DI Werner Hochegger

*  11.05.1940  06.12.2018

Lord of a Castle, Japan Lover, Expert in Airconditioning and a Visionary

DI Werner Ludwig Hochegger was born on 11th May 1940 in Graz in the zodiac sign Taurus. If you read about the characteristics of a Taurus, you will learn that he is persistent and strong-willed, has great taste for beautiful things and is a sensual aficionado. He lived in the truest sense as a taurus, always a bit with his head through the wall, which was probably also the reason for his successful and impactful life.

In 1959 he began studying industrial engineering at the Technical University of Graz, which he successfully completed in 1965 with a diploma. After another academic year in Paris, he started his career as Sales Manager at Hutter & Schrantz AG in Vienna, where he got to know the export market of Yugoslavia and Hungary.

In 1971, he changed the industry and landed in air conditioning units, a product that did not let go of him. He entered the industry as Managing Partner of TVG, which at the time was the general distributor for Hitachi air conditioning units. In this position, he oriented southbound and sold the first business refrigeration systems to the former Yugoslavia.

In 1976 he dared the step into self-employment and founded the company AIR-COND. He became the general representative for TOSHIBA air conditioners and heat pumps in Austria. Thus he not only gained a leading global corporation as business partner, but through this business relationship he was able to follow intensely his great fascination for Japan, his passion for Japanese culture, food and people.

From 1989, he gradually built up the Eastern European market and thus secured the general representation for another 10 countries. With tireless, personal commitment, great vision and determination, he has contributed significantly to the successful development of the company. On October 10, 2017, the 40th anniversary of the company AIR-COND in the Seifenfabrik in Graz was celebrated and Werner Hochegger was honored by 330 customers, partners and friends from Europe and Asia.

Another central area of activity, which he pursued with particular interest and passion, was the heat pump and the endeavor to give it the value it deserves. Today, a heat pump is known to almost everyone, but more than 35 years ago, only visionaries could imagine what would be possible with the heat pump principle recognized by Peter Ritter von Rittinger in 1856. Since 1980 Werner Hochegger has been seeking national and international popularity, research and development of the heat pump. He organized heat pump conferences from Graz to Orlando and founded the Ritter von Rittinger Award of the International Energy Agency in 1988. As a global pioneer in the field of heat pumps, DI Werner Hochegger has spent his life promoting energy efficiency in the use of new and innovative energy systems.

As a global pioneer in the field of heat pumps, DI Werner Hochegger has spent his life promoting energy efficiency in the use of new and innovative energy systems.

Backed by a successful AIR-COND, DI Werner Hochegger continues to give free reign to his visionary spirit and in 2005 acquired the Castle Rabenstein and became the new lord of the 12th-century castle near Frohnleiten in Styria. Due to a unique revitalization and modernization, Castle Rabenstein today presents itself as a first class event center. At the same time, the castle is a showcase for the use of TOSHIBA heat pumps in a historic building as the entire building - more than 2,400 m2 - is heated with an air-to-air heat pump. With the construction of the Hochegger Keusche, a modern construction of steel and glass, which stands out directly from the ruins of the former castle, Hochegger creates a unique eye-catcher. At the same time, an energy-efficient house was built at the foot of the castle, which serves as an information and training center for air conditioners and heat pumps.

Due to the business relationship of AIR-COND with the global group TOSHIBA, DI Werner Hochegger had excellent relations with Japan. It was another great concern of him to make his lovingly collected compilation of unique and fascinating exhibits open to the public. His collection tells the story of the Japanese-Austrian friendship of the last 150 years and the mutual fascination for each other.

Thus, the project „Japaneum“ was initiated, which welcomes the first visitors from the end of April 2019 - a project that aims to make a valuable contribution to international understanding and cultural exchange. We look back on a life of DI Werner Hochegger, in which he has achieved a lot. He was an honorary citizen of the Technical University of Graz and bearer of the Grand Decoration of Honor of the Province of Styria for science, research and art for services to secure a Styrian cultural heritage. He was a lateral thinker, a pioneer, an expert for airconditioning, but above all, he was a visionary of the heat pump.

On December 6, 2018, DI Werner Hochegger passed away at the age of 79. We will always honor him. His life‘s work, the company AIR-COND, will be continued in his spirit and his name will continue to be inseparable from the history and success of AIR-COND!

In thankful memory, Jürgen Unterrainer & Team AIR-COND

Japaneum

The land of the rising sun stops by Castle Rabenstein

Just in time for the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Austro-Japanese Friendship, Trade and Shipping Treaty in 1869, the Japaneum on Castle Rabenstein opens its doors on Friday, April 26, 2019.

The Japaneum is based on the idea to show the Austro-Japanese euphoria for each other and the mutual influences on each other‘s culture. It should make a valuable contribution to intercultural education and international understanding and tolerance.

During his lifetime, Mr. Werner Hochegger has collected an extraordinary collection of Japanese exhibits that, among other things, tell the story behind this mutual fascination. He had always been dreaming of giving his collection the frame that it deserves and above all to make it accessible to the public. To make his dream come true, at Rabenstein Castle, major renovations are taking place, and no expense or effort is spared to create and open on time the Japaneum in the spirit and vision of Mr. Hochegger.

Sayonara – We look forward to welcoming you in the Japaneum!