Hochöfen#

Blast Furnaces: Because of numerous iron ore deposits, iron and steel production has played an important economic role in Austria for centuries. The famous "Noric iron" of the Romans was extracted in wind-operated furnaces around the Huettenberg iron ore deposits. From the 10th /11th  centuries the production of iron was resumed in the easter Alpine region; the Styrian Erzberg mountain developed into the centre of activities. During the Middle Ages the furnaces were moved to the valleys so that the bellows could be powered with waterwheels (Radwerke ironworks or balling furnaces). Apart from the two main ore deposits around the Erzberg and Huettenberg, numerous isolated ironworks were also established in the woods. 19 Radwerke ironworks were operated in Eisenerz (Innerberg), 14 in Vordernberg.

The development from the balling furnace to the flowing furnace from the late 16th century increased capacities first in

Carinthia, then in other parts of Austria. This furnace enabled the continuous extraction of liquid pig iron. Technical improvements in the 19th century led to the development of today´s blast furnaces. In the Austria of the mid-19th century iron was extracted in 64 furnaces at 42 locations. Initially charcoal was used as the only fuel, but because of the shortage of wood an increasing amount of mineral coal was used, particularly under the reign of Maria Theresia. The first coke-fired furnaces were those of Praevali (Slovenia, 1869), Schwechat (1873) and Zeltweg (Styria, 1874). The last charcoal-fuelled furnace was in operation in Vordernberg until 1922. The Radwerk IV (built 1846) in Vordernberg was classified as a historical monument in 1928 and now serves as a museum.

The Oesterreichisch-Alpine Montangesellschaft mining corporation (founded 1881) concentrated the extraction of pig iron in the 20th  century in Donawitz (4 furnaces) and in Eisenerz (2 furnaces). During World War II a new metallurgical plant with 6 furnaces was erected in Linz and known as "Reichswerke Hermann Goering". In 1997 Linz still had 4 old furnaces (one was sold, another demolished) and the "Hochofen A" was built in 1977. It has a daily output of 6,000 t. Two other furnaces are operated in Donawitz. In 1997 pig iron output in Austria amounted to about 4 million t.

Literature#