We couldn’t have imagined a better start of our urbex year 2017.
Last winter, we explored an old factory right on our doorsteps.
We couldn’t believe that all these machines were left behind.
Once, this was a successful seat of industry.
Today the building is the last remnant of a bygone era.
It’s that time of the year again.
The BWT crew is in festive spirit
and in celebration of UrbeXmas we started a giveaway
where you can win our recently released merchandise.
Find out how to participate by taking a look in the video description down below.
It was a lovely day in January when both of us visited an abandoned factory building in our old neighborhood.
“That’s really a pity.”
“Because this room looks very cool.”
“But the problem is…”
“No humans allowed.” – “Hahaha…”
“Well…”
“…I’d say we go home.” - “That’s really a pity.”
Right at the beginning of our exploration we realized that we weren’t alone inside the factory.
A young man was working in the halls.
We thought we got busted right away.
But as it turned out this guy was a metal thief.
Obviously he didn’t want to get filmed.
The man said he was building something at home and so he needed those parts.
Anyway, at least he could tell us something about the place and those machines before he left.
“I asked him whether it would be okay to film him while he’s explaining or not.”
“He worked at a machine like this for half a year, he said.”
“So I asked him whether it would be okay or not.”
“I said that I’m only shooting the hands, but he didn’t want that. So I said okay.”
“Anyways…”
“What I can remember is, that this machine was used to produce this.”
“Hard plastic. Back when there was the GDR.”
“That’s probably some kind of foot stand.”
“Over here you could gear up and down.”
“And here, this brown stuff…”
“… is plastic residue.”
This plant in Eastern Germany was mainly used for producing and processing cardboard
but also packaging materials made of paper and carton.
We found remnants all over the place which proved that.
“Frozen…”
“Really cool.”
“The other one looks even better.”
“You can still look inside of it.”
“Now I’m asking myself…”
“Did the roof break under the weight of snow?”
“But my guess is that the roof collapsed quite a while ago.”
“Looks like a pigeon exploded right here.”
“Plenty of feathers…”
“And plenty of pigeon droppings…”
“That’s weird.”
“Why are these weird ravens everywhere?”
“And over there…”
“…used to be the supervisor.”
When we visited the site there were only few traces of vandalism.
Meanwhile, the situation has changed.
It’s said that you wouldn’t recognize the place now.
Fortunately, we have explored the abandoned factory earlier than those vandals.
Only a few months before our visit the company went bankrupt.
Three years after it was founded.
The history of this industrial site dates back to the 19th century.
A German mechanical engineer built a factory right here around 150 years ago.
Straw pulp for paper was produced in the plant.
A short period of time later a machine shop was built vis-à-vis.
Since he was very interested in the manufacture of cars which was just beginning to arise,
he had his own automobile brand built in the factory.
In 1900, the first Saxon car was completed.
It was named after the production location.
Or rather: Our former home town.
Due to the global economic crisis many years later the manufacturing of the cars had to be stopped.
After World War 2, the Soviet Occupying Troops disassembled large sections of the area,
but production of straw pulp continued.
After a horrible accident in 1983
contaminated waste water had been drained into the nearby large river.
And that for seven years.
There were new environmental regulations when Eastern and Western Germany reunited,
so the factory had to shut down.
Till today every building has been torn down.
Only this last remaining factory hall is a witness of the former huge industrial center.
Thank you for watching this episode.
Don’t forget to participate in our UrbeXmas giveaway.
You can find all the info in the video description.
And we have other great news:
We are going to upload the next video in just a week!