History

1908
Having acquired a forge, Otto Pleissner establishes an iron foundry in Herzberg, Germany. On an area of 600 square metres and with a total of three employees, jobs are performed in manual casting.

1919
Two modern cupola melting furnaces are purchased and the first cranes are set up in the plant.

1920
Inconvenient transport of raw materials by trolleys and horse-drawn vehicles is facilitated by the construction of a factory siding on the railway line directly passing the plant.

1929
The world economic crisis almost brings the plant to a standstill. Only a great amount of effort and skill permit the difficulties to be overcome.

1930
Otto Pleissner decides to put a Bessemer converter into operation and thereby commence production of steel. A new era at Pleissner begins.

1936
Franz Hug, son-in-law of Otto Pleissner, joins corporate management giving Pleissner a new sense of élan resulting in numerous renovations and new buildings. Pleissner is supplied with a second Bessemer converter, a new cast steel cleaning department as well as a core-moulding shop and annealing shop.

1945
A fateful year for Pleissner. The explosion of two arms trains at the nearby goods station destroys more than 70 per cent of the plant equipment. After the war and dismantling of production equipment, the production of grey cast iron recommences relatively soon, whereby ovens, pots and pans are initially manufactured for everyday use.

1950
An upward trend continues. Further development leads to the commencement of production of high-alloy steel. A chemical laboratory is built, as well as a pattern-making shop and a machining department.

1962
Owing to the many advantages of steel over iron, steel production overtakes iron production with the result that the production of grey cast iron is discontinued.

1970
During the 1970s, more than 30 million DM is invested in modernising the plant in order to make the company more productive and effective. Pleissner becomes market leader in the area of alloyed and high-alloy cast valve bodies and as a supplier to the locomotive and carriage construction industry (gearboxes, couplers and chassis).

1980
Franz Hug dies and management of the company passes to Eberhard Buttkus and Lieselotte Hug. The plant employs more than 1,000 people, achieves sales of 100 million DM and has a monthly output of approx. 1,300 tonnes of cast steel and cast stainless steel.

1996
Takeover by Harzguß Zorge, a subsidiary of Ruhrkohle AG, and renamed Pleissner Guss GmbH. Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Gerhard Schröder, visits the plant and announces official takeover to the workforce.

1998
Renamed AEK InterForm GmbH, Herzberg subsidiary.

2000
Takeover by Georgsmarienhütte Holding GmbH. Acquisition of AEK InterForm GmbH enables Georgsmarienhütte Holding GmbH to expand its range of services in the manufacture and finishing of foundry products.

2002
The company gains independence returning to its old name Pleissner Guss GmbH.

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