Sons take the helm of LASCO Heutechnik GmbH

The founding of the agricultural engineering company LASCO in 1987 marked the beginning of an exciting, challenging and incredibly fantastic time for Managing Director Johann Landrichinger. After 28 years, he handed over his company to his two sons. The early days of LASCO were anything but easy, remembers Johann Landrichinger. While he installed and commissioned the systems he sold during the day, he took care of sales in the evenings. Together with his wife, he also took care of bookkeeping, advertising and all the necessary business management tasks. When ASCO went bankrupt, Johann Landrichinger founded his own company in 1987. The construction plans for the ASCO hay crane of the time were purchased and the first hay drying systems were planned for farmers. The name ASCO was extended to include the first letter of Johann’s surname. From then on, the company was called LASCO. The beginning of a strong brand!

Johann Landrichinger proudly remembers the early days of the hay crane: “I remember very clearly when we visited our hay crane manufacturer in Switzerland for the first meeting. As a small company with a total of 3 people, we were amazed when he announced that he had purchased material for 100 hay cranes for the current season. Those were different times and we actually managed to buy all the cranes from him .”
Although the prices for the new LASCO hay crane were often significantly higher than those of the competition due to the technology installed, the product quality was able to assert itself in the long term. Anything but easy! After all, there were 18 hay crane manufacturers at the time. For farmers, however, the higher investment in LASCO products paid off in the long term. Almost all hay cranes from the early days are still in use today!
In order to create space for final assembly, spare parts and a service center, the company had to expand in 1992.

Accession to the EU on January 1, 1995 struck a sensitive nerve with many farmers. Many were unsettled. Many thought aloud about “quitting”. As a result, the financial year went badly and the company, which had now grown to around 10 employees, had to prove for the first time in its history that it was capable of change! “At that time, we were specialized in hay and drying technology. However, we also had a new product in development, the LASCO cone splitter. We didn’t expect too much from it, after all we were still very inexperienced in forestry technology. Fortunately, my gut feeling wouldn’t let me rest and so I applied for a patent for the LASCO cone splitter three hours before the official presentation at the Wels trade fair. I was even late for the opening,” Johann Landrichinger recalls with a smile on his face. The LASCO cone splitter developed into a fixed star in the product portfolio. Forestry technology was expanded with the LASCO logging tongs, back plates and much more, thus creating another important mainstay. In 1995, the company was extended by a further hall and thus doubled in size.

Another milestone was reached in 1997.

LASCO placed products in the USA for the first time. The first delivery included 5 hay cranes. As of today, LASCO hasexported products to a total of 50 countries around the world. These include exotic countries such as Paraguay and Thailand.
In 2000, LASCO took over the trademark rights of the Riener company, which was known for its hay excavators. This enabled LASCO to achieve its first short-term increase in turnover.
With the onset of the financial crisis in 2007, Johann Landrichinger’s strategic skills were once again put to the test.
Johann Landrichinger: “We lost major sales in the USA and Canada and could really only watch. However, we were also able to recruit very good employees for our company this year. International sales were even increased during this time and we invested heavily in the further development of our products. “
The last major expansion under Johann Landrichinger’s leadership was the purchase of Maraton Maschinenbau GmbH in Lengau in 2012.

Transition to the next generation.

As if out of nowhere, an unexpected stroke in November 2012 put an end to Johann Landrichinger’s previously excellent health. “It wasn’t an easy time for any of us. Especially at the beginning, nobody knew whether I would ever leave the hospital by car again. My two sons had to move into my office practically overnight. My wife was incredibly strong during this uncertain time and supported Johannes and Werner in all decisions with her decades of experience. “, says Johann about what was probably the most difficult time of his life.
However, LASCO was able to remain on course for success thanks to new employees in sales, service and production.

The first signs of Johann Landrichinger’s near recovery also provided additional strength and so, at the end of 2013, the company celebrated what was probably the strongest range of new products and further developments since it was founded.
On 02.02.2015 at 14:00, the company was officially handed over to the two sons Johannes and Werner Landrichinger. With new products such as the LASCO Maraton hay crane and the new LASCO DRYair dehumidifier series for hay drying, the two new bosses are already impressively pointing the way to the future.
With the new sales manager Michael Bruckmüller (former sales manager at Pöttinger), the company is also breaking new ground, moving away from direct sales and towards long-term dealer partnerships. With the recently introduced cooperation between LASCO and the Salzburg Raiffeisen Association, this endeavor is also beginning to bear fruit. The upcoming company expansion in Pöndorf also already bears the signature of the new bosses.

“Since LASCO was founded, we have been developing products that make farmers more successful. The success of hay milk, where LASCO is responsible for many economical hay drying systems, is impressive proof of this. This will continue to be LASCO’s central task in the future,” concludes Johann Landrichinger. LASCO products save money in the long term.
LASCO’s roots are deeply connected to those of farmers. That’s why farmers can continue to look forward to great and sophisticated products like the new LASCO Maraton hay crane in the future.
The success story of LASCO Heutechnik GmbH continues with Johannes and Werner!
Update April 28: We have already moved into our new company headquarters. Here you can find a short construction report.