History

Founded on March 8, 1924 as a small foundry and mechanical repair shop, Altona was initially called Auerbach & Werner, after the names of its owners, Paul Werner and Ernest Auerbach.

Manufacturing iron pots, meat grinding machines, precision scales and agricultural implements, the company grew and in 1934 acquired an electric arc melting furnace starting the steel casting. Since then, the Company has been known as Electro Aço Altona S.A.

The 1940s were marked by World War II, but for Altona it was a quantum leap forward, with technological developments in the production of steel bells replacing bronze ones. On January 19, 1950, Altona received its registration from the Central Bank/Capital Markets Department (BC/DMC), now the Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM).

In the mid-1960s, investments were massive and Altona was recognized as one of the giants of Brazil. Expansion was a reality and in 1973 they transcended borders, starting export activities, supplying parts to countries such as the United States and Germany.

In the 1990s, Altona installed an AOD refining furnace, allowing the production of noble alloys and high temperature resistant steel. Other acquisitions were representative, spectrometer, machining center facilities and three-dimensional measurement units.

Prerequisites of an increasingly demanding market, the search for certifications was necessary. The IBQN and ISO 9002 standards recognize the quality of manufacturing processes. In 1994, Altona emerged as one of the first steel foundries to achieve this certification.

In the third millennium, the company has not stopped the process of constant updating. In 2000, it was cited by Exame Magazine as one of the best companies to work for.

Aiming at increasing its share in the foreign market, in 2003, Altona participated in the EUROPORT fair, the largest dredging, naval and off-shore fair in the world. It was the first Brazilian private company to participate in the event.
In 2006, it achieved ISO/TS 16949, an important step towards supplying parts with the highest level of process quality to customers in the automotive sector.

The year 2007 was marked by the acquisition of a plot of approximately 2 million m² in the municipality of Barra Velha, Santa Catarina, a strategic location in terms of logistics and facilities for a new factory project. In 2008, Altona receives ISO 9001:2008 re-certification.

After the effects of the 2009/2010 crisis, the 2011/2012 biennium stands out for the advance in mass investments in the production process. Modern machining centers, heat treatment furnaces, molding and machining, engineering software, mechanics and investments in the environment were acquired.

100 years ago, Altona made a commitment to transform steel into applications that contribute to development. It is recognized for its excellence in the solution of castings in steel and special alloys.

It is with this entrepreneurial spirit that the start of this new complex will mark a milestone of evolution and prosperity in our history.