The global technology holding company is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding, and has been operating in the Czech Republic for a quarter of a century
The local Kapsch holding subsidiary is celebrating two anniversaries this year. Besides global celebrations of the 125th anniversary of Kapsch’s founding, 2017 also marks 25 years since the first Kapsch local agency was set up in the Czech Republic. Celebrations will be taking place across the globe, because since 1892 this originally small Austrian company has expanded to become a global technology giant with 95 subsidiaries on five continents. While events reach a climax in Austria in September, in Prague the highlight of Kapsch’s celebrations took place in Žofín Palace on 24 May.
Besides a buffet and excellent wine the programme included a celebratory concert from the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ondrej Lenárd. The compositions chosen highlighted Czech-Austrian social and cultural proximity, with the evening’s subtitle ‘Bridges between the Czech Republic and Austria’. Soloing were Austrian soprano Nicola Proksch and flautist Karl-Heinz Schütz, with the trio completed by Czech baritone Svatopluk Sem.
Hundreds of guests from amongst Kapsch’s important business partners along with guests from the political, economic and cultural spheres were reminded of milestones in the history of the Kapsch brand, its current global strength and its technological vision for the future. The artistic section of the evening was taken up by musicians from the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, who along with the soloists performed compositions underscoring Czech-Austrian social and cultural proximity.
Historical context was highlighted through key artefacts from Kapsch’s past which commemorated the fact that the company had been present for all technological breakthroughs and inventions of the 20th century, from the launch of radio and television broadcasting through the development of telecommunications to the massive explosion of the internet and digital technologies. In the 21st century, the Kapsch brand is renowned in the traffic telematics and toll system field, while globally it also reigns in the market in GSM-R railway technology. Furthermore, in the Czech Republic Kapsch’s presence is inherently linked to the fall of the communist dictatorship and the development of democracy and the free market.
In discussion are Eva Kislingerová, Deputy Mayor of Prague with her husband and former Minister of Transport and Presidential Advisor, Zdeněk Žák.
Baritone Svatopluk Sem demonstrated his vocal abilities in the popular aria from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Non piú andrai.
Žofín also hosted Vienna State Opera soloist and autist Karl-Heinz Schütze, playing Benda’s Flute Concerto for the audience
Žofín also hosted Vienna State Opera soloist and autist Karl-Heinz Schütze, playing Benda’s Flute Concerto for the audience The award-winning Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra with chief conductor Ondrej Lenárd were in excellent form
The award-winning Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra with chief conductor Ondrej Lenárd were in excellent form
Also present for the party was Pavel Švagr, head of the Administration of State Material Reserves and ČSSD transport expert
Soprano Nicola Proksch received an ovation, with the audience particularly appreciating her rendition of the Magic Flute’s Queen of the Night aria
In the foreground is guest, Senator Zdeněk Škromach, while in the background is Vojtěch Hromíř, Secretary General of haulier association, ČESMAD Bohemia
Žofín Palace is an important contemporary and historic venue for Prague’s social life. It received its Neo-Renaissance appearance just eight years before Kapsch was founded.
Presidential Advisor Zdeněk Žák reads the audience congratulations from President Miloš Zeman, who spoke of his appreciation of the family company’s history and stability in the context of relations between Austria and the Czech Republic
The Austrian Republic was represented at the evening with a speech from Martin Gärtner, Austria’s Deputy Chief of Mission in the Czech Republic
The organisers of the celebratory evening worked with the unique Palace Žofín premises, enhancing it not just with huge screens but also musical numbers
The host and main star of the evening was Georg Kapsch, Owner, Kapsch , who amongst other matters stressed the importance of the head of Czech Kapsch, Karel Feix, and the company’s Czech subsidiary as a whole for the holding company’s growth
Karel Feix has headed the Kapsch’s domestic subsidiaries for 25 years and thus is inextricably linked to the brand’s successes in the post-revolutionary Czech Republic
From left: Mr. Jan Kislinger, prof. Ing. Eva Kislingerová, CSc., Deputy Mayor of Prague, and David Šimoník, PR Manager, Kapsch
From left: Mag. Christian Miller, Advantage Austria, Dr. Kari Kapsch, Chief Executive O cer, Kapsch CarrierCom, and Martin Gartner, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Austria
From left: JUDr. Richard Cihlář, Head of Legal Department, Legal Services Kapsch and Mr. Josef Hlavička with his wife
From left: Jiří Kolínsko, Assoc. Prof., MSc. PhD ČVUT with his wife, Ing. Petr Smolka, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Technická správa komunikací with his wife
From left: Georg Kapsch, Owner, Kapsch, Eva Anderová, Business Consultant Czech & Slovak Leaders, and Benke Aikell, your Publisher
Vladimír Papoušek, Director of Information Technology, Four Seasons Hotel with his wife
