Based on their shared passion for photography Julius and Gilbert Durst, in partnership with Luis and Heinrich Oberrauch, found a company specialising in the repair and further development of cameras. A simple hobby turns into a successful business in the field of photographic technology.

Durst launches the first mass-produced camera, the Gil, and cements its reputation as an innovative manufacturer.

As early as the 1940s and 1950s, a large proportion of production is sold to the international market. In the 1950s, Durst is one of the few companies in the region that can offer many jobs.

Durst expands its production facilities for the first time and founds its first foreign subsidiary, Deutsche Durst GmbH in Munich.

Christof Oberrauch decides to finish his studies early in order to join the company. He begins to drive the business forward with great commitment and success.

A car accident costs Julius Durst, the inventive designer, his life. But the young team he has built up continues to run the company with ambition and courage.

Alupress is spun off as an independent public limited company by the then 24-year-old Christof Oberrauch and specialises in the production of aluminium die-cast components.

Durst now manufactures eleven different product models, including enlargers and various types of darkroom equipment. The outstanding features of these products are their extremely high precision, compactness and exceptionally easy handling.

The Alupress product range initially included components for binoculars (Swarovski, Leitz), lamp housings (Zumtobel) as well as ski lift hangers (Doppelmayr). Numerous renowned companies such as Hilti, Siemens, Omag-Wild, IBM and Illy were also among the customers. The first client from the automotive industry, however, was Bosch, acquired in 1975.

At the beginning of the 1980s, Durst caused a sensation with the introduction of the first horizontal enlarger. At the same time, the company launched an amateur enlarger with automatic exposure control and an integrated analyser, setting new standards.

Back in 1987 Alupress introduced what is now common practice, especially among larger corporations: The company became a pioneer throughout Italy with its value-added bonus.

As part of a family buy-out, Christof Oberrauch takes full control of Alupress and Durst and merges the two companies under Technicon Holding.

Durst develops digital solutions and launches the Lambda 130, a laser printer for large formats. It prints high-resolution texts and images on photographic substrates up to 127 cm wide. Lambda Print becomes the epitome of quality in photographic art.

Alupress expands into Germany and takes over a foundry in Thuringia. This marks an important step in the company's international growth strategy.

Harald Oberrauch joins the company and assumes responsibility, in particular for the strategic development of Technicon.

The Durst company opens a new research centre called Bergkristall in Lienz, East Tyrol. Research is carried out here in the fields of physics, chemistry, materials science and biology.

Harald Oberrauch founds the Tyrolean Business Angel GmbH (TBA) in Innsbruck. An investment company with the aim of supporting technology-orientated start-ups from various sectors with know-how and capital.

Harald Oberrauch is elected Chairman of the Startup Tirol Association. Startup Tirol is the focal point for awareness-raising, support and networking in the Tyrolean startup scene.
 
startup.tirol

TBA Italy is Technicon AG's investment company for investments in innovative start-ups. Founded in 2018 in Brixen, it combines the activities of the former Tyrolean Business Angel GmbH in Innsbruck, whose holdings were fully transferred in 2024. The aim is to support promising young companies with capital, expertise and a network in the development of innovative technologies and business models.

The Tyrolean Business Angel Network (tba network) is a network of private investors that was founded on the initiative of entrepreneurs Harald Oberrauch, Alexander Pichler and Gert Gremes. tba network sees itself as an important part of the ecosystem, mainly in the Alpine region, and supports ambitious founders not only with venture capital but also with expertise.

tba.network

Harald Oberrauch becomes a member of the University Council of the University of Bolzano. The University Council is the highest governing body of the University of Bolzano. It sets the strategic direction of the university and makes important decisions on its financial planning and development.

unibz.it

Christoph Gamper becomes co-owner of Durst, which he has managed as CEO since 2012.

The CoVision LAB is a pioneering innovation platform specialising in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The focus is on three core areas of machine vision and learning: deep learning, which enables complex pattern recognition and data processing, embedded vision, which integrates intelligent vision directly into devices, and 3D sensing, which enables precise spatial detection of objects in real time.

covisionlab.com

ADDDAM is an innovative, volume-flexible provider of 3D metal processing and production solutions.

Harald Oberrauch is elected to the Executive Committee of the South Tyrol Business Association, where he is responsible for internationalisation and the university.

As a spin-off of Durst, D3-AM manufactures industrial systems for the additive production of high-performance components made of technical ceramics and other materials.

d3-am.com

The Durst Media Company (DMC) is founded as a B2B media agency specialising in authentic storytelling. It develops communication concepts and realises video productions for companies and products.

The Durst Kraftwerk in Brixen is home to several innovative companies and spin-offs of the Durst Group. These include the Durst Academy as a training centre, D3-AM GmbH and DMC Media GmbH.

dmc.media

In 2022 a majority stake in the biotech company Immagina Biotechnology was acquired by Technicon. The founder Massimiliano Clamer remains a co-owner. Immagina develops a platform technology for biomedical research for the early detection of diseases such as skin cancer.

immaginabiotech.com

CoVision Media, a spin-off from the successful CoVision LAB, produces AI-based 3D scanners that convert any physical object into a realistic 3D model with a single click. Co-owners are Franz Tschimben and Burkhard Güssefeld.

covisionmedia.ai

The fusion with the Alupress allows complex aluminium components for rapid prototyping and small series to be combined with conventional mass production. The flexible manufacturing system reduces operating costs, development time and risk.

A biogas plant is being built in Umbria for the Technicon Group's own requirements. Gianandrea Ragno is co-owner of the operating company Agrimaso.