VOLNÝ, Jozef
* 12. 3. 1819, Spišské Vlachy, Slovakia
† 14. 9. 1878, Ozdín, Slovakia
Metallurgical Engineer
V. began his studies in 1841 at the Academy of Mining, Metallurgy and Forestry in Banská Štiavnica. He got his first job in the ironworks in Pohorela. Ľudovít Trangous, a mountain-mining entrepreneur, handed over the management of ironworks to his talented young engineer in Kružlovska Huta near Bardejov. In 1852 V. assumed the post of Director in the ironworks in Betliar, owned by Count Nadasdy. This factory, which operated with a new steam powered mill, for which it was necessary to transport brown coal from long distances, was in a crisis at that time. After travelling abroad V. managed to overcome the crisis and increase the production in just four years. He ordered a new blast furnace and he processed the existing steel rolling mill. In addition to technical innovations he introduced a reform in the bookkeeping and supervised the sale. From 1856 on he as Chief Inspector dealt with the reorganization of the plant - the second largest mining and metallurgical company in Hungary named "Rimamuránytaler Eisenwerks-Verein (Rimamuránytal Iron Association). He introduced a new procedure of processing the pig iron, i.e. puddling by means of using coal. In terms of quality and quantity he managed to improve the production and lower the costs of the company. Between 1872 and 1874 he held office of Director General of the 1868 established "Salgó-Tarjáner-Eisenraffinerie-Gesellschaft" (Salgó-Tarján Steel smelter Society) company, which after his death in 1881 merged with “Rimamuránytaler Eisenwerks-Verein”. He took credit for the introduction and further development of puddling by using gas in this company.
