TEST-FUCHS opens new Aerospace Campus: about 5,000 guests attend three-day opening event in Groß Siegharts
An Executive Strategy Day featuring international aviation and defense experts, a Family & Friends Day for employees, and an Open House for the local community mark the opening of the new Aerospace Campus
Groß Siegharts, September 21, 2026. With a three-day opening event, TEST-FUCHS officially launched its new Aerospace Campus at the Groß Siegharts location (Raabser Straße 38-40). From September 17 to 19, 2026, a total of around 5,000 guests gathered: international executives from the aviation and defense sectors at the Executive Strategy Day, approximately 1,800 employees and their families at the Family & Friends Day, and about 2,500 visitors from the region at the Open House. TEST-FUCHS has invested more than 30 million euros in the new campus over the past few years; it is geared toward the development and manufacturing of modern aerospace components.
Executive Strategy Day: A Dialogue Among Europe’s Aerospace and Defense Industries
On September 17, the Executive Strategy Day brought together around 200 invited guests from industry, politics, and research at the new campus. With participants from 15 countries, the new campus became an international stage for the aerospace and defense industries for a day. Under the theme “Europe’s Aerospace Moment of Truth,” speakers included Wolfgang Hattmansdorfer, Federal Minister of Economy, Energy, and Tourism, and Camille Flaherty (Group VP & GM, MOOG Military Global Sustainment) spoke on the topic of operational readiness, along with representatives from Airbus Defence & Space, Pilatus, Daher, Helsing, SAAB, Roland Berger, and the FFG. The topic of hydrogen was also a focus: HyCentA Managing Director Alexander Trattner spoke about progress in liquid hydrogen testing - an area in which TEST-FUCHS, together with HyCentA, is investing with the new Liquid Hydrogen Lab in Enns. The day was thus also marked by strategic technology partnerships, such as the collaboration with Kistler in the field of high-precision measurement technology, which was recently announced in June 2026. Volker Fuchs, CEO of the TEST-FUCHS Group, spoke in his keynote address about agility as a competitive advantage for family-owned companies in the high-tech and defense sectors. The evening was rounded out by two flight demonstrations and a gala dinner.
Family & Friends Day: The Workforce Celebrates the New Campus
On September 18, TEST-FUCHS opened its new campus to its own staff: About 1,800 employees and their families took advantage of the opportunity to take factory tours, watch an air show, and enjoy a social gathering to wrap up the day.
Open House: The Region Visits TEST-FUCHS
The event concluded on September 19 with an open house for the general public. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., approximately 5,000 visitors from the region enjoyed the program, which included helicopter sightseeing flights, a static aircraft and vehicle display, tours of the new campus, an apprenticeship and career lounge, and children’s activities.
Reactions to the Opening Weekend
“What moved me most this weekend was seeing how many people celebrated with us - our employees and their families, our neighbors from the region, and our partners from around the world. The new Aerospace Campus is built of steel and glass, but it is sustained by the people who accomplish great things here every day. That is exactly why we are investing here in Groß Siegharts - for them and with them. “Thank you to everyone who shared this day with us,” says Volker Fuchs, CEO of the TEST-FUCHS Group.
“The investment in the new aerospace building is a strong commitment to Austria as a business location and a positive signal for our industry. “TEST-FUCHS demonstrates how domestic companies can compete at the global forefront with technological expertise, innovation, and clear ambition,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer.
“When I think of a perfect business partner, that would be TEST-FUCHS,” said Camille Flaherty, Group VP & GM, MOOG Military Global Sustainment.
About the Aerospace Campus
The new Aerospace Campus in Groß Siegharts is dedicated to the development and manufacture of modern aerospace components. In recent years, TEST-FUCHS has invested more than 30 million euros in the expansion of the site. Even before the opening, Volker Fuchs summed it up: “Our roots are here - and this is where we’re investing in the future.”
