Ostrava
Vitkovice Steel
VÍTKOVICE STEEL is a leading European manufacturer of hot rolled steel products.
The mill in the Ostrava city center was founded in 1828 already by archduke Rudolf von Habsburg and named "Rudolfshütte" after him. First coke fired blast furnace was built in 1836.
In 1843 the works were bought by banker Salomon Mayer Rothschild and the first bessemer converter is installed. In 1874 the Witkowitzer Bergbau- und Hüttengewerkschaft was founded.
In 1909 new open-hearth steel making shop was put into operation, Vitkovice ironworks became one the European leader in construction steel and heavy machinery. During the second world war the works were part of "Reichswerke Hermann Göring" and after nationalization in 1945 named as "Vitkovicke zelezarny Klementa Gottwalda".
Outdated Talbot furnaces were decommissioned in 1967 and replaced by tandem furnaces. In 1972 3,5m quarto plate rolling mill was put into operation. First (72t) oxygen converter was launched in 1982 and the second one in 1991. Tandem steel plant was cooled down soon after. Last active blast furnace (no.1) was shutdown in 1998.
In 2014 the works wer sold to private investors. In 2015, steelmaking ended, shifting to hot rolling of imported slabs. In 2025, India’s Jindal Steel International acquired the company, planning major investments and integration into its global supply chain.
Sep, 2015 - Czech Vitkovice Steel closes steel plant in Ostrava
Vitkovice Steel has shut its steel plant in the northeast of the Czech Republic, as planned, after deciding that needed investments would be too costly, the company said on Wednesday.
Vitkovice had announced the expected closure earlier this year and said on Wednesday that it would focus future production on heavy plates at the rolling mill adjoining the steel plant.
The firm said it would replace the missing output after the closure with deliveries from European and Russian suppliers.
*https://www.reuters.com/article/czech-steel-vitkovicesteel-idUSL5N1202V720150930
Image photography
By Viktor Macha in 2005.
Plant facts and figures
Full description
The mill in the Ostrava city center was founded in 1828 already by archduke Rudolf von Habsburg and named “Rudolfshütte” after him. First coke fired blast furnace was built in 1836.
In 1843 the works were bought by banker Salomon Mayer Rothschild and the first bessemer converter is installed. In 1874 the Witkowitzer Bergbau- und Hüttengewerkschaft was founded.
In 1909 new open-hearth steel making shop was put into operation, Vitkovice ironworks became one the European leader in construction steel and heavy machinery. During the second world war the works were part of “Reichswerke Hermann Göring” and after nationalization in 1945 named as “Vitkovicke zelezarny Klementa Gottwalda”.
Outdated Talbot furnaces were decommissioned in 1967 and replaced by tandem furnaces. In 1972 3,5m quarto plate rolling mill was put into operation. First (72t) oxygen converter was launched in 1982 and the second one in 1991. Tandem steel plant was cooled down soon after. Last active blast furnace (no.1) was shutdown in 1998.
Between 2007-2017 the works was owned by Evraz group.
In September 2015 the steel plant was shutdown for good and today only the heavy plate mill and heavy section mill are in operation under the flag of Vitkovice Steel company.