History
Innovation for Europe's workforce since 1985
Since 1985, Trenkwalder has continued to evolve alongside the world of work. What began as a traditional staffing service has grown into a European HR and business partner that combines recruiting, flexible workforce solutions, outsourcing, and technology.
Our goal has remained the same over the decades: to better connect people, work, and companies. Today, we combine our experience since 1985 with European reach, data-driven processes, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence—so that the right skills reach where they’re needed faster, more precisely, and more reliably.
Our history
Our milestones
1985
The first step: Richard Trenkwalder starts his own business, the temporary staffing agency Trenkwalder Engineering, and places workers with technology companies.
1992
Trenkwalder conquers new markets: With its first overseas branch in Slovakia, the company begins its expansion into Central and Eastern Europe. This marks the early emergence of what continues to define Trenkwalder to this day: the ability to connect labor markets across national borders.
1999 – 2000
On the way to becoming number 1: With new locations in Hungary, Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic, Trenkwalder continues to expand its European network. At the same time, the company is emerging as the leading staffing provider in Austria.
2001 – 2004
Gaining a foothold and keeping pace: Trenkwalder is expanding into Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, and Poland. In Hungary and Slovakia, the company has achieved a leading market position. Step by step, it is transforming from a national staffing agency into a cross-border European workforce network.
2006 – 2008
Firmly established without standing still: New markets are added, including Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Turkey, and several countries in Southeast Europe. In 2007, company founder Richard Trenkwalder is named “Entrepreneur of the Year.”
2011
Everything under a new roof: The Droege Group, headquartered in Düsseldorf, is acquiring a majority stake in Trenkwalder International AG, now known as Trenkwalder Group AG. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in the company’s strategic development.
2012
Trenkwalder goes digital: Mobile recruiting, social recruiting, and international recruiting are becoming an integral part of Trenkwalder’s talent acquisition process. At the same time, the company’s offerings are expanding beyond traditional staffing services. HR services, consulting, executive search, and business process outsourcing are broadening the portfolio. Technology is increasingly serving as an enabler for better and faster staffing solutions.
2015
Looking back and moving forward: Trenkwalder celebrates its 30th anniversary. The company, which began in Steyr in 1985, has grown into an international HR service provider with a strong network across Europe.
2018
Learning for the world of New Work: By entering the e-learning market, Trenkwalder is expanding its offerings in the areas of training and professional development. Digital learning solutions enable companies and employees to build skills more flexibly and prepare for the demands of a changing world of work.
2019
Log in and outsource: Trenkwalder is strengthening its business process outsourcing offerings and expanding its technological expertise. In addition to staffing services, the focus is increasingly shifting to how technology, processes, and people can work together efficiently.
2025
40 years of experience, looking ahead: Trenkwalder is celebrating four decades in business while continuing to invest in the future. Artificial intelligence, data-driven skill matching, and automation are becoming key components of modern workforce solutions.
History becomes the future.
Experience meets new opportunities
The world of work continues to change—and Trenkwalder is changing with it.
Today, we combine local market knowledge with European reach, operational experience with data-driven processes, and human expertise with artificial intelligence. This is how we build better connections between people and companies—matching career opportunities on one side with the right skills and flexible solutions on the other.
After all, progress in the world of work doesn’t come from more technology or more talent alone. It happens when the right people, the right opportunities, and the right processes come together at the right time.
