They are now controlling the fate of the Lisec Group of Companies. Today Lisec is a globally active, management-run group offering all-in-one solutions in the field of flat glass processing and finishing. Roughly 2000 employees in approximately 40 service and sales offices worldwide are setting new standards in quality and engineering. The company’s strong production network comprises four manufacturing sites located in Austria, China, Russia and Italy, and will maintain competitiveness in the long run.

With a range of products covering sorting systems, glass cutting, insulating glass production and flat glass processing, software and automation solutions, laminated glass production and approaches for PV module encapsulation, Lisec offers systems and solutions for all major sectors of the flat glass industry.

Glass, machinery, automation/software and services are the four business areas that make Lisec the only all-in-one supplier in the flat glass industry today. With more than 6,000 customers worldwide, a turnover of over 250 m Euro, an export ratio of 93% and more than 45% of all employees working outside Austria, Lisec is both a global player and a reliable partner who is always by your side.

Pictures of the anniversary celebrations:



5,000 m² hall in Seitenstetten: feastful decorated







l - r: Christian Clerici, Lisec CEO Karl Gruber and CFO Gerhard Sonnleitner



A spectacular highlight of the gala show LiSEC: Special production of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff in a rock version - the ballroom is transformed into a brilliant scenario of fire and light.



More than 200 international customers celebrated the Lisec anniversary



The symbolic groundbreaking for the museum Lisec: Gerhard Sonnleitner, Wolfgang Sobotka, Karl Gruber, Hans-Heinz Lenze, and Joseph Kattner (l - r)



Austro-pop star Rain Fendrich delighted the audience



The evening culminated in a spectacular fireworks