Ostrava
Vitkovice Heavy Machinery Ostrava
Vitkovice Heavy Machinery carries on the tradition of Vitkovice Ironworks (former Rudolf Hütte) founded in 1828 by archbishop Rudolf von Habsburg.
Vítkovice Heavy Machinery goes bankrupt
https://english.radio.cz/vitkovice-heavy-machinery-goes-bankrupt-8686671
Image photography
By Viktor Macha in 2005.
Plant facts and figures
The plant have an annual capacity of 50000 tons.
The following processes are conducted in the plant:
- Steel making
- Foundry
- Forge
This plant produces the following type of products:
- Ingots
- Castings
- Forgings
Full description
Vitkovice Heavy Machinery carries on the tradition of Vitkovice Ironworks (former Rudolf Hütte) founded in 1828 by archbishop Rudolf von Habsburg.
After the last blast furnace shutdown in 1998, the fundamental pillar of success lies in heavy engineering with own steel production. The steel is currently provided by two electric arc furnaces with volumes of 70 tons and 50 tons. The smaller one, EAF No.4, holds one interesting primacy. Commissioned in 1938, it is the oldest arc furnace of its kind in Czech Republic. EAF No.4 was the base in speciality steel programs of Vitkovice for many years.
Besides the steel making shop there are two forges and ring rolling mill. The production is focused on heavy castings, machined forgings, ship crankshafts, heavy industry equipment and rail industry.
The works wer shutdown in 2019 and whole site demolished in 2023.