Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf

Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf GmbH (SHB) is a German steel foundry based in Leipzig-Knautnaundorf. The company traces its origins to 1894, when the entrepreneur Max Heller founded Max Heller Stahlhandel in Leipzig. Over the following decades the business evolved from a steel trading operation into a foundry, and in 1917 it relocated to Bösdorf under the name Max Heller Nachfolger (MHN). In the 1950s the firm became the state-owned VEB Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf (SHB), and with the introduction of the first electric arc furnace built in East Germany it began producing steel castings on site. During the GDR era SHB held strategic importance for the lignite industry, supplying cast steel components for open-pit mining equipment, briquette factories, construction machinery, and other areas of lignite extraction and processing. Customers included all open-pit mines of the Central German lignite district and the Schwarze Pumpe gas combine. In the early 1980s the Bösdorf site itself had to give way to the Zwenkau open-pit lignite mine. In 1984 the operation moved to a completely new plant in Knautnaundorf. The technical production equipment was supplied and installed by the Japanese company Komatsu. The new plant was the most modern foundry facility in East Germany, employing 1,200 people on a 55,000 m² site and producing around 6,000 tonnes of steel castings annually. After the political changes of 1990, SHB was spun off from the Kombinat Anlagenbau Braunkohle as STAMAG Stahl- und Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft and placed under Treuhand ownership. Seven years later, SHB Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf GmbH was re-established as a cooperation partner of DIHAG Deutsche Giesserei- und Industrie-Holding Aktiengesellschaft. In 2012 SHB was integrated into the DiHAG Group. Today SHB operates on a 55,000 m² site in Leipzig, producing steel castings for raw material extraction, energy generation, vehicle and process engineering, and construction machinery. Its components are used in rail vehicles, cranes, and oil extraction equipment. The company states that its castings are used worldwide, for example in the London Underground, in coal excavators in China, and in large cranes in Brazil. SHB positions itself as a reliable partner offering engineering support from casting-compatible design through production preparation to quality control. The company is part of the internationally active DiHAG Integrated Foundry Group, which has locations throughout Germany and Europe. In September 2025, SHB's insolvency became known, with self-administered insolvency proceedings ordered at that time; operations continue for the time being, and a decision on the insolvency proceedings is still pending.

The history of Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf (SHB) begins in 1894, when the entrepreneur Max Heller founded the firm Max Heller Stahlhandel in Leipzig. The business grew from a pure trading operation into a foundry and in 1917 was relocated to Bösdorf under the name Max Heller Nachfolger (MHN). In the 1950s, MHN became the state-owned VEB Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf (SHB). With the use of the first electric arc furnace built in the GDR, steel casting was now also produced on the factory premises. During the GDR era, SHB gained strategic importance for the then most important energy supplier, the lignite industry. SHB produced cast steel components for open-pit mining facilities, briquette factories, construction machinery, and many other areas of lignite extraction and processing. Customers included all open-pit mines of the Central German lignite district as well as the Schwarze Pumpe gas combine. In the early 1980s, the Bösdorf site itself had to give way to the Zwenkau open-pit lignite mine. In 1984 the operation moved to a completely newly built plant in Knautnaundorf. The technical production equipment was supplied and installed by the Japanese company Komatsu. The new plant was the most modern foundry facility in the GDR; 1,200 employees worked on the 55,000 m² site, and around 6,000 tonnes of steel castings were produced annually. With the political changes of 1990, the Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf was spun off from the Kombinat Anlagenbau Braunkohle as STAMAG Stahl- und Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft and passed into Treuhand ownership. Seven years later, SHB Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf GmbH was re-established as a cooperation partner of DIHAG Deutsche Giesserei- und Industrie-Holding Aktiengesellschaft. In 2012, SHB was integrated into the DiHAG Group. In September 2025, the insolvency of SHB became known. Self-administered insolvency proceedings were ordered at that time. The operation continues for the time being, and a decision on the insolvency proceedings is still pending. Today the company describes itself as part of the internationally active DiHAG Integrated Foundry Group, which is represented with a strong network of locations throughout Germany and Europe. SHB produces on a 55,000 m² site in Leipzig using modern manufacturing methods, and its castings are used worldwide, for example in the London Underground, in coal excavators in China, and in large cranes in Brazil.

• 2025

  In September 2025, the insolvency of SHB becomes known; self-administered insolvency proceedings are ordered. Operations continue for the time being.

• 2012

  SHB is integrated into the DiHAG Group.

• 1997

  SHB Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf GmbH is re-established as a cooperation partner of DIHAG Deutsche Giesserei- und Industrie-Holding Aktiengesellschaft.

• 1990

  SHB is spun off from Kombinat Anlagenbau Braunkohle as STAMAG Stahl- und Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft and placed under Treuhand ownership.

• 1984

  The operation moves to a newly built plant in Knautnaundorf; equipment supplied and installed by Komatsu. The plant is the most modern foundry in the GDR, with 1,200 employees and around 6,000 tonnes of steel castings per year.

• 1950

  MHN becomes the state-owned VEB Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf (SHB); the first electric arc furnace built in the GDR is used, enabling steel casting on site.

• 1917

  The company, now Max Heller Nachfolger (MHN), relocates to Bösdorf.

• 1894

  Max Heller founds Max Heller Stahlhandel in Leipzig.

A medium-sized, tradition-rich steel foundry offering precision castings and engineering support, integrated into the DiHAG Group and serving demanding industrial sectors worldwide.

• Steel castings for open-pit mining equipment

  Cast steel components for open-pit mining facilities, briquette factories, and other lignite extraction and processing equipment.

• Steel castings for rail vehicles

  Components used in rail vehicles, including applications such as the London Underground.

• Steel castings for cranes

  Components used in large cranes, for example in Brazil.

• Steel castings for oil extraction equipment

  Components used in oil extraction facilities.

• Steel castings for construction machinery

  Cast steel components for construction machinery.

1. 1Home - SHB Leipzig Gussshb-guss.de
2. 2Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf – Wikidatawikidata.org