WALZEN IRLE originally wanted to celebrate its 200th anniversary in late summer with two major celebrations. However, both the planned gala evening with business partners and the separate event with around 300 employees fell victim to “corona” and were postponed until 2021. However, congratulations on this rare anniversary have already been received. President Felix G. Hensel and Managing Director Klaus Gräbener conveyed the congratulations from the Presidium and Management of the Siegen Chamber of Industry and Commerce on the unusual anniversary of the company and presented the two managing directors Dr. Petrico von Schweinichen and Thomas Fink with an honorary certificate. After a tour of the foundry in Deuzer Waldstraße, Felix G. Hensel was impressed by the long-term company philosophy: “It is a great achievement to be successful in such a traditional industry over such a long period of time. One can only salute that.” In addition, it was particularly important to the IHK President to draw attention to the company's consistent work with young talent. WALZEN IRLE has always been characterized by continuity and high quality in training young people. His special thanks went to the volunteer work of IRLE instructors on the IHK audit bodies and Dr. Jaxa von Schweinichen for his decades of work in the IHK General Assembly and on the BBZ Board, which he has chaired since 2015.

IHK managing director Klaus Gräbener, a native of Netpher, also praised the consistency with which the company operates on the market. For him, WALZEN IRLE represents the industrialization of Netpherland with a few other big company names. The company is inextricably linked to the town of Deuz and has at the same time secured employment and income for numerous families in Upper Johannland and Upper Siegtal for generations. In doing so, the company management has never forgotten to generously support associations, initiatives, the town of Deuz and also the city of Netphen. The Deuzer outdoor pool, the redesigned train station and the world's first omnibus that shaped the town center illustrated this in a special way.

However, the actual roots of the traditional company go back far more than 200 years. The first entrepreneur in the family, Johannes Irle, was baptized on March 11, 1666. Through his marriage, Johannes became a trade at the upper Marienborner Hütte and passed on his knowledge of the melting process and his skills to the next generations.

In 1820, Hermann Irle, a grandson of Johannes Irle, and his son Johannes finally made their first attempts at roller casting.
What followed was a continuous process of development and modernization. In the near future, those responsible would like to see even closer cooperation with machine manufacturers and other companies in the Siegerland region in order to bundle competencies and be able to assess production needs even better.