Family Chronicle
From father to son - for 7 generations
In 1848 Isidor Braun transfers his father’s file smithy and forge from Konstanz to Schöndorf near Vöcklabruck in Austria. In 1863, he transfers half of the Schöndorf property to each of his two sons, Martin and Isidor. In the fourth generation, the company is managed jointly for nine years by the brothers Isidor Braun and Ernst Braun. When Ernst Braun dies relatively young and childless, his shares go to his brother. The management trio of the fifth generation consists of the brothers Martin Isidor Braun and Ernst Theodor Braun, as well as the brother-in-law Walter Dusl. Between the years 1974 and 1979, the sixth generation successively joins the family business.
Until 1989, the company is managed by the three cousins of the sixth generation, Gerhard Dusl, Martin Christian Braun and Michael Braun. In 1989, the company is split into I. Braun’s Sons, Braun Machine Company and Braun Water Power Plants. Martin Christian Braun becomes the managing director of the Machine Company and the Hydropower Plants, and Michael Braun the managing director of I. Braun’s Sons, moving his file factory to Portugal in 2007. In the same year, Martin Christian buys the former facility of the file factory, thus uniting the former factory site. In 2012, he founds the Braun Ager Hydropower Plants. In 2019, the Decommissioning Technologies division of the Machine Company is transformed into a company on its own – the BRAUN Decommissioning Technologies. Martin Christian hands over the management of the Machine Company to his son Lennart and the management of the Decommissioning Technologies to his son Roderich, and is still managing director of the Hydropower Plants and Ager Hydropower Plants. The four BRAUN companies operate independently, but are in strong synergy with each other.
Roderich Martin Braun
born 1990
After studies in Austria, Hong Kong and Sweden, professional experience in Austria and Sweden, he joins the family business in May 2018. Since January 2021 he is the managing director of BRAUN Decommissioning Technologies.
He is on the board of directors of the Austrian and the International Concrete Drilling and Sawing Association.
Lennart Martin Braun
born 1987
After studies in Austria and Switzerland, professional experience in the UK and Luxembourg, he joins the family business in December 2016. He has been managing director of the BRAUN Machine Company since October 2019.
Michael Braun
geb. 1957
In 1975, Michael Braun, son of Ernst Braun and Waltraud Braun, joined the family business. He expanded sales of the coated abrasives product line and in 1989 became the owner as well as the managing director of I. Braun’s Sons file factory and Rapid-Coated-Abrasives. In 2007 the file factory was transferred to Portugal.
Martin Christian Braun
geb. 1951
After his return from France and the USA, Martin Christian Braun took over a leading position in 1979, introduced the company’s own IT system and set up the sales department of the hydraulic steel construction division. In 1989, he became the sole owner of the Braun Machine Company and the Braun Water Power Plants. In 1998, he is awarded the golden medal of merit of the city of Vöcklabruck. In 2007 he buys the facility of the file factory. In 2012, he founds the Braun Ager Water Power Plants.
Gerhard Dusl
geb. 1949
Gerhard Dusl, son of Walter Dusl and Maria Dusl (née Braun), joined the family business in 1975. He organized the purchasing department and expanded the distribution network of the files with a focus on Europe as well as North and South America. He acted as managing partner until 1989.
Ernst Theodor Braun
1924 - 2015
Ernst Braun was much involved in sales and, together with Walter Dusl, boosted the export of the files. He was also in charge of setting up sales of the cut-off machines, human resources and introduced cost accounting. Furthermore, he established international contacts with other file factories and was responsible for setting up the coated abrasives division.
Walter Dusl
1908 - 2003
Although Walter Dusl (brother-in-law) studied mechanical engineering, he showed great interest in commercial matters. He managed the company’s financial affairs, set up materials management and logistics, was responsible for purchasing and played a key role in exporting the files.
Martin Isidor Braun
1906 - 1997
Martin Braun was technical manager as well as head of engineering and design. Among other things, he developed file cutting machines for the rationalization of the file production, rake cleaning machines, cut-off and grinding machines and forging machines. He was much involved in the repurchase of the Zöbl mill and played a major role in the engineering and design of the Hammerwerk and Zöbl mill hydropower plants.
Ernst Theodor Braun
1870 - 1907
After completing his studies at the Technical University, Ernst Theodor Braun ran the business together with his brother Isidor from 1898 to 1907. When he died relatively young and childless, his shares passed to his brother.
Isidor Adolf Braun
1868 - 1925
Isidor Adolf Braun acquired the invention of steel refining by electric means in 1906. The Swedish inventor Kjellin comes to Vöcklabruck in person to be present at the commissioning. This electric steel furnace was the first induction furnace in Central Europe.
Johann Ulrich Isidor Braun
1835 - 1907
As early as 1854, Isidor and his brother Martin received orders, for example, for file steel and rifle-proof cuirasses for the Imperial and Royal Arsenal. The two brothers ran the business from 1863 to 1898, with innovative products and provision for the factory’s employees being important to both brothers. In 1903 Isidor was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph I.
Martin Braun
1825 - 1898
Martin Braun acquired the Zöbl mill at the plant stream and further expanded the business with his brother Isidor. In recognition of his services, Emperor Franz Joseph I appointed Martin Braun a Knight of the Order of Franz Joseph in 1871. Furthermore, Martin was a bearer of the Romanian Order of the Crown. Martin and Isidor also rendered great services to the town of Vöcklabruck, and in 1855 they founded the Paixhanslia, to which for example also Anton Bruckner and Franz Stelzhamer later belonged. The two brothers were made honorary citizens of Vöcklabruck in 1874. Martin bequeathed his share of the business to his nephew Ernst Theodor.
Isidor Karl Braun
1801 - 1866
In 1848, Isidor Karl transferred his father’s file smithy and forge from Konstanz to Schöndorf near Vöcklabruck and acquired the property of Count Engl, which particularly suited his ideas because of the existing water power. Isidor Karl expanded the castle and built a hammer mill as well as a crucible casting steelworks. He had acquired his knowledge of crucible casting steel production in England. The excellent quality of the products earned the factory the best reputation. In 1863 Isidor Karl handed over the property to his sons Martin and Isidor. His son Leopold founded a brewery in Puchheim – today the Spitz company.
Isidor Braun
1759 - 1841
Isidor was Empress Maria Theresa’s first blacksmith during his military service. In 1798, he established the first and only file smithy in the Black Forest region in Konstanz.
