The starting signal for the joint company trip was on Thursday, the 22.06.23 when we went to Freilassing in Germany for two days, with a visit to our Hawle Armaturen GmbH branch and a tour of the beautiful city of Salzburg.

We set off full of anticipation once we arrived in Salzburg. The mood was already very cheerful and full of curiosity from the very beginning. We were given a warm welcome by our guide when we reached the salt mine. When the tour started, we dropped down into a fascinating world in the underground.

We followed the winding routes through the mine while our guide entertained us with exciting stories and facts about the salt mine. The sight of the huge salt chambers and the glittering salt crystals was breathtaking. It was impressive to see how hard the miners needed to work to extract valuable salt.

A highlight of the visit was certainly the ride on the mine train. We all sat in the narrow train and went deep inside the mine. It was an exciting adventure and generated plenty of laughter and good spirits in the group.

One of the most exciting ways to get inside the mine is by using the wooden slide. It is a traditional method that allowed us to slide down into the depths while sitting on wooden boards, so we could experience the steep drop into the mine. Visiting the salt mine in Salzburg was an unforgettable experience for everyone in the group.

The following morning, we went to Freilassing to visit Hawle Armaturen GmbH for a factory tour. This was an exciting opportunity to gain an insight into the production and manufacture of fittings. Freilassing is mainly known as a border town, as it is located directly on the border with Austria.

The factory tour gave us the opportunity to see the production process at first hand. We got an insight into the different manufacturing steps, from material sourcing to production and quality control. It was a good opportunity to learn more about the technologies, innovations, and quality standards.

Mr Hawle passed away in 2003 but his vintage car collection has been kept. We were able to admire this during the tour. These impressive vehicles are still roadworthy today.

After lunch we returned to Salzburg, where we had some time to ourselves. Some of us went on the guided city tour and were able to discover the top sights of this charming Austrian city.

On Saturday morning we travelled back to Sirnach from Salzburg. In the car we talked about the experiences and memories we had enjoyed together in the last few days, the sights we’ve seen, the shared experiences and funny moments.

It was a very successful trip!

Many thanks to everyone who took part.