History

Development of Piesteritz as a chemical location

05.03.1915
Contract signed for the formation of the Reichsstickstoffwerke Piesteritz

24.12.1915
First carbide tapping

March 1923
Formation of VIAG, including the Piesteritz plant

1927
Commissioning of four phosphorus furnaces

1932
First large-scale carbide furnace goes into operation

1936
Commissioning of a large-scale plant for the production of highly concentrated nitric acid

27.04.1945
Occupation of the plant by the Red Army

31.12.1953
The company is transformed from a Soviet Public Company (SAG) into a state-owned company (VEB)

1970/1976
Construction of two ammonia and three urea plants together with the corresponding auxiliary units

15.06.1990
Transformation of “VEB Agrochemie” into an incorporated firm under the name of “Stickstoffwerke AG”

1990/1993
Demolition of old production facilities and initial redevelopment work in the sections that were to remain operational

24.02.1993
Formation of “SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH” (in short: SKW Piesteritz GmbH), a subsidiary of SKW Trostberg AG, Trostberg/Bavaria

30.11.1995
Commissioning of a new urea granulation unit

11.04.1997
The foundation stone is laid for a second urea granulation unit

29.07.1997
Commissioning of a varnish resin unit.

17.09.1997
The foundation stone is laid for a new nitric acid plant

1998
Commissioning of the new nitric acid plant

1998
Commissioning of a mixed urea granulation unit

08.12.2000
Commissioning of a plant for the production of the liquid fertiliser PIASAN® 24-S

27.02.2001
Commissioning of a new bag filling line for granulated mineral fertiliser (investment costs totalling 1 million DM). This unit has an hourly filling capacity of up to 500 bags containing 25 kilograms of fertiliser or up to 500 bags containing 50 kilograms of fertiliser. Additionally, a new, large tank for nitric acid was presented to the public. This large tank, costing 2.8 million DM, has a capacity of 8,000 cubic metres. Its main purpose is the further expansion of the liquid fertiliser capacity.

02.08.2001
A joint venture, Agrolinz Melamin Deutschland GmbH, was formed to build a new melamine plant. Agrolinz Melamin GmbH Linz has a 75% shareholding and SKW Piesteritz 25%. Investment sum: 128 million EUR, total annual capacity 80,000 tonnes.

18.06.2002
Change in the ownership structure of SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH (Saxony Anhalt). With effect from 18 June 2002, the Swiss trading house Ameropa Holding AG and the Czech Group Agrofert Holding a.s. took a 51% majority shareholding in the Piesteritz-based chemical company and with it control of the company management. A holding company operating under the name of “A&A Stickstoff Holding AG” was formed in Switzerland for this purpose.

16.10.2002
The foundation stone is laid for the new Agrolinz Melamin Deutschland GmbH melamine plant on the premises of SKW Piesteritz.

27.08.2003
Topping-out ceremony for the new melamine plant

04.02.2005
Rüdiger Geserick is appointed Managing Director of SKW Piesteritz Holding GmbH. At the same time, his appointment as Chairman of the Managing Board of SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH is confirmed.

20.03.2005
The new nitric acid plant, in operation since 1998, produces its millionth tonne of nitric acid.

On the same day, the production of ammonium nitrate urea solution (UAN) at the Piesteritz plant reaches the 5 million tonne mark. UAN is a urea-based liquid fertiliser.

12.05.2005
Inauguration ceremony for the new AMI Melamin International Deutschland GmbH melamine plant on the premises of SKW Piesteritz.

03.06.2005
SKW Piesteritz and the Martin-Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg intensify their cooperation. To this end, an agrochemical institute is founded in Lutherstadt-Wittenberg.

01.07.2005
AMI Agrolinz Melamine International takes over the remaining shares (25%) in the AMI Deutschland joint venture from SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH

21.07.2005
The Federal State government approves subsidy funds for Neckarmann Renewables Wittenberg GmbH for the erection of a bio-diesel and pharma-glycerine plant on the premises of SKW Piesteritz.

19.08.2005
Demolition of the chimney of the old nitric acid plant in the “Südwerk” makes room for new investors
- Height of the chimney: 98 metres
- Construction of the nitric acid plant: 1961

06.04.2006

A contract dated 06.04.2006 makes the Czech company Agrofert sole owner of SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH

24.05.2006
The first cut of the spade takes place on the premises of SKW Piesteritz for the construction of the world’s largest combined bio-diesel plant. The operator is Neckarmann Renewables Wittenberg GmbH.

01.07.2006
Completion of the AdBlue filling station on the SKWP company premises

04.07.2006
Start of dismantling of the lime plant in the “Südwerk”
End of the work: 30.11.2006

09/2006
Start of building work for ALZON® 46 in the granulation plant 1 (completion is scheduled for the end of March 07).

25.09.2006
Mrs. Jitka Hlinovsky is appointed Managing Director of SKW Piesteritz Holding GmbH. She simultaneously becomes Managing Director of SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH.

13.10.2006
Production of the 30 millionth tonne of urea.

05.12.2006
Commissioning of the new works entrance to the Agro Chemical Park South.

02/2007
Completion of the new warehouse building for the storage of untreated urea (big-bag packing).
Storage area: 1,000 m³

23.04.2007
Commissioning of the new control unit.

05/2007
Completion of the AdBlue loading unit and of the 10,000 cubic metre tank.

15.06.2007
Commissioning of the bio-diesel plant of Neckarmann Renewables Wittenberg GmbH.

06/2007
Start of building work on the bio-mass heating power station of the Leipzig Public Works Authority

11.08.2007
Production of the 30 millionth tonne of ammonia.

21.08.2007
Demolition of the lime hydrate silo in the “Südwerk”

06/2008
The replacement of the tube bundle heat exchanger, weighing 120 tonnes, was successfully completed while ammonia plant 1 was shut down for repairs. A truly spectacular form of technology for dismantling and installation (run-up ramp) made it possible for this extremely complicated project to be carried out.

08/2008
Taking the production line for ALZON 40-S into operation marks yet another innovative product being added to the fertilizer range.

09/2008
September 2008, and work starts on the establishment of a plant for the production of ammonium sulphate

05/2009
Louis Dreyfus Commodities Wittenberg GmbH takes charge of the biodiesel system

07/2009
Official handover of the biomass thermal power plant

07/2009
As part of a festival event at the Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, the research prize sponsored by SKW Piesteritz was presented for the first time, with Dr. Ing. Torsten Stelzer as the first prize winner.

08/2009
New gas pressure regulating and measuring system integrated into the high-pressure gas pipe as part of the general upgrade.

10/2009
Conversion of the North Canteen. A modern canteen and kitchen have been created which meet the very latest hygiene requirements.

15.07.2010
Setting up the new liquid fertilizer tanks

08/2010
Start of production of the new liquid fertilizers PIASAN-S 25/6 and ALZON liquid-S 25/6

01.09.2010
The ammonia training simulator goes into operation.

09/2010
Further reduction of N20 (laughing gas, nitrogen oxide) in the waste gas from the nitric acid plant, thanks to an increase in the volume used in the secondary catalytic converter (reduction by more than 80 % since 2007)

09/2010
Start of construction of a new large-capacity tank for liquid fertilizer

10/2010
Start of conversion work in the crystal urea sector

29.10.2010
Completion of the three new liquid fertilizer tanks for fertilizer speciality products

04/2011
Laying the media lines to supply the planned greenhouse on the Heuweg with heat and carbon dioxide

11.05.2011
Lifting the roof of the new large-capacity liquid fertilizer tank (capacity of 30,000 m3) using special crane technology

08/2011
Start of construction work for the redesigning of the plant entrance of the Agro-Chemical Park North

09/2011
Start of construction of a new circular storage hall for solid fertilizers, 68 metres high, with a storage capacity of 24,000 tonnes

09/2011
Replacement of what has become known as the "World Record Stripper", a massive cigar-shaped piece of apparatus more than 11 metres long, used for urea synthesis. With 36 years in operation, it has been working for longer than any other unit like it in the world.

10/2011
Taking the new process control system into operation for the nitric acid plant, with more than 1,200 measuring points

10/2011
Completion of two new loading lines for liquid fertilizers

11/2011
Start of the building refurbishment on the new Training and Advanced Training Centre.