Explosion at Austrian pyrotechnics firm; production ban allegedly ignored

An investigation is underway into an explosion at the Austrian pyrotechnics firm Astotec Pyrotechnic Solutions in Winzendorf-Muthmannsdorf, which occurred on August 20 and resulted in one serious injury. While the exact cause remains unclear, authorities have revealed that the company may have disregarded a ban on producing a specific explosive substance.

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The production of primary explosive potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan (KDNBF) was likely prohibited, but nevertheless carried out.

The district authority of Wiener Neustadt clarified that the production of potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan (KDNBF), a primary explosive, had been generally prohibited for the company since July 8. This ban followed a workplace accident at the end of June. Despite the prohibition, the substance appears to have continued to be produced on the company's premises.

Astotec Pyrotechnic Solutions, however, has contested this, stating that KDNBF was manufactured only on a "laboratory scale" between July 8 and the August 20 explosion. The company maintains this did not constitute a deliberate violation of the authorities' order. It remains uncertain whether the continued production of KDNBF is directly linked to the explosion.

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The district authority clarified that the company had been generally prohibited from producing KDNBF since July 8.

The public prosecutor's office in Wiener Neustadt is investigating potential negligence leading to bodily harm. Police are considering a chemical reaction within a waste container in the company's laboratory as a potential trigger for the August 20 incident, a theory that a court-appointed expert is expected to finalize.

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KDNBF was produced from July 8 until the explosion on August 20 'on a laboratory scale' and sees no conscious violation of the authorities' order.

In a statement earlier in the week, the company's managing director, Christopher Lill, emphasized their commitment to safety and legal compliance, stating, "We manufacture safety-critical components for the automotive industry worldwide, contributing to the protection of human lives, under the consistent observance of all legal and regulatory obligations and the highest safety and quality standards." The company has also reportedly established its own task force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including events prior to the explosion.

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We manufacture safety-critical components for the automotive industry worldwide, contributing to the protection of human lives, under the consistent observance of all legal and regulatory obligations and the highest safety and quality standards.