Indramat

Indramat was a German industrial control company and automation brand whose products focused on servo drives, motion control, and related control systems for industrial machinery. Founded in 1958, the company operated under the name Indramat GmbH and was originally based in Neuwied am Rhein. Its name was derived from a German expression referring to the industrialization, rationalization, and automation of production. The company developed a reputation for applying electronic control technology to demanding manufacturing processes rather than serving as a general-purpose electrical equipment supplier. Its principal products included industrial servo amplifiers, servo motors, motion-control systems, and distributed computer numerical control systems. These technologies were used in machine tools, presses, sheet-steel processing equipment, printing presses, food-packaging machinery, assembly lines, and material-handling systems. Indramat became particularly recognized in Germany and Central Europe during the 1970s for direct-current servo drives and control equipment, including systems for three-dimensional tracing and other complex machine-tool applications. A notable element of its servo architecture was the programming module, called a Personality Module in the North American market. The module stored the variable settings needed to match a servo amplifier with a specific motor. This approach reduced the amount of manual configuration required during commissioning and helped make the systems easier to install and adapt in production environments. In 1979, Indramat introduced a brushless servo system marketed as an AC Servo. The technology was adopted in automotive powertrain manufacturing and contributed to the company’s expansion beyond its original regional base. Indramat’s business developed through a succession of corporate ownership changes. Rexroth, a hydraulic-equipment company, acquired Indramat in 1965 to obtain expertise in machine control and moved the business to Lohr am Main, where Rexroth was headquartered. In 1968, Rexroth and Indramat became part of Mannesmann AG. Following Vodafone’s hostile takeover of Mannesmann in 2000–2001, Mannesmann’s industrial businesses, including Rexroth and Indramat, were acquired by Robert Bosch GmbH. The resulting industrial automation company became Bosch Rexroth. Under Bosch Rexroth, Indramat GmbH was reorganized into the Electric Drives and Controls Technology Group. The Indramat name was subsequently discontinued as a principal commercial brand, but Bosch Rexroth continued to support products originally sold under it and carried elements of the heritage into newer product families. Names such as IndraDrive, IndraDyn, and IndraControl reflect that continuity. As a result, Indramat is best understood today as a legacy automation brand and technology lineage within Bosch Rexroth rather than as an independent operating company. At the beginning of the Bosch-era transition in 2001, the business reportedly employed approximately 1,500 people and recorded turnover of €261 million, with exports representing 52 percent of activity. These figures describe the business at that historical point and should not be treated as current financial information. Indramat’s legacy remains most visible in industrial servo and motion-control installations, technical documentation, replacement parts, and Bosch Rexroth systems descended from its product platforms.

Indramat GmbH was established in Germany in 1958 as an industrial control company. Its name was formed from a German abbreviation associated with industrialization, rationalization, and automation. The business was initially based in Neuwied am Rhein and concentrated on control technologies for industrial machinery. The company’s core competence developed around servo drives and motion control. Its systems were used where machinery required accurate, repeatable, and dynamically controlled movement, including machine tools, presses, sheet-steel processing equipment, printing presses, food-packaging machinery, assembly lines, and material-handling installations. During the 1970s, Indramat became known in Germany and Central Europe for DC servo drives and associated control systems. It also supplied three-dimensional tracing controls and later became recognized for distributed CNC systems used in automotive powertrain production. In 1965, Rexroth acquired Indramat in order to gain competence in machine control. Indramat was subsequently moved to Lohr am Main, the location of Rexroth’s headquarters. The acquisition linked Indramat’s electronic control expertise with Rexroth’s established hydraulic-equipment business. In 1968, Rexroth, including Indramat, was acquired by Mannesmann AG and continued operating within the larger industrial group. Indramat’s product development included a programming module that stored the variable settings required to match a servo amplifier with a particular motor. In North America this component was known as a Personality Module. By consolidating configuration information in the module, the system simplified commissioning and reduced the effort needed to adapt a drive to its intended motor and application. In 1979, Indramat released a brushless servo system branded as an AC Servo. The system found acceptance in automotive powertrain manufacturing and helped establish the company as a supplier with international reach. The ownership structure changed again during the breakup of Mannesmann’s industrial businesses. Vodafone’s hostile takeover of Mannesmann led to the sale of the industrial portion of the group to Robert Bosch GmbH in 2001. Rexroth and Indramat became part of the newly organized Bosch Rexroth business. At this stage, Indramat had approximately 1,500 employees and reported turnover of €261 million, while exports accounted for 52 percent of its business. These are historical figures for 2001 rather than current results. Following the Bosch acquisition, Indramat GmbH was reorganized as the Electric Drives and Controls Technology Group within Bosch Rexroth. The Indramat name was eventually withdrawn from active commercial use. Bosch Rexroth nevertheless continued to support legacy Indramat products and incorporated the brand’s technical heritage into subsequent product families, including IndraDrive, IndraDyn, and IndraControl. These product names preserve a visible connection to the earlier business while placing current products under the Bosch Rexroth identity. Indramat therefore represents both a former company and a continuing technology lineage. It is no longer an independent brand in the ordinary commercial sense, but its drives, motors, controls, and application knowledge remain relevant to the installed base of industrial automation equipment and to Bosch Rexroth’s electric-drive and control portfolio.

• 2001

  Integration into Bosch Rexroth

  [1]Indramaten.wikipedia.org

  Robert Bosch GmbH acquires Mannesmann’s industrial businesses, bringing Rexroth and Indramat into Bosch Rexroth.

• 1979

  Brushless AC Servo introduced

  [1]Indramaten.wikipedia.org

  Indramat launches a brushless servo system marketed as an AC Servo, which gains traction in automotive powertrain manufacturing.

• 1968

  Mannesmann ownership begins

  [1]Indramaten.wikipedia.org

  Mannesmann AG takes over Rexroth, including Indramat.

• 1965

  Acquisition by Rexroth

  [1]Indramaten.wikipedia.org

  Rexroth acquires Indramat to obtain machine-control expertise and moves the business to Lohr am Main.

• 1958

  Indramat is founded

  [1]Indramaten.wikipedia.org

  Indramat GmbH is established in Germany as an industrial control company headquartered in Neuwied am Rhein.

A specialist industrial automation and motion-control supplier serving high-performance manufacturing machinery, especially machine tools, automotive powertrain equipment, printing systems, presses, packaging machinery, and material-handling applications.

• Industrial automation

  Servo drives and amplifiers

  Indramat’s principal product area consisted of industrial servo drives and amplifiers for controlling the speed, torque, and position of motors in production machinery. The systems were applied to machine tools, presses, sheet-steel processing, assembly equipment, packaging machinery, and material-handling systems. A distinctive programming module, known as a Personality Module in North America, held the variable settings needed to match an amplifier with a particular motor and simplified commissioning.

• Servo motion control · 1979

  AC Servo systems

  Introduced in 1979, Indramat’s brushless AC Servo system was designed for precise and dynamic industrial motion. Its adoption in automotive powertrain manufacturing strengthened the company’s position in demanding production applications and helped extend recognition of the Indramat name beyond Germany and Central Europe.

• Computer numerical control

  Distributed CNC systems

  Indramat supplied distributed computer numerical control systems for industrial production, including automotive powertrain manufacturing. These systems formed part of the company’s broader approach of combining drive technology, machine control, and coordinated motion management in complex manufacturing lines.

• Motion synchronization

  Electronic line-shaft systems

  Electronic line-shaft technology was among Indramat’s recognized offerings, particularly for commercial printing presses. It provided electronically coordinated motion across machine sections, replacing or supplementing mechanical synchronization and supporting the precise timing required in continuous industrial processes.

• 2001

  Integration into Bosch RexrothM&A

  Background

  Vodafone’s takeover of Mannesmann led to the disposal of Mannesmann’s industrial businesses.

  Action taken

  Robert Bosch GmbH acquired the industrial portion of Mannesmann, including Rexroth and Indramat, and organized them as Bosch Rexroth.

  Aftermath

  Indramat became the Electric Drives and Controls Technology Group within Bosch Rexroth, and the standalone Indramat name was later discontinued. Legacy products continued to receive support, while newer Bosch Rexroth families preserved elements of the Indramat heritage.

  Turnover. €261 million (2001)

  Source

• 1979

  Launch of the brushless AC Servo systemProduct launch

  Background

  Indramat was expanding its servo-drive portfolio for increasingly demanding industrial and automotive applications.

  Action taken

  The company introduced a brushless servo system marketed as an AC Servo.

  Aftermath

  The system gained acceptance in automotive powertrain manufacturing and contributed to Indramat’s international recognition.

  Source

• 1965

  Rexroth acquires IndramatM&A

  Background

  Rexroth sought to expand beyond hydraulic equipment and obtain stronger expertise in electronic machine control.

  Action taken

  Rexroth purchased Indramat and transferred the business to Lohr am Main.

  Aftermath

  Indramat became part of Rexroth’s industrial organization while continuing to develop servo and motion-control technologies.

  Source

1. 1Indramaten.wikipedia.org