Ever wondered about the silent giants that once powered the Ruhrgebiet? Look up. What you’re seeing right now is the Seilscheibe von Zeche Zollverein. It is more than just a wheel. It is a symbol of an era.
The Seilscheibe von Zeche Zollverein stands as a testament to Essen’s rich industrial past. This massive wheel was part of the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex. The complex was once one of the largest coal mines in Europe.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine the year is 1847. Franz Haniel founded Zollverein Coal Mine. He needed coke for steel production. Test drilling revealed a rich seam of coal in Katernberg. Haniel named his company after the German Customs Union.
Mining began in 1851. Shaft 1 was sunk. Shaft 2 followed. Both shafts had identical stone towers. They shared a machine house. This design became a standard for twin-shaft coal mines.
By 1890, Zollverein was Germany’s most productive mine. It produced one million tons of coal. The coal, iron, and steel industries flourished. The mine expanded significantly. Twin Shafts 4 and 5 were built. Shaft 6 was opened in 1897.
Ventilation was a problem. Firedamp caused many accidents. Shafts 7, 8, and 9 were opened for ventilation. Shaft 10 and a new cokery opened in 1914. Zollverein’s output rose to 2.5 million tons per year.
In 1920, the Haniel family cooperated with Phönix AG. Phönix managed the site. Several shafts were modernized. Shaft 11 opened by 1927. Phönix merged into Vereinigte Stahlwerke in 1926. Zollverein came under the control of GBAG.
Then came Shaft 12. In 1932, it opened as a central mining facility. It was designed by architects Fritz Schupp and Martin Kremmer. Its Bauhaus design was simple and functional. Shaft 12’s daily output was 12,000 tons. It combined the output of four other facilities.
The Doppelbock winding tower became a symbol of German heavy industry. It also became a symbol of the Ruhr area’s structural change.
In 1937, Zollverein employed 6,900 people. It had an output of 3.6 million tons. Zollverein survived World War II with minor damage. By 1953, it was again Germany’s top mine.
In 1968, Zollverein was handed over to Ruhrkohle AG. RAG mechanized and consolidated mining activities. In 1974, Zollverein joined nearby coal mines.
Mining activities stopped on December 23, 1986. Zollverein was the last active coal mine in Essen. The coking plant remained open until June 30, 1993. Shaft 12 cannot be visited. It is still used for water drainage.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia bought the coal mine. They declared Shaft 12 a heritage site. In 2001, UNESCO declared Zollverein a World Heritage Site.
Today, the Seilscheibe von Zeche Zollverein stands as a reminder. It reminds us of the hard work, innovation, and transformation of the Ruhrgebiet. It is a powerful symbol of industrial heritage. It is a monument to the past that has shaped the present.