The backbone of modern age

Cities, traffic routes, tractors, tanks - steel is the substance that Europe's modern age is made of. Starting from England in the 18th century, iron and steel production conquered the entire European economy.

Two striking examples are the Henrichshütte in Hattingen, Germany, and Altos Hornos in Puerto de Sagunto near Valencia, Spain. Both locations attract foreign investors because of their close iron ore deposits. Both run their blast furnaces with coke and produce a whole variety of iron and steel products. Both accommodate foreign workers in newly-built housing estates, all equipped with educational and health facilities. This is how urbanity and a decent life are established.

In the mid-1980s, both sites had to close and thousands of jobs were lost. But structural transformation creates new perspectives. Today, both steelworks are exciting industrial museums that tell the story of iron and steel to the present day. And as a special highlight, visitors to both locations can admire the preserved blast furnaces from lofty heights. The blast furnace is therefore the symbol of the joint project.