Lei Oans
Visiting the painters of Tirol
„Tirol isch lei oans,” (’Tyrol is unique’) as they say in the Tyrolean dialect. ’Lei oans’ means ’unique’. Michael Laiminger is from the Austrian state of Tyrol and he loves the uniqueness of his homeland. Yet for him, the reality is that he must work hard where others holiday. We visited him at his painting business in Radfeld.
Right in the heart of Tyrol, halfway between Kufstein and Innsbruck, lies the town of Radfeld. The Rofan main ridge runs to the north of the town, whilst on a clear day, the impressive peaks of the Zillertal Alps can be seen to the south. Today is one of those sunny days – even if the sun is still hiding behind the crest of the mountain so early in the morning. Besides, the satnav is demanding our full attention. ’You have reached your destination,’ announces the friendly voice as we arrive at the Laiminger painting company.
Tradition and expert knowledge
The vehicles are already being loaded in front of the covered entrance to the workshop; brushes and rollers, paint buckets and machines are carefully stowed in the back. They need everything with them on the construction site. ’With the jobs we do, roughly 95 per cent of the work is on-site. The most we do in the workshop is preparation and follow-up work,’ explains Michael Laiminger as he greets me. As the fleet of Laiminger vehicles drive away, the boss gives us a tour of the company. His father founded the specialist painting business in 1968, exactly 50 years ago. As a young boy, Michael was already accompanying his father on visits to customers and to construction sites. A lot has changed since then. The range of jobs, materials and painting techniques has become much more varied and the flexibility and speed required has increased immensely.
„My employees have become so familiar with the tools and the Festool system now that they don’t want anything else.“
Michael Laiminger - owner of the painter business Laiminger
When everything has to go according to plan
In Tyrol, tourism sets the pace. And for skilled trades, that means there are only comparatively short windows in which to work so as not to affect guests’ holidays. Often, businesses end up testing the limits of what is possible, explains Michael Laiminger: ’I remember a prestigious hotel we did some work for. It was a major job that would normally take 12 to 15 weeks, and we had to get it done in nine weeks, to the highest standards. And just before Christmas, too. We worked straight through every weekend, sometimes in extreme conditions. We vacated the site at one in the morning on 24 December. Six hours later, the first guests arrived.’ In peak periods like these, everything has to go according to plan – or unexpectedly well. The staff are stretched to their limits. They have to master a vast range of painting techniques, both skilfully and quickly. And for this to succeed perfectly, it needs tool systems that are flexible, efficient and of the highest quality.
The best tools and captivating service
Michael Laiminger is very enthusiastic about Festool tools: ’We have sanding machines and abrasives for every job and for any specific surface quality. We always use dust extractors when we sand – whether that’s on the construction site or in the workshop. Our cordless tools allow us to be extremely flexible and mobile.’ And there’s another thing that is essential for him: the Festool service. Just recently, the boss tells me, he damaged his compound mitre saw through his own fault. ’The same day, I booked the machine in for repair straight away. It was collected a day later and after five days, it was back in my workshop, in perfect condition and ready for action*. It still amazes me how fast and smooth the service is – whether it’s for spare parts or accessories, repairs or orders,’ he raves. ’There’s nothing worse for a tradesperson than being without their tools.’
Illustration at the construction site
He has already registered the new tools for warranty. The new Festool Order app shows which tools have been purchased and which accessories or supplies can be ordered to go with them. ’Basically, I order virtually blind. If the brochure with new products for autumn is on the table, I have a look and see what I could use. I don’t need to spend a long time trying them out and testing them. Especially since my employees have become so familiar with the tools and the Festool system now that they don’t want anything else.’ At the construction site that Michael Laiminger takes us to in the afternoon, it becomes clear just how much they have become accustomed to support from the machines. The municipal office with the integrated Marienheim retirement home in the neighbouring town of Reith has had its exterior completely renovated by the Laiminger painting firm: balconies, porch and facade, and now the wooden windows are being extensively restored.
Inspirational painting craftsmanship
Astonishingly, the staff are working not on scaffolding but on work platforms. According to Laiminger, it’s not unusual: ’Whenever possible, we work with work platforms. It saves us a lot of time and effort, and it means fewer restrictions for the residents and considerably lower costs for our clients.” The staff are barely visible and virtually silent then as they carry out their work on the facade of Marienheim retirement home. One of them is the middle son of Michael Laiminger, who works at the company. The eldest of the three sons is currently supervising a construction site in Kufstein. If all goes well, in a few years one of them – or perhaps even all of them together – will take over the business that was their father’s and grandfather’s. At least, that is what the boss and father of the family is hoping. He knows how difficult it is to get young people excited about the craft of painting and to make it clear that this job is unique – or even ’lei oans’.
