In 1877, the Kondensatorenfabrik began its life not as a hub for electrical components, but as part of a cloth factory belonging to Wallach & Ahrend. This imposing ruin along the Neiße River has a rich history. Before becoming the Kondensatorenfabrik, the site housed a suitcase factory, a steam boiler construction facility, and even a diamond-cutting workshop. In 1952, the complex transformed into the “VEB Kondensatorenbau.” 162 workers started producing paper capacitors for radios and televisions. By 1956, the factory expanded its production to include Gewaplast capacitors and moisture-resistant Duroplast capacitors, primarily for the domestic electronics industry and export. The Kondensatorenfabrik’s in-house development department constantly worked on new capacitor types. The rise of semiconductor technology demanded smaller and more compact capacitors. By 1976, the workforce had grown to nearly 1,000 employees, with production value increasing significantly. Three more factories were integrated into the “VEB Kondensatorenbau Görlitz.” The company also prioritized social welfare, training apprentices in 1965 and opening several company kindergartens. Production even extended across borders, with two more branch factories established on the Polish side of Görlitz. In 1981, the foundation for a new Kondensatorenfabrik was laid in Görlitz. The old complex on the Neiße had reached its production limits. However, the new complex, completed in 1988, arrived almost too late. The market for electronic devices changed drastically in 1990. Cheaper products from Asia displaced established market leaders. The Eastern European market collapsed. The Kondensatorenfabrik couldn’t withstand these pressures. In 1992, after privatization, the factory declared bankruptcy, closing its doors forever.
Bahnbetriebswerk Görlitz
“The rhythmic clang of hammers, the hiss of steam, can you almost hear it?”” Right here at the Bahnbetriebswerk Görlitz,