"Hidden Champion"

Between heaven & earth: Memory from Steinebach

The company Angelbird in Dornbirn-Steinebach manufactures super-fast memory cards and sells them all over the world. Nevertheless, only absolute insiders know about the company.

(Bild: Angela Lamprecht)

What do you do when you need a memory card for your camera? You buy one from an electronics store. However, science expert Christian Mähr was looking for something very special - and came across a remarkable Vorarlberg company.

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a memory card for filming that is very fast and holds a lot. The recommended card was not available in my trusted electronics store - but of course from a large online retailer. The manufacturer was called "Angelbird". I ordered it, used it and am satisfied. That would be the end of an unspectacular story if I hadn't come across an extremely interesting detail by chance.

Where do you think this super-fast memory card comes from, where is it made? Well, somewhere beyond the hundredth degree east longitude in a city of millions that you've never heard of and whose name you can't pronounce - regardless of whether it's of Malay, Chinese or Korean origin.

In any case, shortly after purchasing the memory card, I received a brochure on the "Vorarlberg Job Fair", which I leafed through idly, as they say - and I actually read that Angelbird is a Vorarlberg company. And where is it based? In Steinebach.