1838

Friedrich Wannieck (1838-1919)

On 21st March 1865 City council and Prosecution allowed to Wannieck and Phil. Jellinek Company on 19 and 20 Trnitá Street to build machine workshops, including a foundry, a cupola, a driving steam engine, a boiler room and assembly shops excluding the manufacture of boilers.

At the beginning of 1867 a batch production of diffusers took up and they started to export abroad. At the same year a new diffused method was introduced to 27 sugar refineries around Europe.

After Philip Jellinek had left, Friedrich Wannieck became the owner of the whole factory. Manufacturing programme and estate itself were further extending under his leadership. Up to 250 men worked there. Administrative head-office building was built at Zvonařka Street, furthermore there were built a warehouse and a new 36m-high factory chimney – at that time the highest in Brno.

1865 - From a factory to Gallery Vaňkovka

On 21st March 1865 City council and Prosecution allowed to Wannieck and Phil. Jellinek Company on 19 and 20 Trnitá Street to build machine workshops, including a foundry, a cupola, a driving steam engine, a boiler room and assembly shops excluding the manufacture of boilers.

At the beginning of 1867 a batch production of diffusers took up and they started to export abroad. At the same year a new diffused method was introduced to 27 sugar refineries around Europe.

After Philip Jellinek had left, Friedrich Wannieck became the owner of the whole factory. Manufacturing programme and estate itself were further extending under his leadership. Up to 250 men worked there. Administrative head-office building was built at Zvonařka Street, furthermore there were built a warehouse and a new 36m-high factory chimney – at that time the highest in Brno.

1890

In 1890 limited partnership with Swiss company – Sulzer Brothers was established. Financial sources they obtained were used to build more assembly rooms, a new foundry and a siding.

On 22nd April 1890 a foundation stone of both halls was laid and in June 1891 construction works were finished. In 1896 the foundry was enlarged by northern building.

From 1896 steam engines Sulzer were constructed entirely in Wannieck’s faktory. They were mostly exported to Austria-Hungary monarchy and Germany.

1897

In 1897 the senior engineer Kliment took over the leadership.

Sixty-two-years-old Friedrich Wannieck didn’t want to run the expanding company anymore and neither his son Friedrich Oskar dared to.

On 11th February 1902 a merge between Vaňkova and the First Brno’s Machine faktory (PBS) was established. The loss of independence was made up by a very perspective constructing plan. Manufacture of steam turbines started right after obtaining a license from English Parsons Company.

During the period from 1903 to 1929 there were manufactured 722 turbines on the whole, more than a half of them were exported to several countries of Eastern Europe and Balkans.

1929

In years 1929 – 1930 the processing was moved from Vaňkovka to PBS area on Olomoucká Street. In 1930 Vaňkovka was closed and in 1936 sold to Czech Ammunition Factory Brno. During years 1936 – 1939 those premises were called Zbrojovka a.s. Brno – Factory Vaňkovka.

1939

In years 1939 – 1941 Vaňkovka was part of Herman Göring Concern (Wannieckwerk), in years 1942 – 1944 Wannieckwerk – Waffen Union Skoda Brűnn.

1989

After the war Vaňkovka was used as an independent factory by various national companies, the last one was Zetor from 1989. In years 1996 – 2000 Vaňkovka was owned by the state property fund.

1992

On 13th May 1992 Vaňkovka was registered in Central Register of Cultural Heritage in the Czech Republic, however the premises were more and more decaying.

Vaňkovka Foundation and its succession Civic Association Vaňkovka were attempting to promote Vaňkovka through different social activities and workshops.

2000

In 2000 Vaňkovka became a property of Brno City and a part of a company JIŽNÍ CENTRUM BRNO, a.s. Around the same time ECE company presented its investment intention of 3 milliard CZK to construct a shopping and entertaining centre with a floorage of 37 000m2 to rent

2004

In March 2004 the foundation stone of Vaňkovka Gallery was officially laid and on 23rd March 2005 Vaňkovka was festively opened.