Klaus Mader

The United States has influenced the way I think about business and shaped my personal perspective. I studied Accounting and Finance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Living and studying there gave me a direct sense of the openness and entrepreneurial spirit of the U.S. business environment.

The U.S. is one of SBO’s core markets and has been central to our business for many years. More than 40 percent of our employees are based in the U.S. We have a strong position in the oil and gas sector, with manufacturing, sales and service operations throughout North America. We supply leading technologies for directional drilling and well completion. The U.S. is also becoming increasingly important for our diversification beyond oil and gas. Houston is a key hub for our additive manufacturing business, where we are expanding capacity to meet growing demand from customers in space, aerospace, defense, semiconductors and energy.

The relationship matters greatly for companies like SBO. Austria brings strong engineering capabilities, industrial know-how and a long tradition in precision manufacturing, while the U.S. offers scale, speed and a dynamic technology ecosystem. SBO combines these strengths: we build on our Austrian roots in high-precision manufacturing while operating and expanding our business in the United States.

The best way is through more direct cooperation between companies, investors and technology partners. Businesses benefit from open markets, predictable regulation and the ability to exchange expertise across borders. Closer links among universities, technology companies and industrial groups would also support new projects and create value in both countries.

Austria has a strong industrial base, particularly in engineering, materials and precision manufacturing. Its dual apprenticeship system is another particular strength, giving companies a strong foundation for developing skilled workers. At SBO, we train around 20 apprentices to help build the skilled workforce of tomorrow. SBO is a good example: our headquarters in Ternitz is a center of competence for high-performance non-magnetic steels and high-precision manufacturing. We are increasingly applying this expertise across a broader range of industries.

The U.S. is exceptionally strong at turning technology into scalable businesses. It also has an entrepreneurial culture that treats change as an opportunity rather than a risk. We see this in oil and gas, where technological innovation and operational efficiency have transformed the industry, and increasingly in areas such as geothermal, aerospace, semiconductors and additive manufacturing. Customers in the U.S. often move quickly from development to industrial application. That makes the market attractive for companies like SBO.

Austria can learn from the speed and entrepreneurial drive in the U.S., particularly when it comes to scaling new technologies. The United States can benefit from Austria’s engineering expertise and focus on manufacturing quality. At SBO, we work with both strengths: Austrian precision and a strong U.S. market presence.

I have only recently joined AmCham, so I am still at the beginning of that experience. What attracted me is the opportunity to connect with companies and leaders who operate across the Austrian-American business community, as SBO does.

I expect a strong network for companies active in both markets. For SBO, AmCham can connect business leaders, provide useful perspectives and support closer economic ties between Austria and the United States.