During the visit to Stahlbau Schmidt students explored the processes and manufacturing interiors behind steel fabrication within a company shaped by more than 120 years of family tradition. The excursion combined the technical production methods and the architectural adaptation of the industrial complex itself.
Moving through production halls, the group observed workers cutting steel sheets, welding profiles, and bending steel plates into refined forms. The secret shared to us by the company was a waterjet cutting system, which uses a high-pressure mixture of water and sand to precisely cut steel plates and profiles. Students heard about large-scale fabrication processes associated with bridge engineering as well as re-use of existing steel components.
Besides the manufacturing processes, the visit revealed the architectural layering of the site. The adapted industrial halls combined contemporary machinery and new roof structures with integrated solar panels, with preserved elements of the original timber construction, still visible from the interior. The excursion emphasized the relationship between industrial heritage, technological innovation, and the material realities of steel construction.
