DALEX

DALEX is a German industrial brand and former manufacturer specializing in resistance welding technology and automation engineering. Founded in 1911 in Solingen-Ohligs by Carl Niepenberg, the company initially produced razors and razor blades before pivoting to welding transformers in 1936 and spot welding machines in 1945. The DALEX brand name was adopted in 1952, and the company became a leading provider of standard and custom welding systems, including spot, projection, seam, mesh, foil seam, MAG, and laser welding equipment. At its peak, DALEX operated over 20 sales branches in Germany and employed around 780 people in 1965. The company underwent several ownership changes, insolvencies, and restructurings, including a 2002 insolvency that split its arc welding and resistance welding divisions. The resistance welding business continued under DALEX GmbH, which acquired Augenstein Maschinenbau in 2021 to expand into automation and feeding systems. After a further insolvency in 2023, the business was sold to Max Valier Holding and renamed DALEX Automation & Welding GmbH. In 2026, this entity also filed for insolvency, leading to the liquidation of operations and the acquisition of the DALEX brand and remaining assets by CenterLine Germany GmbH. Today, DALEX remains a recognized name in industrial welding technology, though its manufacturing operations have ceased.

DALEX traces its origins to 1911, when Carl Niepenberg founded a sole proprietorship in Solingen-Ohligs, Germany. On 11 February 1922, Carl and his brother Walter established Niepenberg & Co. GmbH, specializing in the production of razor blades. The company expanded with branch offices in Eitorf (1925) and Wissen (1929). Under the brand 'Wanie', it produced razors, razor blades, and roll-band blades from 1922 to 1932, gaining worldwide recognition. It also manufactured spark plugs for Bugatti and other vehicle makers. By 1935, with 150 employees, the company produced half a million razor blades per week. From June 1931 to 1938, it operated a swimming pool called 'Strandbad Nisterau' at its Wissen site. In 1936, production of welding transformers began, followed by spot welding machines in 1945. In 1950, razor blade production ceased, and the company focused entirely on welding machines, adopting the brand name 'DALEX' in 1952. On 20 July 1948, the Solingen site was abandoned and headquarters moved to Wissen. In 1949, Walter Niepenberg and his son left to found Nistertal Walter Niepenberg Maschinenfabrik. In September 1952, the company was renamed DALEX-Werke Niepenberg & Co. GmbH, later DALEX-Werke Niepenberg GmbH & Co. KG. From the mid-1960s, it also produced shielding gas welding equipment, initially sold through Messer Griesheim, AEG, Linde, and others. From 1969, DALEX-branded shielding gas welding equipment was sold, including through the mail-order company Neckermann. In 1966, Minverva Schweißtechnik GmbH was founded as a wholly owned subsidiary. In 1960, DALEX acquired Gebr. Hannemann & Cie. GmbH and Constructions Européennes de Soudage S.A.R.L.; in 1965, Maschinenfabrik Friedrich Henze GmbH. By 1963, DALEX was market leader in standard welding machines and employed around 780 people in 1965. After the death of founder Carl Niepenberg, his son Werner led the company alone from 1966. From 1970, special welding machines were added. By 1972, DALEX was market leader in arc and resistance welding. In 1984, DALEX was the first German company to manufacture DC welding machines. By 1985, it had over 20 sales branches in Germany. After Werner Niepenberg's death, an executor continued the business from 1996. In 1997, DALEX Service Gesellschaft für Informationsverarbeitung und Logistik mbH was founded as a wholly owned subsidiary. In 2000, DALEX acquired the business operations of Seubert GmbH and merged it with Minverva Schweißtechnik GmbH to form Dalex-Seubert Schweißtechnik GmbH, focusing on robot spot welding guns. In 2002, DALEX-Werke Niepenberg GmbH & Co. KG filed for insolvency; subsidiaries were dissolved and the core business split. The arc welding division became ELMA-Tech AG (later ELMA-Tech GmbH), while the resistance welding business under the DALEX brand was taken over by local entrepreneurs and transferred to DALEX-Schweißmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG, later DALEX GmbH. In 2021, DALEX acquired Augenstein Maschinenbau GmbH, expanding into automation with feeding and conveyor systems. After another insolvency in 2023, the business was sold to Max Valier Holding and renamed DALEX Automation & Welding GmbH. In 2026, this entity also filed for insolvency, leading to liquidation; the brand name and remaining assets were acquired by CenterLine Germany GmbH.

• 2026

  DALEX Automation & Welding GmbH files for insolvency; operations liquidated; brand and assets acquired by CenterLine Germany GmbH.

• 2023

  Insolvency; business sold to Max Valier Holding, renamed DALEX Automation & Welding GmbH.

• 2021

  Acquired Augenstein Maschinenbau GmbH, expanding into automation and feeding systems.

• 2002

  DALEX-Werke Niepenberg GmbH & Co. KG files for insolvency; resistance welding business transferred to DALEX-Schweißmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG.

• 2000

  Acquired Seubert GmbH; merged with Minverva to form Dalex-Seubert Schweißtechnik GmbH.

• 1997

  DALEX Service Gesellschaft für Informationsverarbeitung und Logistik mbH founded.

• 1985

  Over 20 sales branches in Germany.

• 1984

  First German company to manufacture DC welding machines.

• 1972

  Market leader in arc and resistance welding.

• 1970

  Production of special welding machines begins.

• 1969

  DALEX-branded shielding gas welding equipment launched.

• 1966

  Minverva Schweißtechnik GmbH founded as wholly owned subsidiary; Werner Niepenberg takes sole leadership.

• 1965

  Acquired Maschinenfabrik Friedrich Henze GmbH; employed around 780 people.

• 1963

  Market leader in standard welding machines.

• 1960

  Acquired Gebr. Hannemann & Cie. GmbH and Constructions Européennes de Soudage S.A.R.L.

• 1952

  Brand name 'DALEX' adopted; company renamed DALEX-Werke Niepenberg & Co. GmbH.

• 1950

  Razor blade production ceases; focus shifts entirely to welding machines.

• 1948

  Solingen site abandoned; headquarters moved to Wissen.

• 1945

  Production of spot welding machines begins.

• 1936

  Production of welding transformers begins.

• 1929

  Branch office established in Wissen.

• 1925

  Branch office established in Eitorf.

• 1922

  Niepenberg & Co. GmbH founded by Carl and Walter Niepenberg, specializing in razor blades.

• 1911

  Founded in Solingen-Ohligs by Carl Niepenberg as a sole proprietorship.

Premium industrial partner for resistance welding and automation, offering standard and highly customized welding solutions with full service from development to maintenance.

• Resistance welding machines

• Spot welding machines

• Projection welding machines

• Seam welding machines

• Mesh welding machines

• Foil seam welding machines

• MAG welding equipment

• Laser welding equipment

• Special welding machines

• Robot welding cells

• Automation systems

1. 1DALEX official websitedalex.de
2. 2DALEX GmbH - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3DALEX - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org