Fronius Factory, Sattledt
Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this Site
The Fronius Sattledt facility manufactures solar inverters, welding systems, and battery-charging technology. With over €400 million invested since 2022, the site spans 69,000 m² and is fully electrified, powered in part by a 2.235 MW rooftop photovoltaic array and complemented by 8 MW winter ice-storage heating and 6.3 MW cooling systems. Production is semi-automated, with a high-bay warehouse housing 7,000 pallets and 12,500 small containers, supplied via conveyor and automated guided vehicles. Final testing uses automated endurance systems. The plant exemplifies modern sustainable industrial engineering—leveraging renewable energy, energy-storage integration, factory automation, and human-centric standards—all within a retrofitted traditional manufacturing environment.
Visitor Information
Fronius offers free factory tours every first Monday of the month at 10:00 and 14:00, lasting approximately 1.5 hours—advance registration required. Individual guided tours can be arranged Monday–Thursday (08:00–15:00) and Fridays (08:00–11:00), including refreshments. Tours are capped at 25 participants per group and yield a firsthand view of manufacturing processes, energy systems, and sustainability features. Tours are free of charge. Visitors should meet at reception 30 minutes prior. Transportation is usually by car or taxi from Wels; nearby train stations are also available.
Related Stories
-
Kelham Island Museum
The Kelham Island Museum houses exhibits related to the industrial history of Sheffield. It’s an appropriate location. Kelham Island sits on the River Don, just north of the city centre, and has been home to grinding workshops and later an iron foundry. The museum buildings were originally erected in the 1890’s to house an electricity generating station
-
Mount Tom Price mine
The red earth of Western Australia’s Pilbara holds the world’s largest deposits of iron ore. This harsh and remote region is now home to a network of technologically-advanced mines extracting millions of tonnes of iron ore to meet global demand for steel. It is possible to visit one of the oldest operating mines in the…
-
Visiting Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant
History Tucked away in the northwestern corner of Lithuania, near the border with Latvia and Belarus, is the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Notable for containing the only examples of ‘Chernobyl-style’ RBMK nuclear reactors in the European Union, and now the site of a complex decommissioning project, Ignalina NPP offers a fascinating visitor experience. Ignalina NPP
Related Sites
-
Photo by Sian Bentley-Magee on Unsplash
Windermere Wastewater Treatment Works
Windermere Wastewater Treatment Works treats local sewage using sedimentation, activated sludge, and sludge digestion, forming part of a £200 million upgrade to protect the lake. United Utilities offers 90‑minute guided tours for small groups (age 9+), providing PPE and expert insight into treatment stages, environmental safeguards, and future filtration innovations.
-
Photo by Sian Bentley-Magee on Unsplash
Beckton Sewage Treatment Works
Beckton Sewage Treatment Works is one of Europe’s largest wastewater facilities, serving over four million people in London. Operational since 1864, it now includes advanced treatment systems, sludge-to-energy generation, and infrastructure for the Thames Tideway Tunnel. Occasional guided tours offer insight into its role in urban sanitation and renewable energy.
-
David Samuel, User:Hellodavey1902, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station, once the world’s largest brick building, supplied mid‑20th‑century London with electricity. Its Art Deco interiors and four chimneys remain central to the 2022 redevelopment into a mixed‑use complex. Guided tours explore restored Control Rooms and turbine halls, offering a striking example of industrial heritage conservation.
