The Austrian competition authority, BWB, filed a request for a fine against Fronius with the Cartel Court on June 30, 2023, after receiving anonymous whistleblower reports of cartel law violations in the company's distribution contracts.

The agreements included illegal provisions such as territorial allocation with absolute territorial protection, price fixing, and competition bans within the distribution system for welding technology sales in Austria from January 26, 2007, to July 2, 2021.

Fronius was granted leniency status after cooperating extensively with the BWB, leading to a specific fine of 3 million euros announced on October 30, 2023.

Other companies involved in the welding technology cartel, Haberkorn and Zultner, have also been fined 870,000 euros and 505,000 euros, respectively, with their cases concluded.

The investigations and legal proceedings related to the welding technology cartel have been finalized, but the BWB can reopen the case if new evidence emerges.