When a spark becomes a fire that burns for generations — 75 years of RIKA
RIKA is the story of a family business that grew from a small locksmith's workshop into an international leader in innovation.
It is a story of people, ideas and an unwavering determination to bring warmth and, with it, a little bit of quality of life into every home.
How it all began
In 1951, Karl Riener senior founded the locksmith's workshop RIKA, named after the initials of his name, in a 60m2 small room in the centre of Kirchdorf/Krems - only a few kilometres away from the company's current location. Under the difficult conditions of the post-war period, which was marked by reconstruction, he manufactured classic metal products such as railings or also sideboard closures. After opening two more, somewhat larger locations, Karl Riener senior finally bought the Eumig film projector factory in Micheldorf in 1969 and moved his production to the new location, which is still there today.
At that time, RIKA was already an important supplier to KELOMAT, a renowned Austrian manufacturer of pressure cookers, and equipped European and World Championships as well as Olympics with target transport systems for sports shooters. The cooperation with the Austrian postal service, which purchased components for cable bracing from RIKA, turned out to be a real stroke of luck a few years later.
The telephone box – a milestone
Only a few years after his son Karl Stefan Riener joined the company (1970), a decisive step for the future of the company was taken: They won the tender for a large-scale telephone box order from the Austrian Post. This provided the necessary capital for further investments and thus new business fields. The reorientation of production towards telephone boxes also meant that, in order to ensure greater utilisation of the machines, the production of sheet metal parts was henceforth the focus.
Karl Riener: ‘Joining the company was a natural step for me at the time. And it has proven to be the right decision to this day.’
From pioneer to European market leader
In the 1970s, the long tradition of heating with wood in Scandinavia led to the development of the first woodburning stoves as we know them today: with a good view of the flames behind a glassed door. The Riener family recognised the potential of wood-burning stoves on the Austrian market at an early stage and used the available machines for sheet metal processing to launch the first wood-burning stove in 1982 - the foundation stone for today's company was laid. But this also fulfilled a wish of Karl Stefan Riener: to create a product that combines technology and design, changeable in appearance and functions, for the private living space.
The first pellet stove was only a few years away. In the course of his travels abroad in the USA, Karl Stefan Riener became acquainted with this new technology. Without further ado, he bought an American pellet stove, which was very simple in its operation and unimaginably loud. He analysed the mode of operation down to the smallest detail and disassembled it into all its individual parts, in order to then build a first prototype himself, which, with numerous improvements, finally met European standards.
In the beginning, RIKA pellet stoves were exported exclusively to the USA - more than 10,000 units per year. Pellet stoves for private use were already widely known there. Gradually, wood pellets spread throughout Europe from Sweden, where they were already established as a fuel for industrial plants. Many wood-processing companies in Austria were so enthusiastic about RIKA pellet stoves that they started producing pellets themselves. This is how the triumph of pellet stoves, and with it RIKA's European market leadership, began.
Stefan Riener: ‘My father was always a visionary and pioneer, long before sustainability became a buzzword. He paved the way for a completely new type of heating.’
RIKA experienced an enormous setback in the course of pellet stove exports to the USA, which - in contrast to sales in Austria - was entrusted to a corporate partner until 1999. Financial irregularities in the management almost cost the family business its existence. However, with tireless commitment and the drive for continuous development, even this difficult phase was overcome. As early as 2003, RIKA's production reached its limits - demand clearly exceeded capacity. The family Riener decided to restructure RIKA, which ultimately resulted in the division of the company into RIKA Innovative Ofentechnik and RIKA Blechkomponenten.
The existing production halls were soon no longer able to cope with the order situation: in 2005, RIKA opened another production site in nearby Adlwang. This was followed by the market launch of the first combi stove in 2011, pioneering heating technologies from RIKATRONIC to RIKA FIRENET to the RIKA VOICE system in 2019. The stove design also continued to develop, oriented towards new living and furnishing styles and the increasing trend towards individualisation. Only one thing remained the same: the quality standard.
Karl Riener: "We focused on the best quality from the very beginning - that is and remains our recipe for success."
Together through uncertain times
In 2019, Karl Stefan Riener's son Karl Philipp joined the company, having already worked for the company two years before his studies and at times during them. "It was always clear to me that I wanted to continue the family business. The know-how and wealth of experience built up over the decades are of inestimable value and offer a lot of freedom for self-realisation. I really enjoy working with my father and we agree on most things," says Karl Philipp Riener, who particularly appreciates the cohesion in the company, underlining the advantages of the family business. Karl Philipp Riener emphasises that the passion for design and interior architecture also binds them together.
The years that followed were shaped by supply shortages and crises – but also by flexibility, growth and learning.
The global coronavirus pandemic also presented RIKA with new challenges: fluctuating demand, volatile raw material markets and global supply chain problems required rapid responses and strong internal collaboration. Despite these challenging conditions, RIKA was able to increase production during the crisis years. As a result, and to continue meeting growing demand, the Adlwang site was expanded to nearly 11,000 m².
In 2023, Stefan Riener joined the family business, strengthening the third generation of company management. ‘I grew up with RIKA and our stoves. I wanted to contribute the experience I had gained abroad – with great respect for what had been built up and the ambition to develop it further,’ he sums up.
Karl Philipp Riener: ‘Being able to walk this path together with my brother makes it special for me. Our relationship is characterised by deep mutual trust.’
A new chapter: international expansion and outdoor fire experiences
With a view to establishing a strong and consistent market presence in Europe, RIKA seized the opportunity in 2024 to take over its long-standing partner Stroomop as its own subsidiary in Belgium.
Parallel to this strategic expansion, the product range was also extended: in addition to classic wood-burning, pellet and combination stoves, RIKA added an outdoor heating solution to its portfolio for the first time in 2025 – the TERRA patio heater, which brings the RIKA brand to life beyond the living room.
Karl Philipp Riener: ‘We rethink stoves. Whether indoor or outdoor, as a piece of furniture, design object or heat source with a feel-good factor – stoves open up numerous possibilities.’
Advancing innovation
Innovation and modernisation reached a new level in 2025: RIKAair, RIKA CLEAR VIEW, EGR and NightFlame technologies were launched on the market, once again setting new standards in design and technology.
Finally, the renovation of the headquarters in Micheldorf brought the company’s core values to life architecturally. Modern, with a clear design language, functional and high-quality, the complex signals one thing above all: RIKA stands for clarity and consistency, looks confidently to the future and is proud of what it has achieved. The newly designed RIKA stove world there allows customers to experience fire and warmth with all their senses and feel authenticity.
Stefan Riener: ‘Our modernised location in Micheldorf combines contemporary industrial architecture with a clear brand identity, down-to-earthness with vision – rooted in the here and now.
With this dynamic development, RIKA remains true to its history and values: Austrian production culture, high quality and sustainable innovation – while at the same time thinking boldly about the future of the company and its partners.
