Abandoned & Industrial Photography

by Björn Sahlberg

Smältverket Pumpen

melting pot turning cold

Hej!

[EN] In the beginning a mechanical workshop founded in the late 19th century which was transformed into a foundry over time, active from 1916 to 1994. Once the pride of the town it was famous for its cast iron wood stoves and dairy appliances. Also farming equipment like plows as well as household items like mangles, scales and lawn mowers were manufactured. At its peak some 300-400 workers were employed.
In 2014 the foundry was struck by a fierce fire and in recent years most of the remains have been demolished. Future plans for the area are unknown as of when typing this (October 2019).

[SE] Från början en mekanisk verkstad som grundades under sent 1800-tal och senare omdanades till ett gjuteri. Gjuteriverksamheten pågick 1916-1994. Efter det så har mindre företag använt delar av lokalerna som lager och kontorshotell. Under sin aktiva tid var verkstaden kommunens stolthet och berömt för sina gjutjärnsspisar och mejeriprodukter. Även jordbruksredskap som plogar och husgeråd i form av manglar, vågar och gräsklippare tillverkades. Som mest så var 300-400 arbetare sysselsatta här.
Under 2014 ödelades delar av gjuteriet i en kraftig brand och på senare år har mycket av de resterande delarna rivits. Framtida planer för området är okända när detta skrivs (oktober 2019).

Pallet lifter pit at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

Pallet lifter pit. July 2009.

Sided side board at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

Sided side board. July 2009.

Spring mist in the main hall at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. March 2010.

Spring mist in the main hall. March 2010.

The dark side, with a fika room at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

The dark side, with a fika room. July 2009.

Fika room window at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. March 2010.

Fika room window. March 2010.

Ubiquitous ghost machinery at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

Ubiquitous ghost machinery. July 2009.

Don't forget the tap! Russian machinery with many buttons to push at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

“Don't forget the tap”. Russian machinery with many buttons to push. July 2009.

Mixed remains at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

Mixed remains. July 2009.

The drafting room next to the lab at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

The drafting room next to the lab. July 2009.

The lap at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

The lab. July 2009.

Lab sanitationals at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

Lab sanitationals. July 2009.

Phone booth remains at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

Phone booth remains. July 2009.

Wooden model cast in the attic at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

Wooden model cast in the attic. July 2009.

Attic storage at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. June 2010.

Attic storage. June 2010.

Formwork storage room at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. October 2009.

Formwork storage room. January 2010.

Industrial logistics at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. October 2009.

Industrial logistics. October 2009.

Industrial stilleben at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. October 2009.

Industrial stilleben. Always a treat. October 2009.

Ventilation one at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. March 2010.

Ventilation one. March 2010.

Ventilation two at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. March 2010.

Ventilation two. March 2010.

Winter is coming (through) at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. January 2010.

Winter is coming (through). January 2010.

Spring mist at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. March 2009.

Spring mist. March 2010.

Spring mist in the main hall at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. March 2010.

Spring mist in the main hall. March 2010.

Circular saw at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. October 2009.

Circular saw by the main hall. October 2009.

Orbs at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. June 2010.

Main hall flake fest. Note how the out-of-focus water drops look like strange flies. June 2010.

Ground floor flake fest interior at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. March 2010.

Ground floor flake fest. March 2010.

Ground floor workshop at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. June 2010.

Ground floor workshop area. June 2010.

Ground floor workshop at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. June 2010.

Ground floor workshop. June 2010.

Small little furnace at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. June 2010.

Small little furnace. June 2010.

Intercom at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. March 2010.

Intercom. March 2010.

It's evident how the buildings have been remade several times over the years. at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. August 2009.

It's evident how the buildings have been remade several times over the years. August 2009.

Backside exterior at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. August 2009.

Backside exterior. Very likely among the foundry's older parts. August 2009.

Corrugated exterior number one at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. August 2009.

Corrugated exterior number one. August 2009.

Corrugated exterior number two at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. August 2009.

Corrugated exterior number two. August 2009.

Corrugated exterior number three at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. August 2009.

Corrugated exterior number three. August 2009.

Corrugated exterior number four at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. August 2009.

Corrugated exterior number four. August 2009.

Cast model storage at Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. June 2010.

Cast model storage. Note the Chinese writing on the beam in the back. June 2010.

The famous elevator thief Erik (RIP) had visited here earlier on the same day. Pumpen, Katrineholm, Sweden. July 2009.

The (in)famous “elevator thief” Erik (RIP) had visited here earlier on the same day. We even said hello to each other as he was walking through the main hall on his way out. July 2009.

Verkstäderna 1918

From the periodical Verkstäderna published in 1918. Thanks to John Eklund at Elmuseum.se for providing the source images.

Gjuteriets midtelskepp. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Gjuteriets midtelskepp.

Modellsnickeriet. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Modellsnickeriet.

Renseriet. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Renseriet.

Smedjan. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Smedjan.

Mekaniska verkstaden. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Mekaniska verkstaden.

Laboratoriet. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Laboratoriet.

Kontors- och verkstadsbyggnader. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Kontors- och verkstadsbyggnader.

Affärskontor. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Affärskontor.

Disponentkontor. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Disponentkontor.

Aerial view of the foundry. © Verkstäderna 1918.

Aerial view of the foundry.

Det var en gång ...

Stove manufacturing at Pumpen in the 40s, Katrineholm.

[EN] Stove manufacturing at Pumpen in the 40s. [SE] Spistillverkning på Pump-Separator på 40-talet.
© okänd

Technicalities

July 2009 – July 2011

February 2015

May 2023

Katrineholm Södermanland Sweden

Hasselblad 500c/m Zeiss Planar 80 mm F/2.8 Zeiss Distagon 50 mm F/4 Kodak Ektar 100, and others Imacon Flextight Photo

Exhibition Print

“Pumpen” was among the selected works for the ASKA.nu anniversary exhibition.

This print is still available.