1537
Matthaeus Lang von Wellenburg, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, granted in October, 2nd 1537 by document the output and manufacturing of iron ore. This is regarded as „hour of birth“ of the ore mining of Salzburg. Soon after workshops were built at various places, for example at Achthal, Neukirchen, Röhrenbch – and Hammerau.
| 
Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg,
Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg,
1519 - 1540
|
1550
A few years after founding the iron union active trade relations were existing with big cities like Munich and Augsburg.
Invoices, which got stored in the industry-archives of the iron union (which is now part of the Bavarian main-state-archive) document, that about mid 16th century the production of plates already started and among other things weapons, nails, screws and wire were produced.
|
1600
The clerical heads of Salzburg observed the flourishing iron production and manufacturing with great interest and satisfaction. In view of the upcoming threat of war in Mid-Europe at the beginning of the 17th century the manufacturing was mainly occupied with war material.
| 
The former restaurant,
one of the oldest buildings
|
1800
Napoleons war processions through Europe also concerned the prince-archbishopric Salzburg. In December 1800 french troops invaded Salzburg. Plundering and acts of violence were daily acts. The soldiers also left their marks at Hammerau. 1803 the diozese was secularized. The territory got divided up between Bavaria and Austria; starting from 1810 the areas western of Saalach and Salzach were part of the Kingdom Bavaria.
|
1837
Meanwhile the iron union looks back to a history of 300 years. On July 25th, 1837 the plenary meeting decided on a big celebration program, which started on the evening before September 26th with great fireworks.
|
|
1866
In the second half of the 19th century the industrial revolution caused a turbulent economical and technical development , also in the section of the iron production and - manufacturing.
New methods of production resulted in an increased efficiency as well as in increased profits. The workshops of the iron unions were modernized and extended. In 1866 a new plate mill was built at Hammerau. Only 11 years later a larger rolling mill, a turbine and a cast iron welding furnace, heated by peat, follows.
| 
Horseshoe manufacturing
at the beginning of the
20th century |
1906
During the crisis of the German economy at the end of the 19th century also the ironworks at Hammerau struggled with increasing sales problems. To stay competitive a foundry as auxiliary plant at Käferham/Austria was established. In this way they were hoping to participate in the extension of the austrian railroad network, since the austrian government only placed orders to native companies. However, the descent of the company could not be stopped .
Disastrous weather damages and missing support of the government finally caused the sale of the works at Hammerau and Käferham. By signing the sales contract on August 1st, 1906 the operating equipment passed into the possession of the Hohenzollern mill administration Laucherthal-Sigmaringen.
| 
Charcoal – hearth
|
1924
After the end of the inflation the plant at Hammerau was taken over by Alfred Zeller. The company, now called „Annahütte“, was facing the final breakdown and got hit very hard again by the worldwide economic crisis at the end of the twenties. The bankruptcy could not be prevented. In 1932 Alfred Zeller was able to take over again the „Annahütte“, because no other buyer could be found. During the second world war the plant was converted into an arms plant – like in the years 1914 to 1918. There were 2000 employees in the year of 1940. Alfred Zeller died before the total breakdown in 1945. His son Kurt started the recovery of the company by installing a Siemens-Martin-blast furnace. After the death of Kurt Zeller in 1957 his brother Walter Zeller took over the plant.
| 
Siemens-Martin-blast furnace
|
