Bensberg-Gladbacher Zinkhütte, Former zinc smelter in Heidkamp district, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.
The Bensberg-Gladbacher Zinkhütte was a large production facility with eight roasting furnaces, twelve zinc reduction units, a steam engine, and four brick kilns for specialized firing. The factory processed calamine ore using industrial methods to produce refined zinc.
The facility opened in 1853 following discovery of calamine deposits in the Strundetal valley. It operated for more than seven decades before closing in 1931 due to economic collapse.
The site reflects how the Rhine region became an industrial hub through foreign investment and technology in the 1800s. Belgian and British investors introduced modern production methods that shaped the area's growth.
The former industrial grounds now serve as a commercial area with various businesses. You can view the old industrial buildings from outside, so allow time to walk around the entire complex.
Until 1868, the site relied on 25 horses to transport coal and materials before a new railway line from Mülheim changed everything. This shift to rail transport marked a turning point in how the region moved goods.
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