Anhaltisches Elektromotorenwerk Dessau

Anhaltisches Elektromotorenwerk Dessau GmbH (AEM) is a German manufacturer of electrical machines headquartered in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt. It specialises in custom-built three-phase motors and generators, producing individual units and small series with power ratings from 160 kW to 5,000 kW (motors) and 160 kVA to 5,000 kVA (generators). The company describes itself as a medium-sized family business with more than 60 years of experience in electrical machine construction, employing around 230 people and exporting roughly 60% of its output to more than 70 countries. AEM's product range includes asynchronous and synchronous three-phase motors and generators, as well as converter sets (Umformersätze) and replacement machines (Nachbauten). Its machines are used in hydropower generation, shipbuilding and offshore applications, mining and conveying technology, construction machinery, industrial plants, and test benches. Notable reference applications cited by the company include on-board synchronous generators in PTO/PTI operation for ships carrying 1,500 containers, and tube-cooled asynchronous motors driving 3,150 tonnes of coal per hour. The company traces its industrial roots to the Berlin-Anhaltische Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft (BAMAG), founded in 1872 with factories in Berlin and Dessau. After World War II the Dessau works became a state-owned East German enterprise, VEB Elektromotorenwerk Dessau, producing electric motors from 1948. Following German reunification, four former employees founded AEM in April 1993 and took over 150 remaining staff, building a completely new factory by 1995. Between 2006 and 2012 the company invested 14 million euros in modernisation. In October 2024 the AEM group filed for insolvency proceedings.

The industrial history of the Dessau site begins in 1872 with the founding of the Berlin-Anhaltische Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft (BAMAG) through a merger. BAMAG operated a machine factory in Berlin and one in Dessau, along with a grey and steel foundry in Dessau, and soon rose to the top tier of German industry. It presented itself at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. In the early 20th century BAMAG specialised in components for transmissions. By 1914 the Dessau site had 2,300 employees. In the late 1920s the company also manufactured lifting magnets, electric cable hoists, electromagnetic clutches and brakes, and similar products based on electromagnetic principles. From 1933 the Nazi regime began rearming the Wehrmacht, and production at many industrial firms was increasingly oriented toward armaments. BAMAG built two additional plants in 1935 and 1940. During the air raids on Dessau on 7 March 1945, these factories were 80% destroyed. After BAMAG was transferred into public ownership by the Soviet Military Administration in Germany on 30 October 1946, the Dessau works, with about 700 employees, produced double-piston hand pumps, can-sealing machines, double-shoe gluing presses, and other machine tools. In October 1948 the production of electric motors began, and the operation was assigned to the VVB Elektromaschinenbau. By 1949, 3,250 electric motors were already being manufactured in Dessau. The operation was subsequently named VEM Elektromotoren- und Kompressorenwerk Dessau and, from 1951, VEB Elektromotorenwerk Dessau. In 1953 production of self-excited synchronous generators began. In the year of the Wende, 1989, the operation had over 2,500 employees, around 1,650 of them at the main Dessau plant. On 5 April 1990, the VEB Kombinat Elektromaschinenbau, to which the Elektromotorenwerk Dessau belonged, became the first capital company of the GDR, VEM-Antriebstechnik AG Dresden. The Elektromotorenwerk Dessau then operated as VEM-Elektromotorenwerk Dessau GmbH from June 1990 and, from March 1992, as VEM-Elektromotorenwerk Dessau, a branch of VEM-Antriebstechnik AG Dresden. To avoid the threatened closure of the Dessau works by VEM, then still under the Treuhandanstalt, four former employees founded AEM-Anhaltische Elektromotorenwerk Dessau GmbH in April 1993 and took over the remaining 150 employees as of 1 June 1993. Using an unfinished investment ruin, a completely new factory was built by 1995. From 2000 onward AEM expanded its range to include submersible motors, test bench motors, water-cooled motors, and machines with shaft height 800. Two new production halls, a logistics centre, and an environmentally friendly paint shop were built and commissioned. Between 2006 and 2012 the company invested 14 million euros in modernisation. Since privatisation in 1993, AEM's revenue tripled and its export share reached around 60%, with deliveries to more than 70 countries. The company developed and produced custom generators for hydropower and shipbuilding as well as motors for mining, conveying, construction machinery, and test benches. Development, manufacturing, assembly, and testing all took place at the Dessau site. In October 2024 the AEM group filed for insolvency proceedings.

• 2024

  In October, the AEM group files for insolvency proceedings.

• 2012

  End of the 14 million euro modernisation investment period.

• 2006

  Start of a modernisation programme; 14 million euros invested between 2006 and 2012.

• 2000

  Product range expanded to include submersible motors, test bench motors, water-cooled motors, and machines with shaft height 800.

• 1995

  A completely new factory is built by this year.

• 1993

  In April, four former employees found AEM-Anhaltische Elektromotorenwerk Dessau GmbH; on 1 June they take over 150 remaining employees.

• 1992

  From March, operates as VEM-Elektromotorenwerk Dessau, branch of VEM-Antriebstechnik AG Dresden.

• 1990

  On 5 April, VEM-Antriebstechnik AG Dresden becomes the first capital company of the GDR; from June the Dessau works operates as VEM-Elektromotorenwerk Dessau GmbH.

• 1989

  Operation has over 2,500 employees, around 1,650 at the main Dessau plant.

• 1953

  Production of self-excited synchronous generators begins.

• 1951

  Operation renamed VEB Elektromotorenwerk Dessau.

• 1949

  3,250 electric motors manufactured in Dessau.

• 1948

  Production of electric motors begins in October; operation assigned to VVB Elektromaschinenbau.

• 1946

  BAMAG transferred into public ownership by the Soviet Military Administration on 30 October.

• 1945

  Air raids on Dessau on 7 March destroy 80% of the factories.

• 1940

  BAMAG builds another additional plant.

• 1935

  BAMAG builds an additional plant.

• 1914

  Dessau site has 2,300 employees.

• 1893

  BAMAG presents at the World's Fair in Chicago.

• 1872

  Berlin-Anhaltische Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft (BAMAG) founded through a merger, with factories in Berlin and Dessau.

Specialist manufacturer of custom electrical machines, individual units and small series, 100% made in Germany, with over 60 years of experience.

• Three-phase asynchronous motors

  Custom-built asynchronous motors from 160 kW to 5,000 kW, including tube-cooled versions for mining.

• Three-phase synchronous motors

  Custom-built synchronous motors from 160 kW to 5,000 kW.

• Three-phase synchronous generators

  Custom-built synchronous generators from 160 kVA to 5,000 kVA, including on-board network generators for ships and generators for small hydropower plants.

• Three-phase asynchronous generators

  Custom-built asynchronous generators from 160 kVA to 5,000 kVA.

• Converter sets (Umformersätze)

  Supplementary product range for power conversion.

• Replacement machines (Nachbauten)

  Replica machines for replacement purposes.

• Submersible motors

  Used as pump drives on suction dredgers.

• Test bench motors

  Drive solutions for test benches.

• Water-cooled motors

  Motors with water cooling, added to the range from 2000.

• Shaft generators and auxiliary diesel generators

  For power supply in shipbuilding.

• On-board network synchronous generators

  For PTO/PTI operation on ships; cited for ships carrying 1,500 containers.

1. 1AEM - Drehstrommotoren und -generatoren aus Dessau. | AEM Dessau GmbHaemdessau.de
2. 2Anhaltisches Elektromotorenwerk Dessauwikidata.org
3. 3Anhaltisches Elektromotorenwerk Dessaude.wikipedia.org