How EFSI benefits SMEs in Europe - UniCredit Bank Austria case study: Bauer (Austria), Agriculture, ecology

The rising concern about the effects of climate change has made the EU look into ways to manage and use energy more efficiently in an environmentally responsible manner. This is why the Investment Plan for Europe, the EU initiative aiming to generate new investments in Europe through the support of small and medium-sized enterprises, has put a strong emphasis on supporting small companies that enhance their energy efficiency in line with the EU’s energy and climate goals.

Bauer, a Voitsberg-based company in Austria, has used the resources obtained thanks to the Investment Plan for Europe for that exact purpose. Andreas Schitter, Financial Manager at Bauer, explains: “We used the loan to completely renovate our two production sites in Austria. We needed to improve the rooftops, the walls… This renovation allows us to save 70% of our heating costs today.” But this is not the only major energy efficiency improvement measure that Bauer made: “We built on our roof one of the biggest photovoltaic systems in Austria, which allows us to produce enough energy to be self-sustainable”, explains Andreas. “Our photovoltaic system produces 2.6 million kWh per year!”

Employing 240 staff in Austria, Bauer’s core competence lies in the manufacturing of irrigation systems for large agricultural land, but also in the management of agricultural waste, such as slurry and manure.

Bauer received a loan from UniCredit Bank Austria thanks to the joint backing of EIF and the Investment Plan for Europe. The company is present in Germany, China and Slovakia and just recently opened a new production site in Brazil.

Company: Bauer (Austria)

Type of business: Manufacturing; agriculture; ecology

EIF financing: InnovFin SMEG, EFSI

For further information about EIF intermediaries in Austria, please refer to: http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/at