!!!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 10%%sup th/% /11%%sup th/%  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.

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

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Carinthia, then in other parts of Austria. This furnace enabled the 
continuous extraction of liquid pig iron. Technical improvements in 
the 19%%sup th/%  century led to the development of today´s 
blast furnaces. In the Austria of the mid-19%%sup th/%  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.

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The Oesterreichisch-Alpine Montangesellschaft mining corporation 
(founded 1881) concentrated the extraction of pig iron in the 
20%%sup th/%  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
M. Wehdorn, Die Baudenkmaeler des Eisenhuettenwesens in 
Oesterreich, 1982.


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