EMPL Fahrzeugwerk Gesellschaft m.b.H.

EMPL Fahrzeugwerk Gesellschaft m.b.H. is an Austrian vehicle body manufacturer based in Uderns, Tyrol, with additional production in Germany. Founded in 1948, the company has specialised for generations in tailor-made truck bodies and trailers, producing vehicles for fire services, commercial transport, and defence and government applications. Its product range covers firefighting vehicles, commercial vehicles for construction, goods transport, forestry, waste management and towing, as well as defence and authority vehicles. EMPL adapts each vehicle individually to customer, market and operational requirements at its sites in Austria and Germany, offering optimised and innovative transport solutions for greater effectiveness and safety. The company produces in very small to large series, also available as CKD and SKD kits, and acts as general contractor and system integrator on many large projects and tenders. Its manufacturing combines long-serving, experienced employees with a modern machine park. EMPL has expanded its production capacity over the years, including a new firefighting assembly plant and customer centre in Elster, Germany, and production extensions in Kaltenbach and Uderns, Austria. In 2025 the management was reorganised: Joe Empl remains CEO with overall responsibility, focusing on sales, service and marketing; Gregor Drühe, with the company since 2000, became COO responsible for production and technology; and Thomas Baumann, who joined in 2013, took over as CFO, also assuming management of the German plant in Elster as Heinz Empl retired. The company is privately held and continues to operate as a family-influenced business.

EMPL Fahrzeugwerk GmbH has been producing customised truck bodies and trailers since 1948. Over the decades, the company has grown into a specialist for firefighting, commercial, and defence and government vehicles, with production sites in Austria and Germany. The company emphasises continuous development and innovation, combining experienced employees with modern machinery to produce vehicles in very small to large series, also available as CKD and SKD kits. EMPL also acts as general contractor and system integrator for large projects and tenders. In recent years, EMPL has invested in expanding its production capacity. In 2019, a new production hall for recovery vehicles was commissioned. In 2020, construction began on a production hall for firefighting vehicles and a handover hall in Elster, Germany, along with land expansions in Uderns and Kaltenbach, each adding 5,000 m². In 2021, production was expanded in Kaltenbach with the EMPL Service Park (ESP 3), including a bridge office between halls 2 and 3 creating space for about 30 employees, and the new firefighting assembly plant with customer centre in Elster was put into operation. In 2022, part of the existing production area was converted into a modern customer centre and handover hall, called the Firefighting Forum. In 2023, EMPL received the certificate 'Staatlich ausgezeichneter Ausbildungsbetrieb' from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy, and EMPL Germany was named a top training company in skilled trades; Joe Empl also took over interim management of production from Dr. Thomas Lanner, who left the company. In 2024, the technology forge in Uderns was expanded with a new preservation hall. In 2025, the management was reorganised: Joe Empl remains CEO with overall responsibility, focusing on sales, service and marketing; Gregor Drühe, with the company since 2000, became COO responsible for production and technology; and Thomas Baumann, who joined in 2013, took over as CFO, also assuming management of the German plant in Elster as Heinz Empl retired.

• 2025

  Management reorganisation: Joe Empl remains CEO; Gregor Drühe becomes COO; Thomas Baumann becomes CFO and takes over management of German plant in Elster; Heinz Empl retires.

• 2024

  Technology forge in Uderns expanded with new preservation hall.

• 2023

  EMPL receives 'Staatlich ausgezeichneter Ausbildungsbetrieb' certificate; EMPL Germany named top training company in skilled trades; Joe Empl takes over interim management of production.

• 2022

  Part of existing production area converted into modern customer centre / handover hall, the Firefighting Forum.

• 2021

  Production expansion in Kaltenbach (EMPL Service Park ESP 3) with bridge office for ~30 employees; new firefighting assembly plant and customer centre in Elster put into operation.

• 2020

  Construction begins on firefighting vehicle production hall and handover hall in Elster, Germany; land expansions in Uderns and Kaltenbach (+5,000 m² each).

• 2019

  New production hall for recovery vehicles commissioned.

• 1948

  EMPL Fahrzeugwerk GmbH founded; begins producing customised truck bodies and trailers.

Custom-made, high-quality and durable vehicle bodies for demanding operations worldwide.

• Firefighting vehicles

  Custom firefighting vehicles for diverse operations.

• Commercial vehicles

  Customer-specific transport solutions for construction, goods transport, forestry, waste management and towing.

• Defence and authority vehicles

  Vehicles for defence and government authorities.

• CKD/SKD kits

  Vehicles also available as completely knocked down or semi knocked down kits.

1. 1EMPL: www.empl.atempl.at
2. 2EMPL: Geschichteempl.at
3. 3EMPL Fahrzeugwerk Gesellschaft m.b.H. - Wikidatawikidata.org