Howal GmbH was founded in 1969 by Hansjörg Holzapfel and Hermann Walka with the company name of Holzapfel + Walka. The company’s ethos was and still remains the optimisation of precast concrete component production by developing technically sophisticated, high-quality formwork systems. The young firm very rapidly gained a good reputation in the precast industry on account of its new designs, such as formwork for adjustable staircases or columns.