Company History

The following summary contains the significant milestones, which has brought progress and laid the foundation for successful growth of Železiarni Podbrezová a.s. For more information on the company history, please go to Hutnícke múzeum section.

The company´s modern history

2013	The reconstruction of Electric arc furnace, Ladle furnace and Continuous casting machine
08/2008	Establishment of ŽP Výskumno-vývojové centrum, s.r.o., Podbrezová - a new subsidiary.
2008	Completion of the majority investment "ŽP EKO QELET" - the plant for processing steel scrap located in Hliník nad Hronom
07/2008	ŽP Group expanded by acquiring Spanish company TransformacionesMetalúrgicas SA (Transmesa) and its subsidiary TAP TubosdeAcerodePrecision S.L.
10/2006	The Company gained the Quality Management Certificate for the automotive industry according to ISO TS 16949.
09/2006	Opening of Súkromné Gymnázium ŽP a.s.
09/2005	Capital investment into ŽP Prako, s.r.o.
04/2006	AURA 2005 Award received for trade fair presentation
03/2004	The Company invested money into ŠKODA TS, a.s. through ŽĎAS.
03/2003	Transformation of Metallurgical SOU (Secondary Vocational School), Podbrezová, into Súkromné SOU hutnícke ŽP a.s.
08/2002	Capital investment into ŽĎAS a.s.
06/2000	The Company received the Environmental Management Certificate according to EN ISO 14001.
04/2000	The Company received the Automotive Suppliers Certificate according to VDA 6.1.
1999	Establishment of ŽP SPORTS Podbrezová a.s.
1998	Opening of the ŽP SKI Tále, the winter sports resort
1995	The Company received the Quality Management System Certificate according to ISO 9002
1993	The modern high performance ARC furnace was put into service.
1992	The State-Owned Company was transformed into the Joint-Stock Company.
1991	Establishment of Hutnícka Druhovýroba Facilities for processing tubes
1980s	Construction of Social Program Buildings - flats, recreational facilities, and sports complexes
1984	Introduction of a Computerized Management System
1982	Start of castings production using the four-lane facility for continuous casting of steel
1980	Opening of Tube Drawing Mill 2.
1979	Start of rolled tube production using the extrusion mill in the rolling mill
1972	Start of precision cold drawn tubes production.
1971	The first tube was drawn-out in the new Drawing Mill
1970	Start of the new welding pipe bends production line operation.
1968	Ceremonial foundation excavation for the new plant construction
1960	The arc furnaces construction and putting the first facility for steel continuous casting into operation in Czechoslovakia.
1951	Start of steelworks rebuilding and Siemens-Martin furnace construction.

Ironworks History from 1900-1945

1945	The military operations caused damage to almost all operational buildings and production equipment.
01/1941	Take-over by Reichswerke Waffen für Maschinenbau AG Hermann Göring Berlin. Plates, profile and reinforcing iron and seamless tubes were included into the main production program.
06/1930	The Podbrezovan newspaper first edition.
1930	Construction of the Mannesmann tube rolling mill.
1926	Start of profile rolling mill construction
1921–1924	Deep economic depression
1919	Renaming of Brezová village to Podbrezová.
09/1919	Restart of fine and medium rolling-mill production and production of sheets.
10/1918	Stoppage of production at Brezová
1906	Metal sheet rolling mill construction - Lauthovo trio
1904	Start of welded tubes production using water gas.

Brezovské železiarne before 1900

End of the 19th Century	Železiarne Podbrezova was among the biggest and most prosperous ironworks in Hungary.
1892	The Roman Catholic church was built in Podbrezová.
1886	Completion of Ironworks rebuilding led by Professor Kerpely.
1884	Railway link to Banská Bystrica.
1883	The tubes production was introduced at the A. Kerpely´s initiative, State-owned Ironworks Director in Budapest, as the first one in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
1879	An important milestone of Slovak Ironmaking - the first Siemens-Martin furnace
1872	The first telegraph and telephone connection
1862	Medal awarded in London
1858	The Rail Quality Award received in the Industrial Exhibition, Paris
1855	Production of the first 2,374 tons of rails. Plates, enamelled cookware and cast-iron parts were exported to Transylvania, Austria, Silesia and Egypt
09/1851	The puddling furnaces operation start

Establishment of Brezovské železiarne

1840	Start of first building operations
1839	The Board composed of G. Schweizer, M. Glanzer and A. Lobkowitz determined the precise location to build the rolling mill.
1838	G. Schweizer - Chamber Earl in Banska Štiavnica, proposed to build a rail rolling mill under the Brezová hill.
1836	The decision made by the Austro-Hungarian Parliament to build 12 railway lines in accordance with the Act XXV.

Ironmaking Traditions in the Horehronie region

18th Century	The so-called Hrončiansky Complex, the most important iron production centre throughout Hungary, was formed in Horehronie.
16th - 17th Century	Unprecedented boom in ironmaking, mainly production for the armament industry.
14th Century	The first pit furnaces (the so-called Slovak furnaces) and water-driven hammers were built in the valleys of Slovenské rudohorie.