Since its founding in 1872, the 4,000 employees of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group have been shaping the future in the name of safety, technology, the environment, certification, education, security, and innovation: trust in safety, in progress, in markets, and in people. TÜV AUSTRIA. #wecare.

Did you know that founder Adam Freiherr von Burg was the rector of what is now the Vienna University of Technology? Von Burg introduced the popular Sunday lectures and published numerous scientific works, such as the *Compendium of Popular Mechanics and Machine Theory* (1849).

Did you know that the consequences of World War I caused the DUVG—once the largest inspection organization—to shrink to its 1880 size? Before the Treaty of Saint-Germain came into effect on September 10, 1919, the DUVG had 19,877 steam boilers undergoing periodic inspection; but by 1920, following the loss of the kingdoms of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, that number had fallen to just 5,047. The establishment of a testing facility in 1909, initiated by Wilhelm Exner, was largely responsible for compensating for the lost facilities.

Did you know that founder Adam Freiherr von Burg is an honorary citizen of the city of Vienna? In 1847, what is now the federal capital awarded the renowned mathematician and engineer honorary citizenship for his contributions to firefighting, water supply, and gas lighting.

Did you know that TÜV AUSTRIA was already active internationally as a steam boiler inspection and insurance company even before its founding? Under the leadership of Adam von Burg, what would later become the founding committee engaged in an intensive international exchange of expertise, with Great Britain serving as a model through the “Manchester Steam Users Association,” founded in 1855. In Germany, steam boiler associations also formed following a steam boiler explosion at a Mannheim brewery in 1865. The founding committee led by Adam von Burg was involved in the creation of an association of boiler inspection societies. Following the founding of the Austrian Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company in 1872, its administrative director, Roman Fachini, represented the interests of the DUVG at a conference on “Consultations on Common Interests” and at the first meeting of the newly founded German Association.

Did you know that TÜV AUSTRIA was reorganized into a holding company in 2007? In light of ongoing internationalization, expansion, and acquisitions, it was decided in 2006 to reorganize the Technischer Überwachungs-Verein (TÜV) Austria into a corporation. Operational activities were transferred from the association to companies that are still grouped under TÜV AUSTRIA HOLDING AG today. The Austrian TÜV, founded in Vienna in 1872 as the DUVG and independent ever since, is the sole owner.

TÜV AUSTRIA has obtained accreditation from ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) as an AIA (Authorized Inspection Agency) for steam boilers and pressure vessels. TÜV AUSTRIA is therefore one of only 24 companies worldwide authorized to conduct inspections and product certifications for new pressure equipment manufactured in accordance with the rules of the American ASME Code. The ASME Code is widely used (outside the U.S. and Canada) primarily in the oil and gas industry as well as in parts of Western Europe and Asia: TÜV AUSTRIA’s ASME Certificate of Accreditation

Did you know that TÜV AUSTRIA Hellas in Greece is the first international subsidiary and the second subsidiary of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group? Founded in 1994, the Greek subsidiary initially focused on the certification of management systems and is now considered a key player in industrial, educational, and systems management solutions: gr.tuv.at

Did you know that TÜV AUSTRIA has been inspecting elevators in Cyprus since 2015? The subsidiary TÜV AUSTRIA Cyprus was recognized as an authorized elevator inspector in 2015 by the Department of Labor Inspection of the Ministry of Labor, Welfare, and Social Insurance of the Republic of Cyprus. Learn more about TÜV AUSTRIA elevator technology here

Did you know that TÜV Wien used green as its corporate color—a symbol of life, safety, and trust? It wasn’t until the launch of its international brand identity in 1996 that the TÜV AUSTRIA Group began to shine in the red-white-red colors that reflect its name and country of origin.

Did you know that the Port of Antwerp was the catalyst for OK compost certification? When EU Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste was published in December 1994, the Antwerp Port Authority felt obligated to ensure that only verifiably compostable bags were collected as yard waste. Five years before the EN 13432 standard on this topic was published, the first OK compost INDUSTRIAL certificate saw the light of a sustainable future in May 1995. Learn more at okcompost.tuv.at

Did you know that the phrase “taking the car to the TÜV” originates exclusively from Germany? While in Germany technical inspection associations are responsible for inspecting vehicles, in Austria the Motor Vehicle Act of 1960 authorizes auto repair shops to conduct technical inspections of vehicles. TÜV AUSTRIA began conducting inspections under §57a—the “Pickerl”—in the 1960s as a complementary service to its material-technical assessments for the transport of hazardous goods.
Today, TÜV AUSTRIA is recognized in the automotive sector as a specialist in wheel and tire technology, type approval, battery simulation and e-mobility.

Did you know that TÜV AUSTRIA is the only Austrian Technical Inspection Association (Technischer Überwachungs-Verein) [TÜV]? Founded as the “Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company” (DUVG) in Vienna on June 11, 1872, by Adam von Burg, the DUVG was incorporated into the “Reich Association of Technical Inspection Associations” (RTÜV) and, in 1940, reorganized as “TÜV Wien,” a public-law corporation. In 1948, the then-director Karl Vogt converted “TÜV Wien” into an association under Austrian law and became the first president of the new TÜV Wien. In preparation for internationalization and Austria’s anticipated accession to the EU, the name was officially changed on January 1, 1993, to “TÜV Österreich” or “TÜV AUSTRIA” and “TÜV AUTRICHE” for its international market presence. On YouTube: Our TÜV AUSTRIA Group!

Did you know how many acoustic emission tests the TÜV AUSTRIA Group has conducted in Italy alone?
The history of TÜV AUSTRIA Italia began in 2004 with the inspection of underground LGP tanks using an innovative and non-invasive technique based on acoustic emissions. As part of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group, the wholly-owned subsidiary TÜV AUSTRIA Italia has succeeded in establishing a leading position in the Italian market following the publication of the Italian ministerial decree on the ten-year inspection of underground vessels. Since then, TÜV AUSTRIA Italia alone has performed more than 20,000 acoustic emission inspections on small pressure vessels.

Did you know that TÜV AUSTRIA has never been a government agency since its founding? On the contrary: Through Imperial Law Gazette No. 112 of July 7, 1871, the government relinquished its sovereign authority and thereby permitted boiler inspection to be carried out by agencies of a private company. And on September 9, 1910, the so-called “Lex Exner” came into effect. Named after the engineer, politician, and researcher Prof. Wilhelm Exner—rector of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, founder of the TGM and the Vienna Technical Museum, and president of the Steam Boiler Inspection and Mutual Insurance Association, now known as TÜV AUSTRIA, from 1917 to 1931, the “Lex Exner” authorized non-governmental inspection authorities to operate with “complete independence and objectivity,” including in the areas of technical inspection, testing, and materials science. In 1994, the law was replaced by the Accreditation Act.

Did you know that the first course catalog was only 6 pages long? It was created in 1998 and included, among other things, the first gas turbine operator course and training for safety officers. Both courses are still part of the TÜV AUSTRIA Academy course catalog today!

Did you know that the first job posting was published just one day after the founding meeting? The “Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company” (DUVG) announced in the Wiener Zeitung on Wednesday, June 12, 1872—the day after its founding—that a “Chief Engineer” and a “number of technical inspectors for the various kingdoms and provinces of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy” would be hired.

Today, the TÜV AUSTRIA Group employs 4,000 people in 40 countries: karriere.tuv.at

Did you know that “TÜV” stands for “Technischer Überwachungsverein” and that our TÜV AUSTRIA was founded as the “Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company” (DUVG)? The new technology of steam power was causing daily boiler explosions with devastating consequences. For 10 years, Adam Freiherr von Burg, a mathematician and professor at the Vienna University of Technology, worked to establish an independent inspection association, which was finally realized on June 11, 1872.

Adam von Burg was born on January 28, 1797. The popular natural scientist, distinguished university professor, and dynamic politician served as chairman of the committee tasked with establishing a steam boiler inspection association; von Burg himself presided over its founding meeting as president of the Steam Boiler Inspection and Mutual Insurance Society (DUVG), presided over the founding meeting on June 11, 1876. Adam Freiherr von Burg is the founding father of today’s Technical Inspection Association of Austria, TÜV AUSTRIA. Learn more about Prof. Dr. Adam von Burg here.