Miracles of Königsbronn: oldest industrial company on the road to success!

Miracles of Königsbronn: oldest industrial company on the road to success!

In the small town of Königsbronn, in the district of Heidenheim, the Swabian steel works (SHW) not only wrote German industrial history, but also survived several existence -threatening moments. Founded in 1365, this company is the oldest industrial operation in Germany. His long history is shaped by highs and lows, including several bankruptcies that almost led to its final end.

In the past, it looked dark for the steel works when hard times dragged on in 2019. The workforce brought the closure of several productions as a result of financial difficulties. Coming layoffs seemed inevitable when the orders from the paper industry were suddenly canceled. The company had to be put on ice, and almost all employees were released. Command back, however: just one month after the first closings and the subsequent shock, the big "miracle of Königsbronn" occurred. Hüttenwerke Königsbronn GmbH was founded in March 2019 and many of the previously released employees could be brought back on board.

The struggle for the future of the company

An essential part of the rescue was the tireless efforts of the employees. After the final decision on bankruptcy, they organized online petitions, distributed leaflets and even took to the streets with signature actions. The politicians supported their efforts, while a rescue plan was drawn up in the background. A local host and a former insolvency administrator who worked together with the works council at a perspective for the company gave the kick -off. Help also came from IG Metall.

Under the banner "Hüttenwerke Königsbronn", the company and its employees were finally able to restart in 2019. Important customers from paper and other industries started again with advance payments that made it possible to boost production again. This was the departure for a new era for the steel works.

iron processing with Tradition

The origins of iron processing in Königsbronn go far back and are closely linked to the history of the local cisternic monastery. After approval for the construction of ironworks by Emperor Charles IV in 1366, the foundation stone was laid for a long tradition. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the company developed into one of the leading iron farewells in the region. With the takeover by the Kingdom of Württemberg in 1806, a phase of modernization and specialization began, which from then on focused on the production of hard casting rollers.

in 1921 the Schwäbische Hüttenwerke GmbH was founded, which over the decades became the market leader in rolling production, even overtook the US Farrel Corporation in production. Throughout the entire time, the SHW left its stamp in the industry and celebrated its most successful year in 2008, only to slip into the first bankruptcy a short time later.

After the crises and the start of the new, the company is increasingly recovering. Almost 100 employees are now employed again and the order situation is stable. The company has established itself as a world market leader in the production of heated paper limestone rollers. These are special rollers that are essential in paper production and weigh up to 130 tons.

Another important step was the recent walk to the stock exchange, where the steel works are now noted as HWK1365 SE. The first course started at 7.50 euros, and remarkably a third of the shares are owned by the employees who have become a decisive part of the company through their privation and commitment.

Königsbronn known for his oldest industrial company, is also the birthplace of a significant resistance fighter against the National Socialist regime, whose actions may have prevented the Second World War. This double nature of industrial tradition and social history makes Königsbronn a special place in Germany.