This Bavarian company has graduated to the elite of German innovators, having been honoured
The traditional TOP wo trophy has been awarded for 23 years now and is the only company comparison of the German middle dass firms that does not only award particular innovations, it awards also the innovative power and the outstandingly breakthroughs of companies. This year, sawmill technology company, Serra, received an award and was therefore promoted to membership of the club of elfte innovators. The Bavarian company has also taken part in a sophisticated science competition through the University of Economics in Vienna, which scrutinised innovation management and the breakthroughs. The successful Serra story  started 26 years ago. The company founder, Hans Fritz, developed the first mobile sawmill in 1990 and seven years ago his son, Johann Fritz, took over and today leads the family company.
We have earned in our long company history, that we can only survive on the world market, if we bring unique products to it, which we develop, build and commercialize also a unique way – Johann Fritz
More than a half of his time, the Bavarian businessmanworks on new innovations and improvements. His 36 employees replicate his devotion to new concepts and design by constantly submitting new ideas. Today the family company sells its mobile, stationary and industrial sawmilling technology in 77 countries all over the world. “We have learned in our long company history, that we can only survive on the world market, if we bring unique products to it, which we develop, build and commercialize also in a unique way,” Johann Fritz said. The automation for example introduced by Serra for the log handling on the machine and its different accessories around the sawmill for a faster material flow is unique and provides a very high standard in this market segment. Since some machines are also portable, the corrosion protection is very important. The newly developed mobile sawmills from Serra are the only ones in the market that can count on a completely galvanized main frame. Because of the international markets which are being supplied by Serra, the technology has been developed to work under different conditions: -48°C (-54°F) in Siberia or 48 °C (118 °F) or the high humidity of tropical countries. For these conditions the electric, hydraulic and materials have been carefully selected and developed. Because of this, the sawmills have a very low depreciation levet, granting that after a years the machines maintain a very high resell price. Based on special customer’s requirements, the company develops bespoke machines. For example, for a balsa products manufacturer. Among their products there are the wings of wind power plants. For the U N in Liberia during the Ebola crises, two Serra sawmills were the only producers of tumber for hospitals and administration buildings. More than 5o% of the Serra sawmills are manufactured, delivered and used as stationary. The company also produces industrial sawmilling plants.