Celebrating 30 years!

1989–2019

30 years of independence

This October, Friderik Kager celebrates 30 years of working independently. In 1989, he decided to follow his own professional path because his work at the time was no longer fulfilling. During the first few years, he worked as a designer and consultant, but none of the companies needed his assistance. He then connected with a German company, linking it to production in Bosnia. When war broke out, he was forced to complete the German client’s order himself under the hayrack at home. As soon as the project was finished, another order followed, and the home workshop soon became too small.

The need for larger premises

30 years of independence

An old, bankrupt joinery once stood on the site of today’s company. We managed to agree on a two-year lease. Orders continued to arrive, confirming that our company had a future. We then purchased the premises, and the KAGER story began. At first, the company depended entirely on exports to Germany. A downturn followed at the end of the 1990s, although it was rarely discussed at the time. Fortunately, interest in and confidence in our houses were growing in Austria, allowing us to weather the crisis on the German market without serious consequences.

Entering the Slovenian market in 1996

30 years of independence

We built our first house in Slovenia for one of our employees. Nobody in Slovenia knew us at the time, but that house led to further orders and gave us fresh momentum.

Our first trade fair

30 years of independence

Nine years after starting the business, we needed catalogues, presentation materials and a logo for the first time. In short, it was the first time we truly entered the market with more than word-of-mouth promotion. We presented several different house ranges. Each was distinguished by special details, just as they are today, and each represented a KAGER house.

VITA NOVA: a new concept on the Slovenian market

30 years of independence

We were among the few manufacturers in Europe—and the only one in Slovenia—to produce what are known as timber-frame houses. We built the first such house near Maribor as early as 2002. Compared with the more common panel construction, the defining feature of this system is its load-bearing structure of posts and beams.

Expansion abroad

30 years of independence

In February 2006, we officially registered a company in Italy. Switzerland, Germany, Ukraine and Russia followed.

Renovating the office and production facilities

30 years of independence

In response to growing demand and the need to improve the energy efficiency of our business premises, we renovated the administrative building in 2008, expanded the office and added a meeting room. The production facilities were also renovated and extended. Our company now consumes less electricity because we installed a solar power system on the roof and generate a large share of the electricity ourselves.

For future generations

30 years of independence

In 2016, Friderik’s daughter Tina Kager became managing director, marking the arrival of a second generation that is equally ambitious and eager to innovate.

“I am delighted to be able to share my knowledge with my successors, watch their work and still contribute in a small way to the successful story of my—and our—company, both in Slovenia and abroad. My 30-year independent entrepreneurial journey has seen many highs and lows, but together we have made it through both the good times and the more difficult ones.” ~ Friderik KAGER