IMO Leipzig

IMO Leipzig (Industriemontagen Leipzig GmbH) was a German steel construction and industrial assembly company based in Leipzig. Its roots trace back to 1890, when Karl Schiege founded Karl-Schiege-Eisenbau in Paunsdorf, then outside Leipzig. Initially focused on the construction and assembly of bridges, the firm later expanded into complete halls, high-voltage masts, construction machinery, pipelines, and containers for the chemical industry. By the 1900s it employed 150 people, and in 1912 it became a stock corporation. After World War I, the product range broadened further. In 1922, the majority of shares passed to Wolf Netter & Jacobi-Werke, followed by full takeover in 1924. During the Great Depression, the workforce shrank to 50, but recovered by 1933. In 1938, under the Nazi policy of "Arisierung," the company was transferred to Mannesmannröhren-Werke and operated as Mannesmann-Röhrenleitungsbau AG, Werk Eisenbau Schiege. On 10 April 1945, the plant was largely destroyed in an American air raid, but reconstruction began just 14 days later with 26 employees. In 1946, it was seized and placed under Soviet administration, and in 1948 it was nationalized as VEB für die Ausrüstung von Bergbau- und Schwerindustrie (ABUS), later renamed VEB Brücken und Stahlbau in 1958. By then it employed 1,000 workers. The company contributed to notable projects such as the Elbebrücke Schönebeck, the Nordbrücke in Magdeburg, a cable crane in Wismar, and the Berlin TV Tower in 1968. In 1965, it was reorganized as VEB Industriemontagen (IMO) Leipzig, a specialized assembly operation with branches in Leipzig, Magdeburg, Niesky, and Plauen. After German reunification, it became Industriemontagen Leipzig GmbH in 1990 and was privatized in 1992. From 1999, it employed around 460 people in Germany and abroad, focusing on steel and bridge construction, mast assembly, and the construction of large tanks, silos, and containers. In 2008, the abbreviation IMO-Leipzig became the official company name and logo. On 25 July 2017, preliminary insolvency proceedings were opened at the Leipzig District Court, and after negotiations with a final investor failed, the company was liquidated.

The company was founded in 1890 as Karl-Schiege-Eisenbau in Paunsdorf, then outside Leipzig. Initially, its production profile included the construction and assembly of bridges; later it also built complete halls, such as the roof of the Handelshof in Leipzig in 1908. By the 1900s, the firm already had 150 employees. In 1912, it was converted into a stock corporation. After the end of World War I, the product range was expanded to include high-voltage masts, construction machinery, pipelines, and containers for the chemical industry. New changing and washing rooms as well as a dining room with canteen were built on the premises, and a works council was established. After some expansions, the majority of shares passed to Wolf Netter & Jacobi-Werke in 1922. The full takeover occurred in 1924 as Wolf Netter & Jacobi-Werke, Abteilung Eisenbau-Schiege Leipzig. Halls II and III were erected and the workforce increased to 300 employees. During the Great Depression, their number fell to 50, until a renewed upswing began in 1933. As early as 1937, confronted with sales intentions, the operation fell in 1938 with the "Arisierung" to the Mannesmannröhren-Werke and operated under the name Mannesmann-Röhrenleitungsbau AG, Werk Eisenbau Schiege. On 10 April 1945, the plant was largely destroyed in an American air raid. Just 14 days later, reconstruction began with 26 employees. In 1946, it was seized and placed under forced administration by the Soviet administration. In 1948, the operation was nationalized under the name Volkseigener Betrieb für die Ausrüstung von Bergbau- und Schwerindustrie (ABUS), briefly ABUS-Stahlbau-vormals-Mannesmann-VEB. In 1958, it received another new name: VEB Brücken und Stahlbau. By then, 1,000 employees worked in the plant. First projects included the Elbebrücke Schönebeck, the Nordbrücke in Magdeburg, a cable crane in Wismar – 1968 and the Berlin TV Tower. To increase labor productivity through the use of modern assembly technologies, a larger number of mobile hoists of the Gottwald type for chemical plant construction and Coles for steel construction were imported. With the securing of effective maintenance and repair of this crane stock in the VVB IAS, the VEB Brücken- und Stahlbau Leipzig was commissioned in 1965 and founded as a specialized assembly operation VEB Industriemontagen (IMO) Leipzig. The assembly capacities previously existing in the individual steel construction operations were separated and organized in the IMO branches Leipzig, Magdeburg, Niesky, and Plauen. After the turnaround and restructuring in 1990, it was privatized as Industriemontagen Leipzig GmbH (IMO Leipzig) in 1992. Since 1999, an increasing number of about 460 employees worked for IMO-Leipzig domestically and abroad. In Germany, it was one of the most important assembly firms. Its main field of activity was in steel and bridge construction, mast assembly, and the construction of large tanks, silos, and containers. In 2008, the previous abbreviation became the company name IMO-Leipzig and the company also used it in its logo. On 25 July 2017, preliminary insolvency proceedings were opened at the Leipzig District Court. After negotiations with the last investor failed, IMO Leipzig was liquidated.

• 2017

  Preliminary insolvency proceedings opened on 25 July; company liquidated after investor talks failed.

• 2008

  Abbreviation IMO-Leipzig became the official company name and logo.

• 1999

  Around 460 employees working domestically and abroad.

• 1992

  Privatized.

• 1990

  Restructured as Industriemontagen Leipzig GmbH after the turnaround.

• 1968

  Participated in construction of the Berlin TV Tower.

• 1965

  Founded as specialized assembly operation VEB Industriemontagen (IMO) Leipzig.

• 1958

  Renamed VEB Brücken und Stahlbau; workforce reached 1,000.

• 1948

  Nationalized as VEB für die Ausrüstung von Bergbau- und Schwerindustrie (ABUS).

• 1946

  Seized and placed under Soviet forced administration.

• 1945

  Largely destroyed in an American air raid on 10 April; reconstruction began 14 days later with 26 employees.

• 1938

  Transferred to Mannesmannröhren-Werke under "Arisierung", renamed Mannesmann-Röhrenleitungsbau AG, Werk Eisenbau Schiege.

• 1924

  Full takeover as Wolf Netter & Jacobi-Werke, Abteilung Eisenbau-Schiege Leipzig.

• 1922

  Majority of shares passed to Wolf Netter & Jacobi-Werke.

• 1912

  Converted into a stock corporation.

• 1908

  Built the roof of the Handelshof in Leipzig.

• 1890

  Founded as Karl-Schiege-Eisenbau in Paunsdorf.

One of Germany's leading assembly firms, specializing in steel and bridge construction, mast assembly, and large tank, silo, and container construction.

• Steel bridges

• Industrial halls

• High-voltage masts

• Large tanks

• Silos

• Containers

• Pipelines

• Construction machinery

1. 1IMO Leipzig - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2IMO Leipzig - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org