Circuit board factory in Fehring: These are the plans from AT&S

As already announced in February, the Styrian circuit board manufacturer AT&S is investing around 30 million euros in the expansion of its Eastern Styrian factory in Fehring. This was celebrated on Friday together with the location’s 50th anniversary.AT&S CEO Michael Mertin spoke of “more than just series production”. The regional plant is now “not an appendage, but a necessary location” within the group.

When Mertin was in Fehring for the first time about a year ago, it was uncertain what would happen next with the location. The number of employees had fallen to around 300; currently 400 people are employed. A tour and discussions with the specialists showed Mertin what skills they had. Everyone knew what they were doing, which customers were being served and which processes were necessary: ​​“Unfortunately, that is no longer a given,” said the CEO, who only took over the helm of the then somewhat stumbling circuit board manufacturer in May 2025.

New machines, new training workshops and research department

Instead of shrinking, we should now invest in growth – together with customers like Semicron and Advantestwho also participate in the investment – some with purchase guarantees. Mertin also did not rule out further expansion in Fehring, where “there had been no investments for a long time.” Products in Fehring are developed here together with customers: “This also binds customers,” Mertin continued. “Developing together, investing together, there is no other way in the industry.”

The approximately 30 million euros are to flow into the location by March 2027, among other things better and more clean rooms and new machinesits own research department, a new apprentice workshop and also an “experience world” to open the factory to the population and inform them about what is produced. Fehring is one of the largest circuit board factories in Europe and benefits from the increasing demand for safety-relevant high-tech solutions produced in Europe.

Medical technology as a growth market

In Fehring, so-called High-Power-Electronics-Komponenten produced, but now also semiconductor technology – including for medical technology, which Mertin sees as a growth market. According to the CEO, demand for AT&S products is currently higher “than we can meet”. “Demand is enormous,” especially in the new Defense business unit. It is also reflected in the share price, which has skyrocketed in recent weeks.