Local hero hansi Grander Wasser

06.05.2021 | #LocalHeroes

#LocalHeroes | Miner Hansi – water is his elixir of life

A life for mining and water

With the Kupferplatte mine, Jochberg has the last active copper mine in Central Europe.

In a conversation with Johann "Hansi" Grander, we learn how important mining was for the development of our region and what role water plays in this.

Mining is my passion - water is my life!

Hansi Grander, CEO Grander Water

Hansi Grander

To a non-professional who never heard of Grander Water, I would say please try it out and you will see for yourself what a great thing it is.

Hansi Grander, CEO Grander Water

Hansi unterwegs mit Segway
Brunnen
Heiligenfiguren im Bergwerk
Hansi unterwegs mit Segway
Brunnen
Heiligenfiguren im Bergwerk

Finally, Hansi Grander has a tip for us to visit the water in Jochberg above ground. The decelerating 10 km long Jochberg “7-Brunnenweg” 7-well path. Hansi Grander has walked the 7-well path quite a few times – but he prefers to drive along the 7 wells with his Segway.

Mining uniform facts:

The top three buttons always remain open and the jacket has 29 buttons.

The reason is the patron saint – Saint Barbara. According to historical tradition, Saint Barbara was after her conversion to Christianity locked in a tower by her father in Izmit (Turkey), and then executed at the age of only 29. The three uppermost open buttons are supposed to be a reminder of the Trinity. The 29 buttons stand for the fact that Barbara was only 29 years old. St. Barbara has only become the saint of the miners since the use of gunpowder, before it was Saint Anne.

We are not proud at all - only greatfull!

Hansi Grander, CEO Grander Water

Hansi Grander in altem Fahrzeug
Helm auf Steinen
Hansi Grander
Personen schieben Fahrzeug
Hansi Grander
Hansi Grander in altem Fahrzeug
Helm auf Steinen
Hansi Grander
Personen schieben Fahrzeug
Hansi Grander

Trained as a carpenter, Hansi Grander has always loved to help his father working in his garage.

With the acquisition of the “Kupferplatte” copper mine in 1989, Hansi Grander became´, alongside his father, managing director at “Grander Wasser”. Through tireless hard work, Hansi Grander trained to become a “works foreman for the management of an underground mine” in order to develop the copper mine and show mine as operations manager.

His love of old vehicles and “screwing” and “tinkering” with them is probably one of his most beloved hobbies.

In the past, copper was of course very important and was sent all over the world, now it is water

Hansi Grander

Wasser im Stollen
Hansi Grander im Bergwerk
Hansi Grander
Wasser Abfüllen
Wasser Flasche
Wasser im Stollen
Hansi Grander im Bergwerk
Hansi Grander
Wasser Abfüllen
Wasser Flasche

What makes the copper mining “Kupferplatte” unique is not only the still active copper mining in the old tunnels but also the Stefanie spring. Geologically speaking, the Kitzbühel region lies in the greywacke zone, slate is a very dense material and ultimately this is very good for the water quality. It takes 60 years for the water to seep down through the micro fine cracks and come back to daylight again in the Stefanie spring as very pure spring water.

 

Grander Water: What began with Johann Grander in 1979 with experiments at home in his garage has long since developed into an international brand. With the purchase of the “Kupferplatte” copper mine in 1989 and with it the access to the own water source, the success was unstoppable. The water from the Stefanie spring flows out at a rate of one litre per second and is then revitalised in tanks using the process developed by Johann Grander. The distinctive Grander Water bottles are custom-made, 250,000 of light blue bottles are produced in Germany in one or two hours and delivered hut-clean. The bottles get rinsed and filled with Grander Water, packaged and then they are ready for sale.

The farming traditions with the mining industry have left their mark on Jochberg.

Hansi Grander

Wagen mit Steinen
Stollen Wagen auf Schienen
Alte Bilder
Bergwerk Fahrzeug
Wagen mit Steinen
Stollen Wagen auf Schienen
Alte Bilder
Bergwerk Fahrzeug

Water and mining got along badly. Water was important for the punching mills and crushers in Jochberg. Water in the mining tunnels, however, was the miners’ enemy. The Stefanie spring, discovered in the 15th century, was relatively well sealed off for this reason. At that time, the miners moved and bolted the spring three times to make sure that no water escaped here.

Hans Grander tells us that the Grander family not always were miners although his grandfather was seen in a picture of the miners. It was not until 1989, when all the mining gates were closed, that the treasure in the mine – the Stefanie spring – was the deciding factor for the Grander family to acquire this area and become real miners.

At present, 4 miners are employed in the “Kupferplatte” copper mine, bringing copper to the surface with the hunt wagons provided for this purpose.

Glück Auf - is the miners' greeting and describes the miners' hope that ore veins will open up.

Mining greeting

öffnet Tür
Hansi im Bergwerk
Markierung im Bergwerk
Hansi mit Helm und Stirnlampe
öffnet Tür
Hansi im Bergwerk
Markierung im Bergwerk
Hansi mit Helm und Stirnlampe

The mineral deposits in the Kitzbühel region have always been of great interest to miners. One of the oldest copper mines in the region is the so-called “Kelchalm”, located in the Jochberg area. In the copper mines, which were founded around 1000 B.C., mainly extracted chalcopyrite was found, which was used to make utensils, jewellery and tools. For unknown reasons, mining activities were abandoned and it was not until the 15th century that the Jochberg ore deposits were rediscovered. The mainly mined pale ores were particularly valuable due to their high copper and silver content. The heyday of mining in the Kitzbühel region was in the 15th century and lasted until the 1820s.

 

Symbol of the miners – mallet and iron crossed. When the work was done, the miners laid their tools – mallets and irons – crossed on the ground. 

Local Heros

#LocalHeroes from Kitzbühel

It’s the people who make Kitzbühel and its holiday villages of Reith, Aurach and Jochberg so special. These are exactly the personalities we are talking about in our “LocalHeroes” series, in which the true heroes of our region are put in the spotlight. They would never call themselves heroes, but they are: Because it is only through their passion for what they do that we can all experience the unique Kitzbühel lifestyle.

Events
Loading...
Up to date
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Accommodation
Loading...