Looking back today at the early days of WM technics, it becomes clear how much courage, passion, and tireless commitment were required to lay the foundation for what the company has become today. It was a journey that began with a vision and, through hard work, turned into reality piece by piece.
“If I can build coachwork, I can build machines too.“
Coming originally from a coachbuilding and automotive bodywork background, Willy Mulser tackled the mission of building (ice resurfacing) machines with a pragmatic and bold mindset. Driven by this pioneering spirit, what we now call a true success story evolved step by step.
The early days, however, were anything but easy. When the first machines were built, there were neither laser cutting systems nor CNC-controlled machine tools. Every single component was handcrafted, assembled, and fitted manually. Considering that just three people completely built thirty machines by hand during that initial phase, one can only imagine the immense effort and virtually endless hours of labor involved. From today’s perspective, those early models may seem basic and simple—yet for their time, they represented a genuine leap in innovation.
This success did not simply fall into WM’s and Willy’s laps. Especially in the early years, work took top priority and demanded tremendous sacrifices from the entire family. Working conditions in the first workshop were modest: very little daylight, sparse lighting, and painting jobs done under simple lamps. Nevertheless, work continued with relentless dedication. Willy spent days and nights on end in the workshop, sleeping in the car or directly on the hall floor just to finish orders on time. For Waltraud, who was pregnant at the time and deeply worried, it was an extraordinarily challenging period. Yet Willy was driven by an unshakeable resolve—fueled by the desire to provide his family with a secure foundation and to be a role model of drive and reliability for his children.
Overcoming these grueling pioneering years was only possible thanks to the family’s strong unity. During the summer, Grandma and Aunt stepped in to take care of the children, allowing Waltraud and Willy to tackle challenges on all fronts. This support was simply priceless.
Over the years, hard work bore fruit and brought its well-deserved rewards. Whether in the workshop or at the Garni, business flourished, ultimately making it possible to build their own home.
In retrospect, a necessary stroke of luck was certainly involved in seizing the right opportunities at the right time and place. But luck alone is never enough: without the iron discipline, perseverance, and tireless drive of everyone involved, this success story would never have been written.
This illustrated book is a look back at those eventful years, a living chronicle of our life’s work, and above all, a heartfelt thank-you to all those who have walked this path alongside us.
