The history of COGNOR S.A. OM SZOPIENICE BRANCH dates back beyond its current name. As early as 1834, the German company Bergwerksgesellschaft Georg von Giesches Erben established the Wilhelmina zinc smelter in Szopienice. In 1906, architects Jerzy and Edward Zillmann from Charlottenburg designed a modern (for that time) zinc smelter, Uthemann, which was commissioned in 1912.
In 1926, the smelter was taken over by the American corporation Harriman, which led to the liquidation of the Wilhelmina smelter, while the Uthemann smelter was expanded. After World War II, the assets of the smelter were nationalized, and it was renamed Huta Metali Nieżelaznych Szopienice (Non-ferrous Metal Works Szopienice).
As a result of the restructuring of HMN Szopienice in 2001, a company called Wałki i Tuleje Sp. z o.o. was established. In 2002, the company’s name was changed to Odlewnia Metali Szopienice Sp. z o.o..
In 2004, the company became part of the Złomrex Capital Group (now COGNOR Group) – a leader in the scrap and steel market. In 2018, as part of the ongoing consolidation efforts within the Group, Odlewnia Metali Szopienice Sp. z o.o. became a branch and adopted the name COGNOR S.A. OM Szopienice Branch in Katowice.
The company specializes in the production of foundry copper alloys – bronzes, zinc alloys, and Zinc alloys for Galvanizing. Copper alloys – bronzes are produced in the form of rods and tubes using the continuous horizontal casting method. Zinc alloys are cast in the form of ingots and blocks. Since 2003, the OM Szopienice Branch has had a quality management system compliant with the ISO 9001:2015 standard to meet customers' quality requirements and ensure continuous improvement in the quality of the company's products.
The OM Szopienice Branch is one of the leaders among production plants in the non-ferrous metal industry in Europe. In recent years, modern technical and organizational solutions used in the European casting industry have been implemented. Production is carried out by experienced specialists in the metallurgical and foundry sectors.
