Enns-, Mur- und Mürztal
THE ALPINE NORTH
Plenty of space, nature and strong companies: this is how the alpine north of Steiermark presents itself. The focus is not just on the fantastic range of holiday and leisure activities between the Dachstein and Semming, but also on internationally renowned companies such as Böhler Edelstahl and voestalpine.
The variety of Steiermark becomes clear as soon as you look at the map. While the south of the province is characterised by delicate vineyards and a Mediterranean hilly landscape, the north presents itself with impressive mountains and deep forests. But the north has even more to offer than beautiful landscapes and breathtaking nature.
Around the largest cities in the north of Steiermark (Kapfenberg, Bruck an der Mur and Leoben) you will find the highest density of world market leaders in materials technology in all of Austria. And yet the alpine north proves its strengths in other industrial sectors too. Pengg Kabel GmbH, for example, produces around 600,000 km of fibre optic cables every year (1.5 times the distance between the earth and moon) as well as 150,000 km of copper cables, while Pankl Racing Systems enjoys a worldwide reputation as a supplier for the aviation and automobile industries. And AT&S, which produces around 160 million printed circuit boards for mobile phones every year, is a further example of the outstanding business enterprises at home in the Green Heart of Austria.
But the Enns-, Mur- and Mürztal show their economic power in other areas too. Mayr-Melnhof Holz is considered to be the leading timber-processing company in Central Europe and the Gösser and Murauer breweries are also known far beyond the provincial borders. One of the largest dairies in Austria, the Obersteirische Molkerei which is known for its fine cheese specialties and milk products, is based in Upper Steiermark as well.
The Erzberg, on the other hand, is the largest open-pit mine in Central Europe and the most important ore deposit in the Alps. It is seen as a symbol of industrialisation and is a central part of the Iron Road. Rock has been mined on the Erzberg for more than 1,300 years. Today, a total of around 12 million tonnes of rock is produced annually in the multi-level open-pit mine using the latest technology. The entire annual amount of 3.2 million tonnes of pure iron ore is shipped to voestalpine.