A steelworks was built here as early as 1836.
In 1934, the new coking plant, with 50 Koppers ovens, was put into operation. The old one was demolished to make way for it. In 1952, an expansion was necessary, and a second battery with 26 Coppée ovens was built.
In 1958, a sinter plant was built, which was expanded in 1963 to include a second line.
In 1964, two blast furnace sites with a total of six blast furnaces were in operation. One blast furnace was completely rebuilt, the older ones were then shut down, and one of the newer ones went into reserve. In 1964, there was also an electric steelworks dating from 1938 and a Thomas steelworks dating from 1921. Many other buildings required by a steelworks existed on the site.
Among other things, there were several rolling mills that rolled steel beams, wires, bars, and sections. In 1971, Europe's most modern medium-section rolling mill was commissioned here.
The coking plant was expanded again in 1972.
At the beginning of the 1970s, the company began to decline, and the first rolling mills were shut down. In 1976, the first blast furnace was also shut down.
The OBM converters were shut down in 1979, and the neighboring steelworks was closed in 1980.
A merger took place in 1981, and the sinter plant and another blast furnace were shut down that same year. Production on the heavy rolling mills also ceased in 1984. By 1985, only the coking plant, a blast furnace, and a medium steel mill remained active on the site. From 1989 onward, the last steel mill operated exclusively for contract manufacturing. At the end of 1994, this era also ended, and the steel mill was sold to South Korea. In 1996, the end of the last blast furnace was sealed, and it too was shut down. Only the coking plant remained active on the entire site. This also came to an end in 2008.
Of the more than 4,800 employees at one point, 183 remained. Thus, after 172 years, the history of the steelworks came to an end.
Today, only a blast furnace, the coking plant, several outbuildings, and the power plant remain on the entire site. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly when it was built. However, it can be seen in photos from 1964.
The entire site is well-secured, and security patrols regularly. Active demolition work is also underway on the site, and some construction machinery is located there.
In 1934, the new coking plant, with 50 Koppers ovens, was put into operation. The old one was demolished to make way for it. In 1952, an expansion was necessary, and a second battery with 26 Coppée ovens was built.
In 1958, a sinter plant was built, which was expanded in 1963 to include a second line.
In 1964, two blast furnace sites with a total of six blast furnaces were in operation. One blast furnace was completely rebuilt, the older ones were then shut down, and one of the newer ones went into reserve. In 1964, there was also an electric steelworks dating from 1938 and a Thomas steelworks dating from 1921. Many other buildings required by a steelworks existed on the site.
Among other things, there were several rolling mills that rolled steel beams, wires, bars, and sections. In 1971, Europe's most modern medium-section rolling mill was commissioned here.
The coking plant was expanded again in 1972.
At the beginning of the 1970s, the company began to decline, and the first rolling mills were shut down. In 1976, the first blast furnace was also shut down.
The OBM converters were shut down in 1979, and the neighboring steelworks was closed in 1980.
A merger took place in 1981, and the sinter plant and another blast furnace were shut down that same year. Production on the heavy rolling mills also ceased in 1984. By 1985, only the coking plant, a blast furnace, and a medium steel mill remained active on the site. From 1989 onward, the last steel mill operated exclusively for contract manufacturing. At the end of 1994, this era also ended, and the steel mill was sold to South Korea. In 1996, the end of the last blast furnace was sealed, and it too was shut down. Only the coking plant remained active on the entire site. This also came to an end in 2008.
Of the more than 4,800 employees at one point, 183 remained. Thus, after 172 years, the history of the steelworks came to an end.
Today, only a blast furnace, the coking plant, several outbuildings, and the power plant remain on the entire site. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly when it was built. However, it can be seen in photos from 1964.
The entire site is well-secured, and security patrols regularly. Active demolition work is also underway on the site, and some construction machinery is located there.
