What is the secrety of worldwide famous piano manufactrers?  The aged wood and long drying treatment?  The very well sellected wood from very old clime? The project? The well trainned craftman ?
Maybe all elements.

Lothar Thomma, piano enginner/designer, after left Bechstein was approached by Ritmuller. Well, Ritmuller did not became a Bechstein, but people said the new designed piano are better than early Ritmullers.  A brazilian piano manufacturer also hired Lothar Thomma to design a new project for a 1/2 grand. They told me that now their 1/2 grand new model sounds better.