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Austria's 16th century bell foundry adds modern technology to keep the casting process alive
The family-run foundry uses 3D printing and other tools to cut production time and restore defective bells for churches across Europe.
- On Friday, July 17, 2026, workers at the 400-year-old Grassmayr Bell Foundry in Innsbruck, Austria, cast bronze bells, blending centuries-old traditions with modern innovations like 3D printing and computer simulation.
- Rising energy costs, pandemic-era labor price hikes of 30%, and fewer church construction projects have pressured the modern bell-making industry, forcing The Grassmayrs to increasingly focus on restoration.
- High-Quality bronze, consisting of 80 parts copper and 20 parts tin, remains the primary cost factor; Johannes Grassmayr noted prices surged from $9.23 per kilogram years ago to $26.17 today.
- To sustain operations, the foundry restores defective bells from 12 European countries, while Grassmayr creations hang in over 100 nations, including Romania's National Cathedral and Mount Tabor in Israel.
- Maintaining precision during casting requires managing up to 137 tons of pressure inside molds, creating uncertainty that Johannes Grassmayr cannot predict bell costs for the coming year.
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15 Articles
Associated Press News+13 Reposted by 13 other sources
Austria's 16th-century bell foundry adds modern technology to keep the casting process alive
Austria's Grassmayr Bell Foundry has been casting massive bells for churches and cathedrals around the globe for more than 400 years.
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left8Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Left
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources lean Left
62% Left
L 62%
C 38%
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