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

2013The reconstruction of Electric arc furnace, Ladle furnace and Continuous casting machine
08/2008Establishment of ŽP Výskumno-vývojové centrum, s.r.o., Podbrezová - a new subsidiary.
2008Completion of the majority investment "ŽP EKO QELET" - the plant for processing steel scrap located in Hliník nad Hronom
07/2008ŽP Group expanded by acquiring Spanish company TransformacionesMetalúrgicas SA (Transmesa) and its subsidiary TAP TubosdeAcerodePrecision S.L.
10/2006The Company gained the Quality Management Certificate for the automotive industry according to ISO TS 16949.
09/2006Opening of Súkromné Gymnázium ŽP a.s.
09/2005Capital investment into ŽP Prako, s.r.o.
04/2006AURA 2005 Award received for trade fair presentation
03/2004The Company invested money into ŠKODA TS, a.s. through ŽĎAS.
03/2003Transformation of Metallurgical SOU (Secondary Vocational School), Podbrezová, into Súkromné SOU hutnícke ŽP a.s.
08/2002Capital investment into ŽĎAS a.s.
06/2000The 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.
1992The 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

1945The 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.
1930Construction of the Mannesmann tube rolling mill.
1926 Start of profile rolling mill construction
1921–1924Deep economic depression
1919Renaming of Brezová village to Podbrezová.
09/1919 Restart of fine and medium rolling-mill production and production of sheets.
10/1918Stoppage of production at Brezová
1906Metal sheet rolling mill construction - Lauthovo trio
1904Start of welded tubes production using water gas.


Brezovské železiarne before 1900

End of the 19th CenturyŽeleziarne 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 CenturyUnprecedented boom in ironmaking, mainly production for the armament industry.
14th CenturyThe first pit furnaces (the so-called Slovak furnaces) and water-driven hammers were built in the valleys of Slovenské rudohorie.

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