ELEFSINA'S HISTORY
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
THE OLD OIL MIL
TITAN CEMENT FACTORY
NEORION SHIPYARD
HELENIC PETROLEUM
ELEUSIS AIRPORT LGEL
(Military)
HALYVOURGIKI STEEL WORKS
ELEUSIS HARBOUR
ELAIOURGIKI
IRIS PAINT FACTORY
KRONOS
THE OLD MILL
Fig 01
In the late 19th century (1875) the industrial complex of olive oil/ soap-making factory was built by Lysander and Emanuel Charilaou. They both traveled from Galati in Romania, prompted by soap operations of local family industries in Elefsina. Steam power and olive kernels were the main source of energy for the factory’s operation and the product was transported by ships to the ports of Patras, Piraeus and Syros.
Among the annual production of 600 tones 175 were exported to countries of the Mediterranean Sea leading the Soap of Elefsina to compete the French Soap in terms of quantity.
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In 1892 Epaminondas Charilaos and Nikolaos Kanellopoulos, both chemists with the first having studied in France and Germany, purchased the factory.
Following their co-operation they renamed the factory “E. Charilaos – N. Canellopoulos” with the operation employing 20 workers. By 1900 the number of employers was increased to 90, 10 women between them, till its peak in 1928 with 250 workers. In the 1960’s the factory ceased the production and nowadays the Old Olive Mill ) hosts cultural events and festivals. The future plan for the Old Olive Mill foresees in the creation of permanent cultural spaces, parking spaces and development of the green areas.
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TITAN CEMENT FACTORY
Fig 02
On the other hand the first expansions of the production activities took place beyond the borders of Greece either in existing or in new-opening plants globally.
Among those countries were USA, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Bulgaria, Egypt, Serbia, Albania, FYROM and Turkey. A third plant was established in Drepano of Achaia in 1968, followed by a fourth in 1976 in Kamari of Viotia. The reputation of TITAN Cements S.A was increased rapidly leading it to the second biggest exporting industry of Greece in 1980 and since nowadays it is followed by a variety of awards upon its environmental, educational, strategic, modern and successful investments profile. Nowadays the main cement production operates in Kamari of Viotia, limiting the one of Elefsina in white cement production only.
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In 1902 the Kanellopoulos family established the first cement plant of Greece in the city of Elefsina. 9 years after the opening, in 1911 the company was officially known as TITAN Cements S.A. followed by next year’s listing in the stock exchange of Athens. In 1924 the plant started operating under its own electricity production, while 9 years later was the time for the first exports of cement. In 1928 400 workers were employed in the operations followed by 1300 on its peak. It is important to mention that 1962 was an important year for the company as on the one hand a second cement plant was established in Nea Eukarpia of Thessaloniki.
NEORION SHIPYARD
Fig 03
Eleusis shipyard was founded in 1962 and started production in October 1969. It is located in the Bay of Elefsina 10 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus at Lat. 38o 02’ N Long.023o 33’E. Since its establishment it is considered to be one of the biggest shipyards in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1997 the new management implemented successfully the investment profile (more than 49 million euros) of the company leading ‘Eleusis Shipyards’ among the top of shipbuilding industries. Nowadays 940 people are employed there with a total of 2000 people on its past peak. Construction, modification and repair facilities operate in 37.800 sq.m within a total area of 250.000 sq.m. Additionally the storage facilities cover an area of 9.800 sq. m as far as the headquarters.
Ship repair capacity
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Space for up to 10 ships alongside the site the repair pier. Served by 40 ton cranes)
Ship Building Capacity
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One 200x55m construction birth for ships up to 100,000 DWT (Deadweight Ton)
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6,600m2 Covered steel fabrication shop
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Cranes available: 400ton Gantry Cranes, 40ton Pier Cranes, 30 Land Mobile Cranes & Forklifts
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HELENIC PETROLEUM
Fig 04
1991-1997 DEP purchases the EKO Group’s shares. EKO Retail establishes EKO GEORGIA and EKOLINA. DEP and ELDA co-operate in establishing of VPI, a production facility in Volos.
1998-2008 DEP is now renamed HELLENIC PETROLEUM S.A.(HELPE) and enters the Stock Exchanges of Athens and London.During the next years the Group’s activities expand in Cyprus, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria. PETROLA HELLAS is now merged to HELLENIC PETROLEUM and the Group purchases the Elefsina refinery. The next years the Group expands in Thessaloniki with the establishment of THESSALONIKI POWER and the construction of a new plant. The fields of production and trade of the Group expands in Australia, Spain, Libya, Egypt, Italy and Bulgaria the following years.
2009-2014 BP’s Ground Fuels boosts the Group’s reputation in domestic retail market. New units are constructed in Thessaloniki followed by a unit in Thisvi by ELPEDISON POWER. The refinery of Elefsina which is the biggest Greek private industrial investment is upgraded.
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1955-1970: In 1956 the construction of the first Greek oil refinery took place in Aspropyrgos, after a contract is signed by the government the previous year and started its operation in 1958. In 1966 another refinery (ESSO PAPPAS) was established in West Thessaloniki by Tom Pappas.
1971-1980: The establishment of PUBLIC PETROLEUM CORPORATION S.A. (DEP) acquires the HELLENIC ASPROPYRGOS REFINERIES S.A. (ELDA) and the Elefsina refinery is established by Latsis group through PETROLA HELLAS.
1981-1990 ESSO is now acquired by the State and it is renamed EKO followed by the establishment of the PUBLIC GAS CORPORATION (DEPA).
ELEUSIS AIRPORT (Military)
LGEL
Eleusis suffers a lot from the air bombardments, because of the military airport situated in the town. It has started functioning in 1938. In the meantime, in the surrounding hills, and mainly in the area of Dervenochoria, the armed battles against the occupants start, supplied and enforced by the underground organization for resistance in Eleusis.
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In 1938 the military airport of Eleusis was created.
There is a military airport a few kilometers east of Eleusis. Eleusis Airfield played a crucial role in the final British evacuation during the 1941 Battle of Greece, as recounted by Roald Dahl in his autobiography Going Solo.
Fig 05
HALYVOURGIKI STEEL WORKS
Fig 06
In 2007, a new investment in a spooler line production unit was realized, enabling the production of steel for the reinforcement of concrete in specialized coils, internationally known as "Compact Rebar Coils". It is the first production unit of this type installed in Greece which makes HALYVOURGIKI the first and only producer of this type of products in our country.
Today, HALYVOURGIKI having completed major investments to upgrade production facilities, can boast for one of the most modern steel production facilities, both in Greece and worldwide. Guided by clearly defined targets and visionary aspirations, while combining business acumen and competitiveness along with respect for fellow man, society and the environment, HALYVOURGIKI is well positioned to face the challenges of the future.
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The history of HALYVOURGIKI Inc. starts in 1925 when its founders Theodoros Angelopoulos and his sons Dimitris, Panagiotis and Yiannis embarked in the business of steel products trading. Angelos, the elder brother, followed an academic career as a professor of economics at the University of Athens, becoming finally a member of the Academy of Athens.
In 1932 they moved into production of wire products with the establishment of a wire factory at 197, Piraeus St., under the name of “Greek Wire Drawing Mills – Th. A. ANGELOPOULOS & SONS”. The wire products were used as the raw materials for the production of galvanized wire netting, nails and horseshoe nails.
In 1938, two small electric arc furnaces of a 6-8 ton capacity were installed. The steel produced was then converted into steel bars for the reinforcement of concrete. However, during the Second World War these activities were provisionally suspended.
ELAIOURGIKI
In 1962 the Ministry of Trade approved the construction of two Olive Oil Reservoirs in the area. Causing suspicious environmental damages, the oil reservoirs were demolished in 1985 and the land was donated to the local authorities. Currently, the two buildings are declared as preservable while a team is designing an intervention plan for the warehouses' shels and their surrounding area.
Fig 07
ELEUSIS HARBOUR
Fig 08
IRIS PAINT FACTORY
Iris was the first Greek paint and varnish factory, which opened in 1925 and closed down in 1969. Although three of the complex's buildings are Listed the site has become derelict. Local authorities and residents are rallying to convert the iconic Iris Factory into a park and cultural space.
Fig 09
KRONOS
Kronos was established in 1922 as an alchohol producing factory and during the 1960-1980 era it polluted the Elefsina Gulf by pouring its organic wate. Its closure in 1986 helped the reduction of the pollution in Elefsina. At the moment the factory buildings are listed and the space has been used to hold exhibitions and artistic events during the summer festival.
Fig 10
REFERENCES