History

1891 The birth of Kabel- und Gummifabrik Otto Steiner

Watchmaker Otto Steiner, the great-grandfather of the present managers, devoted himself to an intriguing new produkct: cables. On the site of the former "Pappelmühle" in Schwechat, he founded the "Kabel- und Gummifabrik Otto Steiner".

1907 Takeover by Heinrich Eger

After the sudden death of Otto Steiner, his father-in-law Heinrich Eger took over the company.

1912 Schwechater Kabelwerke (SKW)

The business was converted into a private limited company (Ges.m.b.H.) and renamed to “Schwechater Kabelwerke”. In addition to Heinrich Eger, the majority owner, Emil Kolben – one of the most important industrialists in Bohemia at that time – became a partner in the company.

1948 Resuming of production in Schwechat

Despite severe wartime damage, the Schwechat factory resumed production with 38 employees.

1951 Ing. Heinz-Tremmel-Scheinost becomes executive director.

After the death of Robert Eger, Heinz Tremmel-Scheinost – the grandson of the company’s founder and the father of the present managers – joined the company.
Until the final liberation of Austria in 1955, Schwechat was located in the Russian occupation zone and thus the company had great trouble maintaining its raw materials supply. Afterwards, however, its sales programme was swiftly expanded to include the production of underground cables.

1962 Extension

Despite considerable pressure, the company wisely decided not to join the newly revived Austrian cables cartel. This decision became the foundation for the company’s subsequent dynamic development.

In the 1970s, two new production shops were built to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing processes.

1976 Extension of the sales department

The administrative facilities were extended for the first time, enabling the sales department to move from its city centre offices to the Schwechat site.

1985 Production of telephone cables

The newly built production plant went into operation and began producing telephone cables.

1990 The fourth generation

Alexander and Christoph Tremmel-Scheinost entered the company, representing the fourth generation of the owner family.

SKG began to focus on the developing market for data networks.

1991 100 years SKW

Schwechater Kabelwerke celebrated its 100th anniversary. In response to political changes in Eastern Europe, the company began to seek contacts with cable manufacturers in this region. By coincidence, contact was also made with the management of the company once known as Prakab (at that time called “Kablo Hostivar”)

1994 ISO certification

Production of telephone cables began in Prague.

SKW received the ISO 9001 certification.

1995 New management

Heinz Tremmel-Scheinost handed over the management of the group to Christoph and Alexander Tremmel-Scheinost.

1997 Focusing

The continuing, dramatic structural crisis in the cable industry of western Europe forced the SKW group to tighten its focus.

The production was moved from Schwechat to the Prague plant (in the process, the production capacity for energy cables was doubled) and the logistics capacity of SKW was significantly extended.

2002 Input and modernization

The reconfiguration of the rewinding concept allows a push for modernization.  

2003 Installation of a new testing center

Installation and commissioning of a testing centre and a fire laboratory for FRNC cables.

 

2006 Logistics capacity extended

Logistics capacity extended by a new rewinding line for coils of up to 14 tonnes.
 

Change in the SKW management

Having built up the SKB Group, Christoph and Alexander Tremmel handed over management of SKW to the new managing director Adolf Krenn and Robert Vodnek, both long-standing SKW employees.