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4th International Early Engines Conference in Bristol, UK

From 20 to 22 March 2026, we participated in the IEEC4 – International Early Engines Conference, held at Kingswood Heritage Museum in Bristol, UK.
At the conference, we presented the results of our work, in particular the reconstruction of the Althandel "fire engine" from Nová Baňa, recent results of archaeological research at the Althandel site, and new insights into the later fate of this unique historical machine.
Our work received very positive feedback and recognition, which motivates us to continue further.

Reviving the History of Althandel and Zvonička

A new community project has been created in the Zvonička in Nová Baňa, combining research on the Althandel fire engine with modern technologies. The Althandel civic association, together with Bufet a ferrata Zvonička, prepared a small exhibition accompanied by an original 360° video that allows visitors to experience the act of ringing the bells as if they were standing in the bell tower years ago.

The project includes a series of new posters about the history of the fire engine. The texts, illustrations, and visualizations explain who Isaac Potter was, how the machine worked, and why its story disappeared for nearly three centuries. The main attraction is the 360° video: simply scan the QR code on the upper floor of the bell tower, look around, and the ringing comes to life in full spatial experience. For an even stronger impression, cardboard VR goggles are available.

The project was created with financial support from the City of Nová Baňa and was officially opened on November 9, 2025. We are delighted by the great public interest—history has truly come alive here.

„Die Feuermaschine“ Reinvented získala Digital Creative Award na CHNT30 vo Viedni

“Die Feuermaschine” Reinvented Wins the Digital Creative Award at CHNT30 in Vienna

Our participation at CHNT30 – Cultural Heritage and New Technologies 2025 in Vienna brought great success. The project “Die Feuermaschine” Reinvented received the Digital Creative Award, which recognizes outstanding use of digital technologies in the field of cultural heritage.

For the first time, we presented to the public the results of our research and digital reconstruction of the first atmospheric steam engine on the European continent, built in 1722 in Nová Baňa. The machine, known as the Feuermaschine, was a technological sensation of the 18th century, admired by prominent figures from across Europe, as nothing comparable existed outside England.

At CHNT30 we presented our work through both a conference lecture and a poster presentation and it was our poster that received the Digital Creative Award.
We designed it in an unconventional way, inspired by the style of an 18th-century announcement poster, the kind that would have presented the fire engine as a “unique attraction” of its time. The centre of the poster is dominated by the graphic of our digital reconstruction, while the lower section provides a scholarly description of our multidisciplinary research, combining history, archaeology, and technical reconstruction.

Our aim was to create something original, distinctive, and visually engaging, not a traditional academic poster, but a story that bridges the years 1722 and 2025.

„Die Feuermaschine“ Reinvented poster

Power Industries Division awards Gerald Muller and Branislav Meres for the 2023 Edwin Walker Prize

Branislav Mereš Receives Prestigious Edwin Walker Award 2023

We are pleased to announce that our member Branislav Mereš has received the Edwin Walker Award 2023, presented by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), based in London.

The award was granted for the scientific paper titled:
“Assessment of the Newcomen Engine’s Development Potential as a Heat Engine for Low-Temperature Waste Heat”, co-authored with Professor Gerald Müller from the University of Southampton.

The paper explores the potential of the Newcomen engine to recover low-temperature waste heat. The research was based on data from the historic fire engine in Nová Baňa, which Branislav has been studying and reconstructing for several years—also as part of our civic association Althandel.

This award is a significant recognition of outstanding work in the field of engineering and a reminder that personal passion and dedication can lead to results that resonate even in international professional circles

Official Announcement