Some decisions cannot be explained by a price comparison. The decision to produce enamel products exclusively in Austria is one of them.
What “locally produced” really means
For YIV, local means: Our enamel products are made at Riess – in the Mostviertel region of Lower Austria, in a family business that has existed since 1550. Ten generations. One family. One manufactory. And to this day, Austria's only enamel manufactory.
This is not a marketing promise. This is industrial history.
Why enamel production has become rare in Europe
In recent decades, enamel production has largely disappeared from Europe. The reason is well-known: price pressure, relocation to low-wage countries, industrialization at the expense of craftsmanship.
In Switzerland – YIV's home market – there is no enamel manufactory left. The knowledge is gone. The ovens are cold.
All the more significant is what has been preserved in Ybbsitz in the Mostviertel to this day: a living craft that passes knowledge from generation to generation. Not as a museum. But as a functioning business.
CO₂-neutral through own hydropower
Riess not only produces in Austria – but also climate-neutrally. Three of their own hydropower plants supply the electricity for production. Not a certificate that you buy. No offset that plants a tree somewhere in the world.
Electricity from the stream that has flowed through the Mostviertel for centuries.
This is the difference between sustainability communication and sustainability.
What craftsmanship costs – and what it’s worth
Austria is not a low-wage country. The cost of living is high, and wages are accordingly. A skilled worker in production earns fairly – and lives in the region where they work.
This is reflected in the price. Yes. But it is also reflected in:
- Quality control that is not delegated
- Craftsmanship knowledge that is not stored in a database
- Products that do not release harmful substances – because the raw materials are known
- Durability that lasts for decades
- Certifications that create transparency – and the food-safe quality of the products, which is not a matter of trust, but of verifiability
A YIV product is not a disposable item. It is a decision against the throwaway culture.
Value creation that stays
When you buy a YIV product, the value creation does not remain somewhere in an anonymous supply chain. It stays in Austria. In a community. With people who live there, pay taxes, send children to school.
Riess employs staff who have been with the company for years – some for decades. After the First World War, the company built houses for its workforce to avoid layoffs. These houses still exist today.
This is not a PR text. This is company history.
Why YIV deliberately makes this decision
YIV was founded in Switzerland in 2016 – with a clear stance: products that can be kept for a lifetime. No trends. No compromises on material and origin. Almost all YIV products are now produced at Riess in the Mostviertel. Not because it's the only option – but because it's the right one.
The cooperation with Riess is not a stopgap solution. It is the consistent answer to the question: Who should manufacture our products? People who have mastered their craft for generations – in a company that shows that economics and responsibility are not contradictory.
Enamel: The material that speaks for itself
Enamel is glass on steel. No coating that peels off. No chemicals released when heated. No microplastics.
Directly onto the grill. Into the oven. Onto the table. Into the shelf.
A material that looks like new after 20 years – if you care for it. And that you want to care for, because it's beautiful.
Conclusion: Local is not a niche. It is an attitude.
In a time when supply chains are opaque and "sustainable" is often just a label, the decision for local production is a clear statement.
Not loud. Not aggressive. But clear.
YIV stands for enamel made in Austria – handmade, CO₂-neutral, with history. Not because it would be easier. But because it's right.
Frequently asked questions
Where are YIV products manufactured? At Riess in the Mostviertel region of Lower Austria – Austria's only enamel manufactory, since 1550.
Is enamel pollutant-free? Yes. Enamel consists of glass on steel – without coatings, without chemicals, without microplastics. No harmful substances are released when heated.
Why is locally produced enamel more expensive? Because fair wages, artisanal quality, and CO₂-neutral production have their price – and because a product that lasts for decades is ultimately cheaper than one that needs to be replaced after two years.
How long does a YIV product last? With normal care, a lifetime. Enamel is one of the most durable cookware materials available.
