Karl Fischer Jr remembers that the first Fendt tractor in his company was a tool carrier (GT) fitted with a 1,300-litre water tank at the front and a sweeper mounted at the rear, which was used for cleaning work on construction sites. The 45-hp machine bought 35 years ago still runs today. It was probably even the first GT in construction,” he laughs. His grandfather, Karl Fischer, founded the company in Weilheim-Teck in 1927. He started with contracting services, such as combining and transporting lumber. The services offered were continually expanded. First, this included construction work on the Autobahn as well as gravel and sand transport. “My grandfather was in captivity as a prisoner of war for a long time. He died in 1959, just half a year after he returned home. His wife and two sons, that means my father, who was 18 years old at that time, and his brother took over the management of the business and built up the company,” he reports. Today the diversified company has a team of specialists available to provide solutions for even the most unusual tasks: experienced logisticians, environmental experts, mechanics, engineers and technicians.

An average of 16 apprentices are in training in the business for careers as agricultural machinery mechanics, mechatronics engineers, construction machinery drivers, truck drivers or industrial clerks. “They are great guys,” comments Fischer enthusiastically. In his opinion, the six competent foremen and trainers at the Fischer GmbH & Co. OHG, who have kids themselves and know how to handle young people, have had an important influence. Moreover, the trainees do not need to do “menial work” such as sweeping the yard or the like. They are allowed to do real work from the very beginning. That motivates the young people; most of them grew up on farms. Fischer takes care of the young academics himself. As part of their studies at the Ravensburg University of Applied Sciences, civil engineering students come to the company in Weilheim-Teck for hands-on training.