Our company

How it all began.

With an idea born from real-world practice.

HETTEC originated from a real challenge in alpine terrain.
Where machines must work – or come to a standstill.

In 2008, Rupert Hettegger faced a concrete challenge in his earthmoving business, founded in 1959, in the alpine region of Salzburg:
Machines needed to operate quickly, safely, and in a controlled manner on snow, ice, and extremely steep terrain.

The trigger

The trigger was a real situation from everyday practice.
An excavator was snowed in overnight on a steep forest road and was no longer operational the next day due to insufficient traction.

What is now in use worldwide and sets benchmarks originated from this exact alpine field situation.

Development in real-world operation

Instead of accepting that no suitable solution existed, Rupert Hettegger began to develop one.
Field tests, technical trials, and continuous optimizations were carried out directly under real alpine operating conditions.

Not at a desk, but out in the field.

In 2009, the solution was found.
The first so-called Claws were created – hand-welded, robust, and consistently functional.

From in-house solution to a solution for many

What began as an in-house solution quickly attracted interest beyond the company itself.
Companies in the region, also active in alpine forestry and construction, specifically requested the same traction solution.

Together with his wife Hermine, Rupert Hettegger founded HETTEC-components GmbH.
The first five sets were manufactured entirely by hand – precise, functional, and practice-oriented.

Two generations. One vision.

In 2012, Rupert Hettegger Jr. joined the company.
Father and son combined their respective expertise.

Rupert Hettegger Sr.
Idea · Innovation · Production · Manufacturing expertise

Rupert Hettegger Jr.
Design · Product development · Sales · Brand building

United by a common goal:
To develop technologies born from real alpine applications that sustainably improve machine performance in the field.

After more than 15 years, HETTEC today consists of a team of practitioners, engineers, and sales experts
who are also enthusiasts for heavy machinery and extreme applications.

From the garage to the world

From the very beginning, HETTEC consistently focused on technical quality, practical usability, and alpine operating reality.

Over 15 years of continuous development under real alpine conditions transformed a project from the Salzburg Alps into an internationally active technology company.

• Multiple patented technologies
• A global dealer network
• Thousands of customers in over 120 countries
• Applications ranging from Antarctica to Japan
• Strategic partnerships with global industrial companies

Today. Extreme Terrain Technology.

Today, HETTEC is a team of engineers, practitioners, and sales experts.
United by one goal: to make machines more capable in any terrain.

On rock.
On ice.
On snow.
In mud.
On extremely steep terrain.

Our mission:
Maximum performance when it truly matters.