VA Erzberg

What VA Erzberg does

VA Erzberg GmbH operates the Styrian Erzberg (Steirischer Erzberg), the largest iron ore open-pit mine in Central Europe and the largest siderite deposit globally, located in Eisenerz, Austria. Founded in 1988 as a spin-off from VOEST-ALPINE Stahl Linz and owned since 2004 by the Erzberg Privatstiftung with Land Steiermark as ultimate beneficiary, the company extracts carbonate iron ore (siderite/ankerite) with Fe content of 38–41%. It mines approximately 12 million tonnes of material annually at a 25% mining yield, producing approximately 3 million tonnes of shipping ore split between processing concentrate (~60%, via heavy-media separation and wet magnetic separation) and finished ore (~40%, >30% Fe). The company delivers roughly 8,000 tonnes per day to two primary steel customers, Hüttenwerke Linz and Hüttenwerke Donawitz.

The company's processing chain incorporates a 2019 Online-Analytik system for automatic raw-ore allocation, a 2017 fine-grain processing line combining heavy-media and high-gradient magnetic separation, and a 2014 mechanical fine ore storage facility described as the largest investment in 30 years. A flagship Trolley-SLKW overhead catenary system for electric heavy-duty trucks, alongside a 1.8 MW in-house drinking-water hydropower plant, underpins a sustainability and energy-efficiency program that has earned EL-MO (2021), Energy Globe Styria (2021), and EUROSOLAR Austrian Solar Prize (2023) recognition.

Revenue is generated through three streams: bulk iron ore sales (hardware) to domestic steel works, mining technical services (Montantechnik — drilling, blasting, exploration, consulting, mine development) offered on a fully variable-cost basis to external clients, and property rentals (Liegenschaften) covering approximately 2,546 hectares of office space, allotments, meadows, and mountain huts in Eisenerz, Vordernberg, and Hieflau. A tourism vertical (Abenteuer Erzberg) attracts over 50,000 visitors annually to the on-site show mine. The company is privately held, employs approximately 230 people, and reports annual revenue of approximately €50 million.

Name

VA Erzberg

Legal name

VA Erzberg GmbH

Website

https://vaerzberg.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VA Erzberg GmbH operates Central Europe's largest iron ore open-pit mine (Styrian Erzberg), producing roughly 3 million tonnes of siderite ore annually for Austrian steel works, complemented by mining technical services and property management across approximately 2,546 hectares.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Iron Ore Mining

NAICS

Iron Ore Mining (21221), Iron Ore Mining (212210)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000)

akta.pro primary industry

Iron Ore Mining Operations (Open-Pit & Underground) (IMAKAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Iron Ore Mining Support Services (Drilling, Blasting, Contract Mining, Maintenance) (IMAKAAAJ), Iron Ore Beneficiation & Concentration (Crushing, Screening, Washing, Magnetic Separation) (IMAKAAAD)

Keywords

• Iron ore mining
• Open-pit mining
• Mining technical services
• Exploration drilling
• Aggregate production

Headquarters

HQ city

Eisenerz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Iron Ore Production and Sales: Production of approximately 3 million tonnes of shipping ore annually from 12 million tonnes of total extraction. Product consists of 60% processing concentrate (heavy medium and wet magnetic separation) and 40% finished ore. Ore is supplied to steel works for iron and steel production.
2. Montantechnische Dienstleistungen (Mining Technical Services): Mining services including drilling and blasting, mine development and rehabilitation, shaft sinking, exploration drilling, and mining consulting. Services offered with full variable cost structure.
3. Property Rentals: Rental of office spaces, allotments, meadows, and mountain huts in Eisenerz, Vordernberg, and Hieflau areas

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VA Erzberg operates open-pit iron ore mining at the Steirischer Erzberg in Austria, the largest iron ore open-pit mine in Central Europe. It extracts carbonate iron ore (siderite) and processes it into approximately 3 million tonnes per year of shipping ore (60% processing concentrate and 40% finished ore) supplied to steel works. In addition, the company offers mining technical services including drilling, blasting, exploration drilling, underground mine development, and mining consulting, along with property rentals and tourism operations at the Erzberg site.

Product overview

VA Erzberg operates a single unified core product: iron ore mining from the Styrian Erzberg open-pit mine in Austria. The company extracts carbonate iron ore (siderite/ankerite) and processes it through on-site facilities to produce two main shipped products — processing concentrate (approximately 60% of output via heavy media and wet magnetic separation) and finished ore (approximately 40% direct shipping grade). The mining operation uses modern equipment including Komatsu SLKW trucks (120t capacity), hydraulic drilling rigs, and automated ore handling systems. Supporting the core mining business, VA Erzberg offers a portfolio of add-on service modules: Bergbauservice (underground mining services), Aufschlussbohrung (exploration drilling), Bohren & Sprengen (drilling and blasting), Bergbauconsulting (mining consulting), Liegenschaften (property management), and Abenteuer Erzberg (tourism/show mine). These services are offered under the company's 'montantechnische Dienstleistungen' (mining technical services) umbrella and leverage the company's specialized equipment, experienced personnel, and mining expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tagbau (Open-Pit Iron Ore Mining) Open-pit iron ore mining operation at the Styrian Erzberg, the largest iron ore mine in Central Europe. Produces approximately 3 million tonnes of iron ore annually with a mining yield of 25%, resulting in approximately 12 million tonnes of total excavation volume (Verhau). Supplies approximately 8,000 tonnes of iron ore daily to steel works.
• Karbonatischer Eisenerz (Carbonate Iron Ore)

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual production of 3 million tonnes of shipping ore from 12 million tonnes total extraction
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SaltX TechnologyexploratoryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2025SaltX's Electric Arc Calciner (EAC) technology was successfully tested on carbonate iron ore supplied by VA Erzberg. The tests demonstrated the technology's effectiveness in heating materials to high temperatures and converting carbonate iron ore into oxides, supporting VA Erzberg's sustainable steel production efforts.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• voestalpine: Austrian integrated steelmaker and historical parent of VA Erzberg. Its Hüttenwerke Linz and Donawitz steelworks are VA Erzberg's only ore customers, making voestalpine both anchor customer and vertically adjacent incumbent.
• Vale SA: Brazilian diversified mining major and the global iron ore market benchmark. Comparable in iron ore commodity exposure but vastly larger scale (~300+ Mt iron ore), making it the global pricing reference for VA Erzberg's output.
• ArcelorMittal: World's largest integrated steel and iron ore producer with captive mining operations across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Represents the broader iron ore mining benchmark against which VA Erzberg's niche, single-mine model is valued.

Direct peers

• LKAB: Swedish state-owned iron ore miner operating underground and open-pit mines in Kiruna and Malmberget. Most directly comparable European iron ore producer to VA Erzberg, with similar state-backed ownership model and focus on domestic/regional steel supply.
• Kumba Iron Ore (Anglo American): South African iron ore producer (Sishen and Kolomela mines) controlled by Anglo American. Compares to VA Erzberg as a regionally concentrated iron ore pure-play supplying domestic and export steel markets, though at much larger scale.
• Ferrexpo: Ukrainian iron ore pellet producer with comparable scale (~6-9 Mt iron ore pellets annually) and similar mid-tier iron ore positioning. A close comparable in terms of operational footprint and exposure to European steel markets, though it focuses on pellets rather than siderite.

Others

• Komatsu: Japanese OEM and supplier of the SLKW heavy-duty trucks that VA Erzberg operates. Comparable as the equipment ecosystem partner for VA Erzberg's open-pit mining and the original equipment maker of one of its core haulage assets.
• Epiroc: Swedish-Swiss mining and infrastructure equipment manufacturer, used by VA Erzberg. Relevant as a key supplier of the drilling and rock-handling equipment that VA Erzberg's mining technical services line leverages and competes against for service contracts.
• Sandvik AB: Swedish mining and rock processing equipment and services group. Comparable as a provider of drilling tools and mining services that competes with and supplies similar customers to VA Erzberg's montantechnik services business.

Regional players

• SNIM (Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière): Mauritanian state-owned iron ore producer serving European and Chinese steel mills. Comparable as a government/foundation-influenced single-jurisdiction iron ore miner targeting the seaborne European market, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/va-erzberg-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VA Erzberg