The stainless steel foundry in Pirna, Germany, was established in 1920 as the Copitz Gerlach & Co. ironworks. Following the closure of its railcar and crane manufacturing operations in 1930, it specialised in steel casting. During World War II, production included military equipment such as tank tracks.
Dismantled in 1945–46, the foundry resumed operations in 1946 with two Siemens-Martin furnaces. Nationalised in 1947, it became VEB Gießerei Copitz, supplying cast steel for lignite mining and electric motor manufacturing. In 1984, electric arc furnaces replaced the Siemens-Martin furnaces.
In 1992, the Schmees family acquired the foundry. Subsequent investments modernised production, expanded heat treatment and mechanical finishing, and introduced new induction furnaces. Today, SCHMEES cast Pirna produces precision stainless steel castings for industrial applications and internationally recognised artists.
Keywords: 2026, edelstahl, pirna, schmees cast, deutschland, germany, giesserei, foundry, slevarna, casting, stahlindustrie, industriekultur, industrial photography, beautyofsteel, copitz gerlach, VEB Giesserei
Views: 318 ×