Crane drum hoists are real heavyweight components. One drum hoist can weigh as much as 11 tonnes, and most machines require several. Despite the enormous weight, precision is the key when casting the parts out of iron. Tolerances are as low as a tenth of a millimetre, but for the specialists from TechnoGuss in Tangerhütte, this is just a part of the day job. "We are used to handling such complicated elements", says Managing Director Rüdiger Schulz.

In contrast, the smallest models are a "mere" 30 kilograms. The main characteristics of the Altmark company are variety and almost exclusive custom production and small series runs. In addition to drum hoists, components for general engineering are also casted there along with pinion cages and transmission housing for modern wind power plants. Schulz refers back to the original company business, which continues on to this day. "In the GDR, we were specialists in supplying valves and accessories", he says. These were used in gas or water pipes and in the chemicals industry.

The ironworks was founded 170 years ago to make use of the bog iron located at the bottom of the River Tanger. Iron was being smelted from the bog iron here as far back as 1,500 years ago by the Lombards. The industrial concept did not work out and, only short after, Tangerhütte had become renowned for classic iron casting. Bathtubs, pots and pans, and ovens were all produced and some of the products were even enamelled in Tangerhütte too.

Today, you can still find evidence of the iron casters' manual skills in the town park. It is an iron pavilion which was produced in 1889 for the World Exposition in Paris. After the exposition, which we also have to thank for the construction of the Eiffel Tower, the pavilion came back to the place where it was made. The eight-tonne structure consists of 441 individual parts and is held together by over 1,000 screws.

After the Second World War, it looked like being the end of the road for the company. All of the manufacturing facilities went eastwards in the form of reparation payments. But the people of Tangerhütte took the chance for a new start as early as 1948. Later, up to 1,250 employees worked at the site at peak times. With the fall of the Iron Curtain, the orders disappeared and restructuring in a saturated market was difficult. The iron works went through two different periods of insolvency. In the end, Iranian businessman Dr. Jamshid Yektai bought the company in 2002. "He had been a long-term customer of ours and was looking for reliable producers of drive parts", explains the Managing Director.

This heralded a new era for the new company, TechnoGuss GmbH. Around € 18m has been invested in modern technology so far, including the construction of a new fettling shop. The blast furnaces have meanwhile been converted to run on electricity. The restructuring of the entire company was a small miracle on the part of Yektai. From 2003 to 2008, production rose from 5,500 tonnes per year to 13,000. But this period was followed by two tough years: Cancelled orders became practically a daily occurrence during the global financial crisis. Staff reduction also had to be counteracted, but, says Schulz, using short-time work regulations, much was able to be rescued from the doldrums. In the meantime, things are looking up again, as can be seen by the 180 employees working at the site today.

When TechnoGuss was founded in 2002, 50 employees were taken over - all of which over the age of 50. New recruitment is not being ruled out, and the Tangerhütte company is homing in on the 10,000 tonne mark again for 2011. 8% of production is exported directly to countries like Switzerland and The Netherlands. Other cast parts can be found in customers' technical solutions all over the world - from water supply systems in Ankara, Turkey to seawater desalination systems in the U.A.E and cranes on American building sites. The order books are full, and there is more than enough work for the upcoming year. In addition, 17 young people are also currently completing an apprenticeship. "We are putting our faith in our own specialist workforce", says Rüdiger Schulz. "Those who demonstrate the necessary commitment can be sure of being hired to a permanent position here."

Author:
Klaus-Peter Voigt
TechnoGuss Tangerhütte GmbH

Rudi-Arndt-Straße 15

39517 Tangerhütte

Contact:
Rüdiger Schulz
ph: +49 (0)3935 940202
E-Mail: Ruediger.Schulz.ignore@technoguss.de
Web: www.technoguss.de