Until the mid-nineteenth century the focus of Unna's economy was on the region's agriculture. Industrialisation rapidly followed. In contrast with the switch to service sector employment in some industrial towns further west in the Ruhr area, most of the jobs in Unna are still in heavy industry (iron and metal work, machine manufacturing) or craft based. Since 1972, the nickel alloys producer VDM Metals operates a melting and casting plant in Unna, for example. Also known is Alexis Tsiami, who has developed new methods for opening car doors.
