What started in Stockerau in 1948 through the personal commitment and entrepreneurial skills of spouses Josef and Antoniafrisches as a wood and wood products trade is now one of the leading timber trading companies in Europe with 72 locations on two continents and an extensive network international sales. Timber wholesaler J. u. A.frischeis (JAF) is a strong partner for the wood processing trade, for the construction industry and for resale.
Suppliers, customers and employees celebrated the company’s 75th anniversary together in the place where it was founded, at Stockerauer Gerbergasse. Who’s who in the wood industry was represented at the in-house exhibition, but exhibitors such as the Künstlerhaus Wien also showcased the variety of applications for the natural material wood. Around 1,500 guests accepted the invitation.
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Stockerau
Fresh ice celebrated 75 years: “We haven’t stopped since the company was founded”. Timber wholesaler J. u. A. Freshness is celebrating its 75th anniversary, looks back on development into one of Europe’s leading timber trading companies and has its eyes firmly on wood as the building material of the future.
Recent innovations such as the fully automatic production of furniture parts, the software-controlled area storage and the central warehouse for floors and doors – equipped with the latest storage technology – have given a small taste of the company’s innovative strength, which with its 75 years of experience also want to actively shape the future of the timber trade.
Photo: JAF
“Our company has never stopped since it was founded. The last 75 years have been marked by social upheavals and technological advances,” emphasizes JAF Managing Director Werner Stix. “With our services at JAF, we capture our customers and thus develop the wood industry together. We are aware of the fact that we have social and ecological responsibility. As experts in building and living with wood, we are ambassadors and advocates for a building material whose era has just begun.”
Director General of JAF Werner Stix
Photo: JAF
JAF has continuously developed the timber trade: the wide range of services and modern competence in warehousing and logistics stand out. Josef and Antoniafrischeis were primarily responsible for developing the branch network across Austria. After his father’s death in 1978, his son Johannfrischeis took over the management. Until his death in 2020, he continued to lead the company in a visionary manner and brought JAF to the international stage.
Today, JAF is represented in Europe and Asia with nearly 3,000 employees in 72 locations, and wood and wood-based materials are traded worldwide. In addition to its important supply function for the timber processing industry and trade, the timber merchant also performs a number of central service functions. Like an extended workbench for the carpenter, JAF cuts and edges wood products or produces furniture parts on its modern machine park. The company also supports the planning and execution of wooden construction projects – also with online planning and consultancy tools.
About the company’s history
- Joseffrischeis, who suffered from gout unable to take over his parents’ farm as a child, he seeks another source of income and finds it in the timber trade. He receives a commercial license to trade in wood and derivative products and starts operating in November 1948. His wife Antonia closely followed the finances.
- The first two JAF branches open in 1959 – in addition to the headquarters in Stockerau – in Linz and Bad Hofgastein. The Viennese wholesaler Holver was acquired in 1964. By 1986 the company had at least one branch in nearly every federal state.
- Son Johann takes over in 1978 after his death Josef Freshis takes the helm, he is supported by his mother Antonia. Johann Freshness recognizes economic opportunities with the destruction of the Iron Curtain.
- Opening of the first JAF foreign branch 1991 in Leipzig (Germany), soon followed by others in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, then Romania, Slovenia and Croatia.
- In Romania, JAF walks up in 2007 among producers. Veneers, sawn and profiled wood, as well as decking wood are manufactured in our own factory in Braşov. At the end of the 2000s, the first processing centers were created, in which the panels were cut and shredded.
- Antonia Freshis died in 2012 of old age 90 years old. She left a lasting mark on the company with her strength of character and consistency. She remained deeply attached to the company until her death.
- JAF Group becomes owner in 2014 the former Danish DLH Group, which serves the target markets of China and Vietnam in Asia and Africa.
- In 2015, the Swedish company was acquired Skanditrä company. The supplier for the flooring industry allows JAF to conquer more areas of business.
- Johann Freshis dies in 2020, who advised the management of the JAF Group until his death. Today, the JAF is managed by the trio of directors Werner Stix, Wilfrid Fabjani and Miroslav Malženický.