Guntamatic – 50 years of biomass boiler experience

Guntamatic has been making biomass boilers and all of its own components for over 50 years and Treco is the sole UK distributor.

Austrian manufacturer, Guntamatic, is one of Europe's leading biomass boiler companies and an international market leader. With approximately 15,000 biomass boilers installed in the field, Guntamatic exports 80% of its products and has 120 sales and service centres in 17 countries. A true innovator, Guntamatic has been designing and producing biomass boilers for over 50 years.

The company has also invested heavily in combustion R&D which has resulted in one of the most efficient range of biomass boilers available today. Built to the highest quality standards, these ultra-sleek biomass boilers are fully automated, modular and delivered ready to plumb.

Guntamatic is one of few boiler companies manufacturing all of its own components and its in-house production located in Peuerbach, Austria, is one of the most advanced manufacturing sites in Europe. Parts are guaranteed to be available for 20 years, ensuring the boilers will be as efficient in 2034 as they are in 2014.

With approximately 200 employees on its books, a large part of the company’s success is due to the faultless due diligence given by their staff and a rigorous quality management system.

Timeline of key dates in Guntamatic's development

The 1960's – Engineers and boilermakers by conviction

1962 – The foundation was laid

In 1962 Georg Fischer of Günzburg acquired an old iron foundry in Peuerbach for the finishing of parts. He briefly engaged Dominikus Kreher to repair the dilapidated building. Kreher stayed and was appointed director until 1988.

1963 – Word games

1963 saw the formation of the family business by Georg and Eugen Fischer. By September of that year the company had produced its first oil & solid fuel boiler. A creative approach was also taken to decide on the company name. Early names such as Gunomatic and Guntimatic were discussed until Guntamatic was agreed on.

1968

During the boom years of oil and gas, technical manager Siegfried Hellmayr developed a solid fuel boiler: the GA-S log boiler. The GA-S was the first log gasifier with low down combustion and two-stage secondary air combustion. It revolutionised the market and paved the way for the Guntamatic biomass boiler. More than 70,000 units were sold.

"It was a flash of inspiration. I worked with common sense and at that time I noticed this gap in the market," says Siegfried Hellmayr, developer of the GA-S.

1969

The prototype GA-S log boiler was installed for the Haslinger family known as Stockmaier in St Willibald was a long-term influence on Guntamatic.

The 1970s – Agricultural influences

Down to earth

Farming is in Guntamatic's genes, which makes the relationship with Treco a good fit with founder and MD Gordon Traill's own farming background. Many of its employees come from an agricultural background and still play an active part in agriculture today. This experience and understanding flows directly into Guntamatic's development work and makes its biomass boiler product range robust and practical.

Masters of the works

By the early 1970s, rising production volumes meant that they would soon outgrow their existing buildings. A new manufacturing hall was built in 1973 and formed the basis for the establishment of automated series production and for their continuing success.

1975

The whole range of log boilers was updated and refined and Guntamatic attended its first trade shows.

The 1980s – Series production

New buildings

To enable the company to keep up with continually rising demand, a new prefabrication shop was built in 1981. This gave Guntamatic the space it needed to continue optimising production and increasing viability.

Automation

Guntamatic had long understood the importance of quality over profit. For this reason Guntamatic deliberately opted to automate its own site at an early stage rather than use cheap production abroad.

The result? Local jobs and inimitable Guntamatic quality.

Expansion

After the success of its first series-produced biomass boiler models, Guntamatic further expanded its sales network, beginning with the Austrian market. Guntamatic produces between 2,000 and 3,000 wood heating systems per year.

1985

The first combustion system using wood chips was developed by Guntamatic and the company's branding started to appear on a range of applications, including buses.

1988

1988 saw the launch of the first log boiler with induced draught fan technology.

The 1990s – Biomass gains momentum

Responsibility

In light of rising prices for fossil fuels, raw materials and growing environmental problems, renewable heating takes centre stage and becomes a focus for Guntamatic.

Convenience

Guntamatic was one of the first companies in the industry to apply itself systematically to the use of biomass.

New wood gasification heating systems with large hoppers, extremely high combustion temperatures and generously dimensioned buffer cylinders significantly increase combustion quality and convenience. This makes them ideal for farmers and rural businesses.

A new generation

Günther Huemer, director for many years, became Managing Director and heralded in a new era for Guntamatic in 1995. The key to the company's growth plans were a winning combination of experienced employees, the know-how of the new generation and an investment in production innovation, systems and quality.

1998

Wood pellets became market-ready as a heating fuel and available on a large scale in 1998. This paved the way for further development of the Biostar – the first low-temperature wood pellet biomass boiler.

The Biostar was launched to the trade show circuit later that year and continues to be one of Guntamatic's bestsellers.

The 2000s – Forging innovation

A leap ahead

Guntamatic has developed from humble beginnings of a boiler manufacturer to a genuine innovator.

Turnover figures and employee count further cements this fact, making Guntamatic one of the leading companies in Upper Austria.

Innovation

New design, new marketing and expanded sales network: Guntamatic is setting new standards and has positioned itself as one of the leading high quality biomass heating system specialists both locally and internationally.

Expansion on the one hand while securing core values on the other, Guntamatic remains grounded and places particular value on safety, fairness and employee appreciation.

2004

Presentation of the first series of POWERCORN heating systems for grain as fuel took place in 2004. This gave rural users the chance to use excess crops as fuel at a time that grain prices were approaching an all-time low.

2005

Launch of the POWERCHIP multi-fuel biomass boiler system which is able to burn wood chips, wood pellets, grain or miscanthus. This multi-fuel approach enables users to reap the benefit of being able to use a wider range of fuel types than ever before. This all happened around the same time that Gordon Traill began a search for a biomass boiler to burn the grain he would otherwise have to face selling at a significant loss, which led to the birth of Treco.

2009

Development of the world's first wall mounted pellet boiler - the 5-10kW THERM took place in 2009. The globally unique THERM low temperature pellet fired boilers feature a patented rotary combustion chamber and set new standards in the market. Thanks to the extremely compact size and minimal weight, these boilers can be mounted almost anywhere while still being highly efficient, reliable and suitable for passive houses at the same time.

The 2010s – Making the world a better place

Independence

The combination of key ingredients of being highly reliable and entirely self-financed with 100% equity makes Guntamatic one of the most secure and successful businesses in Austria. This not only spells good news for customers, but also for partners and every employee.

Versatility

Guntamatic's extensive product palette ranges from compact wall mounted pellet boilers rated from 5kW up to industrial woodchip plants with an output of 1MW.

High quality

These high efficiency systems are suitable for various renewable raw materials to replace fuel. Automated production, highly qualified employees and the best quality materials and components are all reliable assurance of high quality standards and outstanding price/performance ratio, with currently 35 years' spare parts availability.

2012

Guntamatic launched the BMK – one of the only modulating log boilers on the market.

2013

Guntamatic celebrates its 50th anniversary of manufacturing biomass boilers and components in its own production line.

2013 also saw the launch of the PRO industrial biomass boiler with heat outputs of 175-1,000kW.

2014

Work due to be completed on Guntamatic's new expanded production facilities due for completion – a further 10,000m2 will be added, giving a total of 25,000m2.

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