On December 9, 1949 the pioneering decision was taken in Linz to construct a steel mill based on a completely new technology, the Linz-Donawitz process (LD process).
Just three years later, on November 27, 1952 the world's first LD steel mill went into production, at the site of voestalpine AG's current headquarters.
This was closely followed by a second mill, opening on May 22, 1953 in Donawitz.
The invention of the LD process in Linz and Donawitz was certainly one of the ground-breaking discoveries which changed the entire steel industry 60 years ago and made this development possible. This breakthrough enabled significantly more steel, of a better quality, to be produced in a shorter time and much more economically.
The LD process was one of the century's most significant industrial inventions, revolutionizing the global steel industry at a stroke. It established the voestalpine Group as a leading metallurgical company and formed the basis for the Group's subsequent and consistent technological and qualitative developments as a global player.
Today, more than two thirds of the world's steel is produced using the LD process.
The voestalpine Stahlwelt in Linz is currently hosting a special exhibition on 60 years of the LD process, showing how this innovation has changed the world. The exhibition runs until the end of the year and entrance is free.
