1873
Julius Buch, an iron and steel engineer, builds an ironworks near Völklingen. Six years later however, the works are closed. The high rates make the import of pig iron more expensive.
1881
The Saarbrücken businessman Carl Röchling buys the closed works in Völklingen. He prefers the production of pig iron. In 1883 the first blast furnace goes into operation.
1890
The improvement of the infrastructure implemented by Carl Röchling brings success to Völklinger Hütte. The Röchling Brothers Völklinger Ironworks in Völklingen becomes the biggest steel girder producer in the German Empire.
1891
Carl Röchling introduces the Thomas process at the Völklinger Hütte relatively late. Minette from Lothringen can now be mass smelted in Völklingen.
1897
The first coke oven battery is erected directly adjacent to the blast furnace in Völklingen. The Röchling family has considerable experience in the coking of coal having operated one of the largest coking plants, in the Saarland industrial region at Sulzbachtal.
The coal silo, made of sheet steel, which rises up above the coking-plant, dates from the same year and is one of the oldest constructions still preserved at the Völklingen Ironworks.
1900
Two years earlier experiments concerning the use of blast furnace gas for the driving of power engines were successfully executed. The experiments show blast furnace gas to be necessary for propelling internal combustion engines. The Röchling brothers immediately recognise the significance of the gas engine for the development of the iron and steel industry. They therefore erect a blast engine building some distance away from the blast furnaces.
1911
The inclined ore lift is built in Völklingen. Production of by-products of iron and steel manufacture is pushed ahead. The company product range now also includes Thomas slag as a fertiliser, ammoniac, benzene and various tar products. The processing of waste materials from the coking plant proves to be an important source, in particular the so-called coal by-product operations, which emerge as an important source of income for the Völklinger Works.
1913
The burden shed is built in 1913 and like the water tower, is one of the first constructions of this size made from reinforced concrete.
1917
The Water tower is erected in 1917-1918 and is one of the first manifestations of a new industrial architectural form.
1928
Sintering technology offers the opportunity to recycle waste products from the smelting processes - i.e. ore dust, blast furnace flue dust. One of the most modern sintering plants in Europe is built in Völklingen - and one of the biggest at that time. Materials with a grain size that is too fine for use in the blast furnaces at 1300°C are heated to form a sinter cake in the sinter plant and then broken into the correct size pieces.
1944
During the Second World War thousands of men and women are employed at the Völklinger Works - especially from Russia,Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Many are victims of the excessively hard labour and bad conditions at the ironworks. At the end of the war the ironworks goes back into operation under French management.
1965
More than 17,000 people work at the Völklinger Hütte. The highest number of employees in the history of the works is reached.
1975
The Völklingen Ironworks is affected by the worldwide steel crisis. In 1982 the iron and steelworks in Völklingen and Burbach were amalgamated to become ARBED-Saarstahl.
1980
A new steelworks goes into operation in the vicinity of the Völklingen Ironworks. Using the basic oxygen process, the pig iron from the blast furnaces is further processed into steel.
1986
The Völklinger Hütte blast furnaces are shut down. The Saarland Council of Ministers agrees to preserve significant parts of the closed works as historical monuments.
1994
A new phase begins in the history of the ironworks when the Völklinger Hütte is granted a place as the first industrial monument on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site List. It is the only surviving ironworks in the world from the heyday of iron and steel production and a unique testimony to an industrial epoch of the past.
1999
The Saarland establishes the new carrier organisation the World Cultural Heritage Site, European Centre for Art and Industrial Heritage.
2000
For the first time, more than 104,000 people visit the Völklinger Hütte World Cultural Heritage Site.
2004
The Science Center “Ferrodrom® - adventure world of iron “ opens in the burden hall. The 10-year anniversary of the Völklinger ironworks as a UNESCO-World Cultural Heritage Site is celebrated. 202,057 people visit the Völklingen Ironworks.
2005
193,073 people visit the exhibition 'IncaGold - 3000 years of advanced civilisation - masterpieces from Peru's Larco Museum'.
2006
The visitor walkway network is extended from two to three kilometres, much of which is covered over. A new introductory multimedia show; the ore shed; the world of adventure for children; a new picnic area; and 'Lily Luna the fantastic world of iron things' are opened at Völklingen.
2007
Luxembourg and its Greater Region is granted status as the Cultural Capital of Europe 2007, with Völklingen Ironworks standing out as one of its main attractions. The Science Center Ferrodrome® is extended to include over 100 hands-on exhibits both indoors and out. |
