Hammerwerk Fridingen

Hammerwerk Fridingen GmbH is a medium-sized, privately owned German industrial company based in Fridingen an der Donau in Baden-Württemberg. It is the largest employer in the town and specialises in metal forming (Umformtechnik) and machining (Bearbeitungstechnik), producing drop forgings and hot-pressed steel parts. The company traces its industrial site back to 1860, when a wool spinning mill owned by Jakob Storz was established in the Bära Valley; in 1935 the site was converted into a metalworking operation trading as Gebr. Braun, initially a forge for surgical instruments that later developed a drop forge. In 1950 the works were taken over by WSK Mannheim as a leasehold, and in 1953 the site was purchased by its present owners and renamed Hammerwerk Fridingen GmbH. Over the following decades the company expanded its Fridingen plant with a shearing hall, mechanical processing, Press Shop 2 and a training workshop. Machining technology was added in 1978, and the company has since grown into a full-service partner for national and international customers. In 2005 it founded the subsidiary HF-Czechforge s.r.o. in Cheb, Czech Republic, where production started in 2007; by 2015 the Czech plant operated six press lines. In 2016 the machining division was spun off into a separate company, HF-Bearbeitungstechnik GmbH. The group today employs over 600 people across its Fridingen and Cheb plants. Hammerwerk Fridingen manufactures drop forgings and warm-flow-pressed parts weighing from 0.5 to 80 kilograms, with diameters from 50 to 425 millimetres and lengths up to 800 millimetres, using alloyed and unalloyed steels as well as AFP and stainless steels. Its capabilities span engineering and toolmaking, metal forming with manual and automated processes, and machining including turning, drilling, complex 5-axis milling, gear cutting and grinding, supported by CNC machines, measuring technology and Kuka robots. Customer industries include the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and special vehicle construction, the construction and rail industries, aerospace and agriculture. In the 2015/16 financial year the company produced around 33,000 tonnes and generated revenue of roughly 80 million euros; in 2019/2020 revenue was around 78 million euros. Managing directors are Holger Müller and Alexander Schwaiger. In 2023 the company received a Supplier Award for 2022 from Rolls-Royce Solutions GmbH.

The industrial history of the site in Fridingen an der Donau begins in 1860, when Jakob Storz established a wool spinning mill in the Bära Valley. In 1935 the factory site was converted into a metalworking operation trading as Gebr. Braun, a forge for surgical instruments that later developed a drop forge. In 1950 the works were taken over by WSK Mannheim as a leasehold. In 1953 the site was purchased by its present owners and the company was renamed Hammerwerk Fridingen GmbH, marking the start of drop forging production at Fridingen. Over the following decades the company expanded its Fridingen plant. In 1978 it started machining technology and constructed a new building for mechanical processing. In 1986 a new high bay warehouse was built for the toolmaking division. In 1990 a new training centre was established and Press Shop 2 was constructed. In 2005 the subsidiary HF-Czechforge s.r.o. was founded in the Czech Republic, and production started in Cheb in 2007. In 2008 a new technical administration building was completed. In 2010 the 5000 t press KP8 was commissioned. Between 2011 and 2015 the company refurbished and modernised its metal forming capabilities, and in 2015–2016 two further press lines were commissioned. In 2016 the machining division was spun off into HF-Bearbeitungstechnik GmbH. By the mid-2010s the company had become a significant player in the European forging industry. In the 2015/16 financial year it produced around 33,000 tonnes and generated revenue of roughly 80 million euros; in 2019/2020 revenue was around 78 million euros. The group today employs over 600 people at its plants in Fridingen and Cheb, manufacturing drop forged and hot press moulded components for passenger, commercial and special vehicles worldwide, as well as for construction, rail, marine, aerospace and agricultural applications. In 2023 Rolls-Royce Solutions GmbH presented the company with a Supplier Award for 2022.

• 2023

  Rolls-Royce Solutions GmbH presents Supplier Award for 2022

• 2016

  Foundation of HF-Bearbeitungstechnik GmbH

• 2015

  Commissioning of two further press lines (through 2016)

• 2011

  Refurbishment and modernisation of metal forming capabilities (through 2015)

• 2010

  Commissioning of the 5000 t press KP8

• 2008

  New technical administration building

• 2007

  Start of production in Cheb, Czech Republic

• 2005

  Foundation of HF-Czechforge s.r.o.

• 1990

  New training centre and construction of Press Shop 2

• 1986

  New high bay warehouse for the toolmaking division

• 1978

  Start of machining technology and construction of a new building for mechanical processing

• 1953

  Purchase and change of name to Hammerwerk Fridingen GmbH

• 1950

  Takeover by WSK Mannheim as a leasehold

• 1935

  Initial metalworking company operating as Gebr. Braun, forge for surgical instruments, later development of a drop forge

• 1860

  Initial industrial settlement in the Bära Valley; wool spinning mill owned by Jakob Storz

Innovative, skilled full-service partner for demanding national and international customers, combining tradition with precision, top quality and reliability.

• Drop forgings

  Produced by manual and automated metal forming processes, weighing 0.5 to 80 kg, diameter 50 to 425 mm, length up to 800 mm.

• Warm-flow-pressed parts

  Hot press moulded components for demanding applications.

• Machined forged components

  Turning, drilling, complex 5-axis milling, gear cutting and grinding of forged parts.

• Tools and dies

  In-house toolmaking division producing dies and tools.

1. 1Hammerwerk Fridingen GmbH | Hammerwerk Fridingenhammerwerk.de
2. 2History | Hammerwerk Fridingenhammerwerk.de
3. 3About us | Hammerwerk Fridingenhammerwerk.de
4. 4Locations | Hammerwerk Fridingenhammerwerk.de
5. 5Hammerwerk Fridingenwikidata.org
6. 6Hammerwerk Fridingende.wikipedia.org