The History of Our Family Business

How It All Began

1948: The Foundation

Fresh from his training as a machine fitter, Franz Zingerle and his father started a small workshop in their family home. There, they built and repaired various machines, marking the birth of Zingerlemetal. Franz’s determination and innovative ideas laid the foundation for a business that would one day operate on a global scale.

The Company Grows

1963-1979

By 1963, the growing demand for machines led to the workshop quickly outgrowing its original space. Fifteen years later, the residential and business premises were expanded to keep pace with increasing orders.

In 1979, another milestone was reached: the business moved to a 2,900 m² industrial site in Schabs, providing ample space for production and allowing the workforce to grow to six employees.

A New Generation Steps In

1984

In 1984, Franz Zingerle’s sons, Georg and Martin, joined the company. At the time they were aged 20 and 26 and their contributions were instrumental in helping the company to further expand its reputation and success in the industry.

The production of table and bench underframes starts

1986

A year later, the family began producing underframes for beer garden table sets. This evolved into the professional series production of folding furniture sets, diversifying the product range and heralding a new chapter in the business.

After Franz Zingerle’s passing in 1992, his sons continued to lead the company independently.

Introducing the First Mastertent® Folding Gazebo

1993

What goes well with beer garden table sets? Exactly, a product that protects guests from the sun and rain. So in 1993, the first folding gazebo under the Mastertent® brand was born. Success was not long in coming, and production soon had to be expanded again to meet the growing demand.

International expansion

1995

With this additional product, the company continued to grow and Germany became our first partner abroad in 1995. Just two years later, a branch was opened in Spain, followed by further branches in France, Austria and Switzerland between 2005 and 2011. In 2017 , the network expanded to include branches in the USA, the Netherlands and Poland. This international presence strengthened the position of today's Zingerle Group on the global market.

Our second production facility in Romania

2003-2014

During this period, the company established a sewing factory, printing plant, and woodworking facility in Transylvania, Romania. Today, this facility processes and finishes wooden boards for tables and benches and customises folding gazebo roofs. Final assembly and shipping take place in Italy.

In addition, a new company building was erected in Schabs in 2003.

The Third Generation Joins

2018

In 2018, the third generation of the Zingerle family joined the company. Georg's children Stefan, Thomas and Sonja brought fresh perspectives and new ideas. At the same time, Georg Zingerle took over the sole management of the company group, now trading as Zingerle AG, while his brother Martin left the company.

Another significant step followed a year later: long-time employees Heinz Pezzei and Georg Silgoner, who were already active in the management, became shareholders in Zingerle AG. Since then, they run the company all together, successfully combining tradition and innovation.

Our new House of Brands

2023

2023 marks a significant milestone in the history of the Zingerle Group. We expanded our brand portfolio with a second folding gazebo brand and were now able to offer the right solution for every customer enquiry.

In addition to Mastertent®, the brand for professional folding gazebos, we introduced Ecotent® - our brand for folding gazebos in every budget range. As part of this reorientation in the folding tent industry, we also decided to give our second product group, beer garden table sets, its own identity: RUKU1952® was born.

We united all three product brands under our new umbrella brand Zingerle Group. Today, the Zingerle Group has 400 employees worldwide who do their utmost every day to fulfil our customers' expectations.

Another reason to celebrate

2023: 75 years of Zingerle Group

2023 was a very special year for another reason. This year, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the family business. It was entered in the register of the Chamber of Commerce in Bolzano on 11 February 1948, as the certificate shows. This anniversary was of course celebrated in the proper manner: on our tables and benches at the Oktoberfest in Munich! Many of our employees from our subsidiaries in Europe and the USA were also there!

The history of the ZINGERLE GROUP

Where Is the Heart of the Company?

The Location of the Zingerle Group