LEW Hennigsdorf
Historic German railway-manufacturing enterprise that became a major East German producer of electric locomotives and railway equipment.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
LEW Hennigsdorf was a railway and electrical-equipment manufacturing enterprise in Hennigsdorf, Brandenburg, near Berlin. Its industrial site originated with AEG, which acquired land there in 1910 and initially developed a ceramics operation. The locomotive works was transferred from Berlin to Hennigsdorf in 1913, establishing the site as an important German center for electric-vehicle and locomotive production. During the First World War the factory was redirected toward steam-locomotive manufacture, and during the interwar period it expanded its industrial capabilities through activities involving steel, steam power equipment, electrical insulation and locomotive construction. The plant became closely associated with Borsig after AEG merged with the financially distressed Borsig group in the early 1930s. Locomotive production from Borsig's Tegel operation was moved to Hennigsdorf, where it continued as Borsig Lokomotiv Werke GmbH, an AEG subsidiary, until 1944. The Second World War left approximately 80 percent of the factory destroyed. Because Hennigsdorf lay in the Soviet occupation zone, the works came under Soviet control and was subsequently nationalised by the German Democratic Republic. In 1947 it became part of the VEM state-owned industrial structure, and electric-locomotive production resumed in 1948. In 1951 the works adopted the name VEB Lokomotivbau-Elektrotechnische Werke "Hans Beimler," commonly shortened to LEW. During the GDR period, LEW developed into a broad industrial enterprise rather than a narrowly focused locomotive brand. It produced electric and diesel locomotives, trams, underground railway vehicles, rack locomotives and mineral wagons, while also manufacturing electrical and industrial equipment. By the mid-1950s, around 60 percent of production was reportedly destined for export, particularly to other socialist and Communist Bloc markets. The plant also undertook specialist metallurgical work, including ultra-pure-metal production using electron-beam furnaces from 1960. Its railway output included important electric-locomotive classes for Deutsche Reichsbahn, notably the DR Class 250 in the 1970s and the DR Class 243 in the 1980s. In the second half of the 1980s, LEW cooperated with AEG on rail exports to markets outside the traditional socialist trading area. This cooperation culminated in a 1989 agreement and included the production of diesel multiple-unit trains for Greece's OSE. German reunification fundamentally changed the company's legal and commercial position. In 1990 the GDR combine was converted into LEW Hennigsdorf GmbH, and negotiations began for AEG to acquire the core rail business. In 1991 AEG reached an agreement with the Treuhand agency to purchase the rail-related operations and invest in the Hennigsdorf facilities. From January 1992 the works operated as AEG Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH within AEG's rail-systems business. The subsequent corporate history reflected consolidation in the international rail industry. In 1996 AEG Schienenfahrzeuge became part of ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation, later known as Adtranz. Adtranz reorganised production across its European sites and ended locomotive production at Hennigsdorf in 1998, transferring that activity to Kassel. The Hennigsdorf site nevertheless remained an active railway-manufacturing center, producing passenger vehicles and multiple-unit trains. It became part of Bombardier Transportation in 2001 after Bombardier acquired Adtranz, and Bombardier Transportation was acquired by Alstom in 2021. The LEW corporate identity therefore survives mainly as an industrial and historical legacy; the Hennigsdorf plant continues under successor ownership rather than as an independent LEW company.
History
The Hennigsdorf industrial site was established by AEG in 1910 on approximately 700,000 square metres of land near Berlin. A ceramics factory began operating in 1911, while AEG relocated its locomotive works from Berlin's Brunnenstrasse to Hennigsdorf in 1913. The works initially built electric vehicles, but wartime requirements shifted much of its output to steam locomotives between 1914 and 1918. In the early 1920s, the site expanded into industrial steam-power equipment, steel production and electrical-insulator manufacturing. A powdered-coal steam engine was reportedly completed there in 1927. AEG's relationship with Borsig reshaped the plant during the Great Depression. After AEG merged with Borsig AG in 1931 and acquired the remaining shares in 1935, locomotive production from Borsig's Tegel works was concentrated at Hennigsdorf. The operation continued under the name Borsig Lokomotiv Werke GmbH until 1944. The factory was severely damaged during the Second World War, with approximately four-fifths of the facilities destroyed. After the war, the works fell within the Soviet occupation zone. It was placed under Soviet control and nationalised by the GDR in 1947, becoming part of the VEM state-owned organisation under a name incorporating Lokomotivbau Elektrotechnische Werke Hennigsdorf. Electric-locomotive production restarted in 1948. In 1951 the company was renamed VEB Lokomotivbau-Elektrotechnische Werke "Hans Beimler," and the abbreviation LEW became its familiar industrial designation. LEW's GDR-era output covered electric and diesel locomotives, trams, underground vehicles, rack locomotives and mineral wagons. The enterprise also made electrical equipment and undertook metallurgical production, including ultra-pure metals made with electron-beam furnaces from 1960. Export sales were central to its role in the planned economy: by 1955, approximately 60 percent of production was reported to be exported, mainly to other Communist Bloc countries. The company supplied Deutsche Reichsbahn with successive generations of electric locomotives, including the DR Class 250, introduced in 1974, and the DR Class 243, introduced in 1982. During the 1980s LEW developed closer cooperation with AEG, whose rail activities were linked to Daimler-Benz. The cooperation was intended to support exports beyond the traditional GDR market. A 1989 memorandum formalised the relationship, and LEW participated in the production of 601 Series diesel multiple units for Greece's OSE. Reunification in 1990 ended the state-owned-combine structure. LEW was converted into a limited-liability company, and AEG negotiated with the Treuhand agency to acquire the rail-related core business and invest in the site. From 1 January 1992, the works operated as AEG Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH within AEG Daimler-Benz's rail-systems activities. In 1996 the AEG rail business was merged with ABB Transportation into ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation, or Adtranz. Production strategy under Adtranz ended locomotive construction at Hennigsdorf in 1998, with that work transferred to Kassel. The plant remained significant as a producer of passenger rail vehicles and multiple units. It became part of Bombardier Transportation in 2001, and later passed to Alstom in 2021. The independent LEW company is therefore defunct, but the Hennigsdorf manufacturing tradition and site continue through successive corporate owners.
- 2021
Alstom acquires Bombardier Transportation
[1]The successor Hennigsdorf rail-vehicle site passed into Alstom's industrial network.
- 2001
Bombardier acquires Adtranz
[1]The Hennigsdorf works became part of Bombardier Transportation.
- 1998
Locomotive production ends at Hennigsdorf
[1]Adtranz transferred locomotive manufacturing to Kassel while retaining Hennigsdorf for other rail-vehicle production.
- 1996
The site enters Adtranz
[1]AEG Schienenfahrzeuge became part of ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation, known as Adtranz.
- 1990
LEW is converted into a company
[1]German reunification ended the combine structure and created LEW Hennigsdorf GmbH as a non-public company.
- 1989
LEW and AEG formalise cooperation
[1]A memorandum supported cooperation on rail exports to third-country markets, including diesel multiple units for Greece.
- 1982
DR Class 243 enters production
[1]The works introduced the DR Class 243 electric locomotive, one of its notable late-GDR rail products.
- 1974
DR Class 250 enters production
[1]LEW began producing a major new electric-locomotive class for Deutsche Reichsbahn.
- 1951
The works adopts the LEW Hans Beimler name
[1]The state enterprise became VEB Lokomotivbau-Elektrotechnische Werke "Hans Beimler," giving rise to the widely used LEW name.
- 1948
Electric-locomotive production resumes
[1]The Hennigsdorf works restarted production of electric locomotives under the East German industrial system.
Products and positioning
State-backed East German industrial and railway manufacturer serving domestic railways and export markets, later transformed into an internationally integrated rail-vehicle production site.
Rail vehicles · 1948
Electric locomotives
Electric locomotives were the defining product of LEW's postwar identity. The works supplied Deutsche Reichsbahn and export customers with successive locomotive generations, including the DR Class 250 from 1974 and DR Class 243 from 1982. These products supported both domestic electrified railway operations and the GDR's industrial-export program.
Rail vehicles
Diesel locomotives
LEW manufactured diesel locomotives alongside its electric range. They formed part of the plant's broad portfolio for mainline, industrial and specialised railway use, although the available reference material does not identify a complete model catalogue.
Urban rail vehicles · 1955
Trams and underground vehicles
By the mid-1950s, the Hennigsdorf enterprise produced urban-rail equipment including trams and underground railway vehicles. This diversified output complemented locomotive manufacture and allowed the state enterprise to serve municipal and regional transport systems.
Passenger rail vehicles · 1989
601 Series diesel multiple units
The 601 Series was produced for Greece's OSE during the late-GDR period as part of LEW's cooperation with AEG on exports to third-country markets. The trains are identified in later references with the modern Class 520 designation.
Industrial equipment · 1960
Electrical and metallurgical equipment
LEW was a diversified industrial enterprise. In addition to railway vehicles, it produced electrical equipment, steam-power equipment and other industrial goods. From 1960 it also carried out ultra-pure-metal production using electron-beam furnaces.
Brand decisions
2021
The successor site transfers to AlstomM&ABackground
Bombardier Transportation was acquired by Alstom as part of wider consolidation in the global railway industry.
Action taken
The Hennigsdorf railway works entered Alstom's manufacturing network.
Aftermath
The LEW corporate entity remained a historical predecessor, while the industrial site continued under Alstom ownership.
1998
Adtranz transfers locomotive production to KasselStrategyBackground
Adtranz reorganised manufacturing across its facilities after the formation of the ABB Daimler-Benz transportation joint venture.
Action taken
Locomotive production at Hennigsdorf was ended and transferred to the former ABB Henschel works in Kassel.
Aftermath
Hennigsdorf continued as a passenger-rail-vehicle manufacturing site rather than a locomotive-production center.
1991
AEG agrees to acquire LEW's rail core businessM&ABackground
After German reunification, the former GDR combine required restructuring and ownership transfer. AEG negotiated with the Treuhand agency over the rail-related operations and the future of the Hennigsdorf facilities.
Action taken
AEG agreed to purchase the rail core business and invest a reported 600 million Deutsche Mark in the Hennigsdorf production facilities. The financial figure is retained as reported by the reference material and relates to the transaction and planned investment, not current company revenue.
Aftermath
From 1 January 1992, the works operated as AEG Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH within AEG Daimler-Benz's rail-systems business.
Acquisition and planned investment. 600 million Deutsche Mark (Agreement reported in November 1991; implementation from 1 January 1992)
Sources3 sources
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