Bertsch Holding

Bertsch Holding GmbH is an Austrian industrial group active in plant engineering and food processing technology. Founded in 1925 by coppersmith master Josef Bertsch, the company is headquartered in Bludenz, Vorarlberg, and operates from 11 locations with around 130 employees. The group is family-owned, currently led by Hubert Bertsch, the third generation of the founding family. The company began as a coppersmith workshop and expanded into apparatus construction for the beverage and food industry in 1931. Over the decades it developed steam generators, dairy and cheese-making equipment, and meat processing lines. Today Bertsch Holding operates through two main divisions: BertschFoodtec, which supplies equipment for the dairy processing industry (cheese vats, brine systems, CIP cleaning systems), and BertschLaska, which provides machinery for the meat processing industry (slaughtering, cutting, sausage production, packaging, refrigeration). Bertsch has received several awards, including the Austrian state coat of arms in 1980, the Austrian Export Prize in 2013, and recognition as Austria's best family business in the Vorarlberg category in 2025. The group has faced challenges in recent years: in 2022, its energy division Bertsch Energy filed for insolvency, and its Nüziders production site was taken over by Getzner Textil AG. The energy business was subsequently continued by German plant manufacturer Dieffenbacher as Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH, retaining about 150 employees. Despite these setbacks, Bertsch Holding remains active in its core food technology divisions, serving customers in Austria, Europe, and worldwide.

Bertsch Holding was founded in 1925 by coppersmith master Josef Bertsch. In 1931, the company began apparatus construction for the beverage and food industry. In 1956, Bertsch produced its first steam generator. In 1959, Josef Bertsch took over the company from his father. In 1965, a sales office was opened in Vienna and a new production facility in Linz. In 2000, Josef Bertsch was succeeded by Hubert Bertsch as sole owner in the third generation. At the end of March 2022, the Nüziders production site of the power plant construction company Bertsch closed after 51 years and was taken over by Getzner Textil AG. At the end of November 2022, it became known that an application for insolvency proceedings had been filed for Bertsch Energy GmbH & Co KG at the competent regional court in Feldkirch. The company cited the aftermath of the pandemic, supply difficulties, and general cost increases as causes. On 20 December, an insolvency application was also filed for Bertsch Service GmbH at the Feldkirch regional court. On 29 December, it was announced that the German plant manufacturer Dieffenbacher would continue the Bludenz operation Bertsch Energy GmbH & Co KG as Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH and take over about 150 employees. The company structure includes BertschFoodtec (equipment for the dairy processing food industry) and BertschLaska (equipment for the meat processing food industry). Awards include the Austrian state coat of arms in 1980, the Austrian Export Prize in 2013 (Industry category), and Best Family Business Austria 2025 (Vorarlberg category winner).

• 2025

  Named Best Family Business Austria in the Vorarlberg category

• 2022

  Nüziders production site closed; Bertsch Energy and Bertsch Service filed for insolvency; Dieffenbacher took over Bertsch Energy

• 2013

  Won the Austrian Export Prize in the Industry category

• 2000

  Hubert Bertsch became sole owner in the third generation

• 1980

  Awarded the Austrian state coat of arms

• 1965

  Opened a sales office in Vienna and a new production facility in Linz

• 1959

  Josef Bertsch took over the company from his father

• 1956

  Produced the first steam generator

• 1931

  Started apparatus construction for the beverage and food industry

• 1925

  Founded by coppersmith master Josef Bertsch

Family-owned Austrian industrial group providing complete plant engineering solutions for the food industry, from planning to implementation.

• BertschFoodtec

  Equipment for the dairy processing food industry, including cheese vats, brine systems, CIP cleaning systems, and turnkey cheese-making plants.

• BertschLaska

  Equipment for the meat processing food industry, including slaughtering, cutting, sausage production, packaging, refrigeration, and hygiene solutions.

1. 1BERTSCHgroup - Das Unternehmen - Von der Planung bis zur Umsetzungbertsch.at
2. 2Bertsch Holding - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Bertsch Holding - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org