The history of Magna Powertrain and the Engineering Center Steyr is inextricably linked to two people, two great pioneers in trade and industry: Josef Werndl and Frank Stronach.
Although they lived virtually a century apart, both their ideas and visions played a decisive role in the future of the company.
Josef Werndl
born on 26. Feb.1831 in Steyr, Upper Austria , died on 29.April 1889.
Josef Werndl was born into a familie of craftspeople. He started his career as armourer in Vienna and Prague. After long study trips to England, Thuringia, USA he returned into the gun manufactory of his father in 1855.
Josef Werndl leaded the company to an international successful manufacturer of guns, called Austrian Gun Manufactory Company. Beginning in 1894 the company started producing bicycles instead of weapons and from 1918 assembling vehicles.
Frank Stronach
Born on September 6, 1932 in Kleinsemmering (Styria)
A trained toolmaker, Frank Stronach emigrated to Canada in 1954. There he opened a one-man tool and die shop in 1957 that was to grow into Magna International, one of the largest companies in the global automotive supply industry. Frank Stronach is also the originator of the Fair Enterprise concept, a corporate culture focusing on the needs of the employees and giving them a share in the profits.
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