History of metallurgy

History of metallurgy in region of middle Spiš

On the territory of present Slovak republic have metals appeared already in the early phase of civilization, in years 3 700 - 3 300 B.C. At that time the Polgarian culture, which was the culmination of neolithical revolution, begun in limited form to use metals, as gold and copper, especially for jewelry production.

For neolith was later characteristic also extension of copper utilization for tool production, e.g. hatchets and various blades. The first procedures for metal foundering, smithing and surface mining have appeared. That's why this period many experts mark as Copper Age or Chalkolit.

The rise of Mediterranean civilization in second millennium has brought to Europe new practices of alloying steel with arsenic and later with tin, allowing obtaining alloy known as bronze, much preferable for tools production than too soft copper. With the arrival of Bronze Age has Chalkolit historically ended but the copper has kept its use till nowadays.

New history of company:

November 2008

The copper anodes production line brought to test operation. The maximum capacity of production reaches 130 000 t of copper anodes per annum.

March 2007

Beginning of construction works on new copper anodes production line.

Year 2005

Modernization of shaft furnace with aim to increase enforcement of installation, lower the copper losses and environment impacts.

Year 2004

Integration of Montanwerke Brixlegg AG and Kovohuty,a.s. to international consortium A-TEC Industries AG, Austria

Year 2002 - 2003

Because of low effectiveness in production the copper electrolysis plant is closed.

Year 2002

Entry of foreign capital by Montanwerke Brixlegg AG, Austria which became the new owner of Kovohuty, a.s.

September 2000

Company Kovohuty, a.s. is established

20^th century

Year 1999

Because of low prices on world markets the production of copper has stopped.

Year 1994

Privatization of company, that was formerly with 100% state share, by private owner.

Year 1991

Contractual agreement about investment into the new continuous casting line for production of copper wire rod, with Italian company Continuus Properzi.

Year 1988

The new modern filtration facility for cleaning off-gases and dust separation was brought to function.

Year 1983

The beginning of building works on technology that was catching off-gases with high share of SO₂ from converters and using it by the production of sulphur acid.

Year 1968

Copper pins production from cathode copper was put into practice. The rise of production has brought the need to build the new electrolysis and extension of the old one. The whole capacity reaches 24 000 t of cathodes per annum.

Year 1967

The beginning of project work on reconstruction of smeltery hall and orientation in technology on the process used by the smelting of copper concentrates, in flame furnace with use of earth gas. In close connection with Technical University Košice have research workers studied the possibility and opportunities of continual copper production on the real scale test machinery.

Year 1963

State business Kovohuty Krompachy becomes the part of trust called United Kovohutě Praha, later known as Kovohutě Praha.

Year 1960-1963

Filters for cleaning off-gases, from shaft furnace and converters were constructed. The agglomeration of sulphuric concentrates was canceled.

Year 1958

Kovohuty Krompachy are becoming a part of state business ZSNP Žiar nad Hronom and are the only one copper producer in former Czechoslovakia.

Year 1954

Construction of electrolysis was finished, and on 16^th of September Kovohuty start to produce first electrolytic refined copper. The main supplier of Cu concentrates are mines Železorudné bane Slovinky.

Year 1951

The production has repeatedly started. Into the company arrive a lot of scrap copper materials, which have accumulated through the war and close after it. Low rentability of production brings necessity to use more modern technological techniques and devices; the prerefining of copper in converters is brought to practice. After the deliverance is Krompachy production plant becoming a part of state business mines Železorudné bane, Spišská Nová Ves.

Year 1945

German troops are dismantling technology and deporting it to the west, the rest is devastated and burned.

22^nd of October 1944

The production in Krompachy's smeltery has stopped. Slovak partisans are sabotaging the operation of Slovak mines.

2^nd world war

Krompachy's copper production plant is becoming a part of Herman-Göring Werke and its activity is subordinated to German interests.

Year 1937

With the endeavor of Switzerland company Werkzeugmaschienen fabric Örlikon Bührle and company starts the production of copper in the plant of former ironworks.

Year 1927

The financial crisis is culminating.

Year 1923

The crisis after 1^st world war, restraints in activities and later in total close down of production plant.

19^th century:

Year 1897

Construction of modern ironworks, technologically best equipped and biggest in Ugrian in second half of 19^th century. Establishment of capital strong Krompachy Ironworks, later known as Krompachy-pohornadsko Ironworks Company.

Year 1869

Deliveries of copper from America and drop of the prices brings, in the first half of the 19^th century, stagnation. The copper production is centered to eastern part of Slovakia (aprox. 28 smelteries), between the others also smeltery in Krompachy. Production in that time is on 3-4^th place in international scale.

beginning of 19th century

Copper ore is smelted in more than 30 smelteries in the whole Slovakia.

17-18^th century:

Year 1804

In the town Krompachy is build Ironworks with high furnace and refining smithery.

Year 1787-1809

In near place called Štefanska huta is built a metallurgy device for ore refining. And also electrolytic refining plant for copper, second biggest after German Norddeutsche Affinerie in Hamburg.

till year 1780

The copper production in the area is rising up to 21 000 cents per annum. Krompachy are in this epoch declared as mining town for iron ore. The drop of ore supplies means the movement of copper industry center from area of Banska Bystrica to Spiš estate. After anti Habsburg rebellions are circumstances getting worse. Mines and smelteries are damaged, sometimes marked also from earlier rebellions in Bystrica estate.

14^th cen:

Year 1362-1363

Export from Eastern Slovakia to Prussia reaches more than 14 000 cents (1 cent=100 L.s.d., i.e. 56 kg). Since 80^th of 14^th century the production rises that much, that businessmen from Spiš are not able to cover the demand. At this time starts the long lasting period of Banska Bystrica mining works development. Copper from Eastern Slovakia where belongs also Krompachy's copper (cuprum Crumbasis) is getting on the European markets.