Infrastructure Minister Hofer visits leading Lavanttal company PMS Elektro- und Automationstechnik GmbH

NORBERT HOFER, AUSTRIAN MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, RECENTLY VISITED A NUMBER OF KEY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN CARINTHIA, INCLUDING THE KORALMBAHN RAILWAY. HE ALSO PAID A VISIT TO LEADING LAVANTTAL COMPANY PMS ELEKTRO- UND AUTOMATIONSTECHNIK AT ITS SITE IN ST. STEFAN.

PMS Managing Director Franz Grünwald presented the company’s development plans and the challenges they will entail, and explained that although automation, digital transformation, Industry 4.0 and robotics will be key issues to address in future, the availability of trained staff is the overriding challenge for companies based outside large conurbations. PMS is responding to this problem by establishing its own in-house training workshop and by nurturing partnerships with technical colleges and universities. “The only way to ensure our site at our headquarters in St. Stefan remains competitive in the long term is to find highly qualified and motivated staff”, he said.

There was also an intensive discussion about the latest issues in research, innovation and technology, leaving Minister Hofer in no doubt about the critical importance of these issues for SMEs in future and how access to research and development projects needs to be facilitated in order to support these businesses.

In addition to gaining an insight into the future plans and spirit of innovation at PMS, Minister Hofer also enjoyed some of the best Lavanttal cuisine during his visit.