LOCAL ACTIVITIES IN AUSTRIA.
As a successful technology company and major employer in Lower Austria, Knorr-Bremse Austria takes its social responsibility seriously and endeavors to return part of its success to society. This includes donations to aid organizations or families in need within the region as well as corporate volunteering projects. In the course of the voluntary initiative, the company supports private aid projects of employees.
Helping is soo Good
As part of the Corporate Volunteering Project, Knorr-Bremse employees worked together to renovate the soogut social market in Mödling. Over the course of one whole day, walls were smoothed, grinded and repainted. The companies also donated a new floor covering. Customers and the dedicated store team are now delighted with a bright, modern store. The Social Market Mödling was founded in 2009 and offers more than 1,000 people in financial need from the district of Mödling high-quality food, second-hand clothes and much more at very reasonable prices.
Christmas donations
For many years Knorr-Bremse Mödling has refrained from buying gifts for customers at Christmas. Instead, the Company donates larger amounts to local aid organizations. In 2022 one of the organizations receiving support is Caritas Vienna/Lower Austria. The “Wärmestuben” provide people affected by poverty and homelessness with hot food and clothes. The Caritas social counseling service advises people at risk of poverty on matters such as energy and housing costs and helps to avoid the threat of eviction. Since the beginning of the Corona pandemic, the number of people affected has risen sharply. Help is urgently needed! Another donation is given to the social department of the municipality of Mödling for direct aid to families in need.
Expansion of the location Mödling has started
With the groundbreaking ceremony for a new office and production building at the location Mödling in March 2021, Knorr-Bremse and Zelisko launched the biggest expansion and modernization project in the history of the Austrian company, investing about EUR 15 million by the end of 2024. Mödling's major employer will then also present itself to the public as a modern technology company. Around 3,600 m2 of new buildings and approximately 3,500 m2 of energy-saving modernized buildings will help to reduce the site's ecological footprint.
The project will create a modern working environment for the highly qualified employees and increase the attractiveness as an employer, said Managing Directors Jörg Branschädel and Manfred Reisner at the groundbreaking ceremony with Mödling Mayor Hans Stefan Hintner and Deputy Mayor Silvia Drechsler.
Learning Assistance for Children
In October 2019 the new KURIER Lernhaus in Mödling was opened. This social project run by the Red Cross offers free learning assistance for elementary school children from socially disadvantaged families and is sponsored by Knorr-Bremse Global Care. Employees of Knorr-Bremse in Mödling volunteer their time as learning mentors to help the children with learning and reading.
From a Children's Farm to a Hostel for Homeless People
The annual volunteer initiative provides financial support for projects in which employees volunteer privately in associations and help out with various tasks. Among other things, the expansion of the playground of a farm for children from socially disadvantaged families was supported. Other projects included, for example, the establishment of a self-harvesting orchard in a residential home for homeless people as well as the cooperation in a private learning and tutoring association for school children.