Head Skis: Austrian-Made?

Head Sport GmbH is an American-Austrian manufacturing company that produces a wide range of products for skiing, snowboarding, swimming, tennis, and other racket sports. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, in 1950 by aeronautical engineer Howard Head, who was frustrated by the fact that his skis were made of wood at a time when metals and plastics were replacing wood in many product designs. Head Sport GmbH is now headquartered in Kennelbach, Austria, and owns several previously independent companies, including Tyrolia, an Austrian ski-equipment manufacturer. While it is not clear whether all Head skis are made in Austria, the company does have a manufacturing facility in the country, and it is known for producing high-quality products.

Head Sport GmbH is an American-Austrian manufacturing company

The history of Head Sport GmbH dates back to 1950 when aeronautical engineer Howard Head founded the Head Ski Company in Baltimore, Maryland. Frustrated by the performance of his wooden skis, Head set out to design a better ski using metal and aircraft manufacturing techniques. After two years of experimentation, he successfully created a durable and easy-turning ski made from aluminium and plastic laminate. This innovative design, known as the Head Standard, rapidly gained popularity and established Head as a leading ski manufacturer in the US and UK.

Over the years, Head expanded its product offerings and diversified its business. In the late 1960s, Head created a tennis division, introducing one of the first oversized metal tennis rackets. The company also made acquisitions, including Tyrolia and Mares, to expand its presence in the ski and scuba gear markets.

Today, Head Sport GmbH produces a wide range of products for skiing, snowboarding, swimming, tennis, and other racket sports. The company has a strong reputation for its innovative designs and commitment to technology and performance. Head skis are popular among European and North American skiers, with the Kore lineup being one of its most well-known models.

Head Sport GmbH has undergone several ownership changes throughout its history. In 1969, Howard Head sold the company to AMF, and it was later acquired by Minstar Inc. in 1985. In 1989, a management buyout led by senior leaders of Head, Tyrolia, and Mares resulted in the formation of HTM. The company changed hands again in 1993 when it was acquired by Austria Tabak. Finally, in 1995, Swedish investor Johan Eliasch gained control of the company, and it was reorganised as Head N.V. and taken public in 2000.

Head was founded in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1950 by Howard Head

Head Sport GmbH, the American-Austrian manufacturing company, was founded in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1950 by aeronautical engineer Howard Head. Head, born in 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduated from Harvard College in 1936 with a degree in engineering sciences. He worked at the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, where they used aluminium and plastic laminate to build the fuselages of aircraft.

In 1947, Head went skiing for the first time and was surprised and frustrated by the quality of the wooden skis, which he found clumsy and heavy. He decided to build new skis out of a different material, using lightweight aircraft materials to make them easier to manoeuvre and improve the overall skiing experience. On the train ride back to Baltimore, he began sketching out his idea on a napkin.

Head quit his job and devoted himself full-time to developing his new skis, using his poker winnings to support himself. He rented a small warehouse in downtown Baltimore and scrounged aluminium scraps from the Martin Company. He convinced three mechanics from the company to work with him during the evenings and weekends, and together they built the first prototypes. These skis were essentially metal sandwiches—two layers of aluminium with plywood sidewalls around a plastic honeycomb core. However, they kept breaking during trials.

Head did not give up and was encouraged by several professional skiers and instructors, who assured him they would love to use his skis if they didn't break. One of them, Neil Robinson, offered to keep testing Head's new ski creations. Head continued to refine his designs, sending new pairs to Robinson, who would test and return them when they broke, allowing Head to identify and address the flaws. By the end of the first winter, he had created skis that were half as heavy but equally strong as traditional wooden skis. However, it took him two more years to develop a durable design that could be used.

Head's new skis revolutionised the sport, making it more accessible to beginners and helping experienced skiers improve their performance. The Head Ski Company became very successful, dominating the growing ski manufacturing market and contributing almost half of all skis across the country for the next 20 years. By 1966, the company employed 500 people, sold 300,000 skis a year in 17 countries, and earned $25 million annually. Head skis were soon in use by Olympic skiers and dominated competitions at the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics.

In the late 1960s, Head expanded into tennis, creating a tennis division and developing one of the first oversized metal tennis rackets. In 1969, he sold the company to AMF and retired. After a series of takeovers and acquisitions, Head Sport GmbH is now based in Kennelbach, Austria, and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Head manufactures a range of products for skiing, snowboarding, tennis and other racket sports

Head Sport GmbH is an American-Austrian manufacturing company that produces a wide range of products for skiing, snowboarding, tennis, and other racket sports. Head was founded in 1950 by aeronautical engineer Howard Head, who was surprised to find that skis were still made of wood when metals and plastics were becoming common in product design. Head is perhaps best known for its ski and tennis products.

In the realm of skiing, Head produced one of the first successful metal-wood composite downhill skis, the Head Standard. This ski rapidly grew in sales throughout the 1950s, capturing over 50% of the US market during the 1960s and making Head the leading ski manufacturer in the US and the UK.

In the 1960s, Head also ventured into tennis, as Howard Head introduced the aluminium frame to strengthen tennis rackets. This innovation was first introduced at the 1969 US Open. Head has continued to innovate in tennis, integrating graphene into its rackets in 2013. Today, Head offers a range of tennis rackets suited to players of all levels, from beginners to advanced competitors. The company's tennis products include the Speed family, which offers a balance of power and control, and the Extreme, which is designed for big-swinging, modern players seeking power and spin.

In addition to skis and tennis rackets, Head manufactures products for snowboarding, swimming, and other racket sports. The company also licenses its brand to makers of clothing, accessories, bicycles, skates, watches, balls, fitness equipment, and drinks.

Head's Austrian production facility employs over 1,000 people

Head Sport GmbH is an American-Austrian manufacturing company that owns the American tennis racket brand Head. Head GmbH is a group that includes the original "Head Ski Company" (founded in the United States in 1950); Tyrolia, an Austrian ski-equipment manufacturer; and Mares, an Italian manufacturer of diving equipment. Head Sport GmbH is headquartered in Kennelbach, Austria.

The Head Ski Company was founded in 1950 by aeronautical engineer Howard Head, who was frustrated by the wooden skis available at the time. Head worked at the Glenn L. Martin Company, where they used aluminium and plastic laminate to build aircraft fuselages. He believed these materials would also be ideal for skis. After two years of development, he had a design durable enough for use. This design was significantly easier to turn and soon became very popular.

Head's success continued to grow, and by the 1960s, it had become the leading ski manufacturer in the US and the UK. In 1969, Head sold the company to AMF, and it has since changed hands several times. Today, Head is a popular brand for skiers of all ages and produces a wide range of products for skiing, snowboarding, swimming, tennis, and other racquet sports.

Head's main Austrian production facility employs over 1,000 people and manufactures a large number of skis every season. The company makes all types of skis, from racing styles to freestyle, and its products are known for their excellent technical performance. Head skis are a favourite choice for many European skiers and are also frequently used in North America. In addition to skis, Head manufactures outerwear, apparel, ski bindings, and Nordic skiing equipment.

Head skis are also manufactured in Boulder, Colorado

Head Sport GmbH is an American-Austrian manufacturing company that produces a wide range of products for skiing, snowboarding, swimming, tennis, and other racket sports. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1950 by aeronautical engineer Howard Head, who was surprised to find that his skis were made of wood when metals and plastics were already being used in product designs. Head then used his knowledge of aluminium and plastic laminate from his work at the Glenn L. Martin Company to create the Head Standard, one of the first successful metal-wood composite downhill skis.

Head Sport GmbH is headquartered in Kennelbach, Austria, and manufactures products in both Kennelbach and Boulder, Colorado. While the original "Head Ski Company" was founded in the United States, the current company includes several previously independent companies, including Tyrolia, an Austrian ski-equipment manufacturer, and Mares, an Italian manufacturer of diving equipment.

In the late 1960s, Head created a tennis division, introducing the aluminium frame to strengthen tennis rackets. This innovation was a success and was first introduced at the 1969 US Open. During the 1970s, Head also acquired the diving manufacturer Mares and the ski binding company Tyrolia. While under AMF ownership, Head manufactured tennis rackets in both Boulder, Colorado, and Kennelbach, Austria.

In 1969, Head signed Olympic champion ski racer Jean-Claude Killy to endorse a new metal and fibreglass ski, the Killy 800. This partnership led to the development of a product line of Killy skis. Head has continued to innovate and expand its product offerings, becoming a leading manufacturer of sports equipment.

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