Maschinenbau Kiel
Former German engineering company whose MaK brand became associated with marine diesel engines, diesel locomotives, and tracked military vehicles.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, commonly associated with the MaK name, was a German mechanical-engineering company based in Kiel. Its principal activities covered marine diesel engines, diesel locomotives, and tracked military vehicles. Although the company itself was dismantled through a series of sales in the 1990s, important successor businesses continued operating from Kiel, and Caterpillar retained the MaK name for marine engines. The company's origins lay in Kiel's industrial base after the First World War. The Treaty of Versailles restricted German arms production, encouraging defense-oriented manufacturers to pursue civilian and industrial markets. Deutsche Werke Kiel AG, established in 1918, produced ships, locomotives, and other machinery, while its wartime activities also included naval and military production. The Second World War severely damaged Kiel's industrial facilities, and Deutsche Werke did not survive the postwar transition in its earlier form. Maschinenbau Kiel was established as a limited liability company on 25 May 1948 from several former Deutsche Werke facilities. Its early postwar portfolio included diesel locomotives and other engineering products. A naming dispute with MAN resulted in the company changing its capitalization and brand presentation from MAK to MaK in 1954. In 1959, financial difficulties led to its acquisition by Bremer Atlas GmbH and conversion into a GmbH. The company subsequently became part of the Krupp group in 1964 when Krupp took over its parent company. Under Krupp ownership, MaK developed a broad industrial portfolio. Its locomotive business supplied several classes for Deutsche Bundesbahn and produced locomotives for industrial and private operators. Designs evolved from rod-coupled locomotives to cardan-shaft and diesel-electric systems, and later standardized locomotive families intended to reduce costs through interchangeable components. The company also produced military vehicles, including the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, and was involved in Leopard 2 production during the period before its military division was separated. The divisions were sold to different owners as the structure of the business changed. Rheinmetall acquired the military-vehicle operation in 1990. The locomotive business was transferred to Siemens in 1992 and later sold by Siemens to Vossloh in 1998. Caterpillar acquired the marine diesel-engine division in 1997. These transactions ended Maschinenbau Kiel as an integrated company, but they did not eliminate its industrial legacy. Caterpillar's marine-engine subsidiary, Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, continued using the MaK logo, while Vossloh maintained locomotive manufacturing in Kiel for many years. Both successor operations remained significant employers in the city. Other businesses associated with the former group also became independent or changed ownership. The construction-equipment activity became associated with ATLAS TEREX, the information-technology service MaK DATA SYSTEM became independent in 1995, and the former MaK foundry was sold in 2006 and later operated as Gießerei Kiel. Accordingly, MaK is best understood today as a historical corporate identity and continuing product mark rather than as an independent operating company.
History
Maschinenbau Kiel's industrial lineage reaches back to the reorganization of Kiel manufacturing after the First World War. In 1918, Deutsche Werke Kiel AG was established amid restrictions imposed on German arms production by the Treaty of Versailles. The company pursued shipbuilding, locomotive construction, and other machinery in addition to military-related work. During the Second World War, Deutsche Werke produced U-boats and locomotives for German military use. Wartime destruction and the postwar political and industrial settlement ended the company in its earlier form. Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH was founded on 25 May 1948, incorporating several facilities formerly associated with Deutsche Werke. The postwar enterprise concentrated on mechanical engineering, particularly diesel locomotives and engines. A dispute with MAN over the use of the name led to the change from MAK to MaK in 1954. Financial difficulties in 1959 resulted in a takeover by Bremer Atlas GmbH and conversion into a GmbH. In 1964, MaK entered the Krupp group following Krupp's acquisition of its parent company. The locomotive operation became one of the company's most visible activities. During the 1950s and 1960s, MaK built rod-coupled locomotives and supplied several designs to Deutsche Bundesbahn, including locomotives associated with the V 60, V 65, V 80, V 90, V 100, V 200, and V 160 classes. From 1965, cardan-shaft transmission technology was introduced. In the late 1970s, MaK began developing locomotives based on German standardization proposals, using common components and faster-running engines. The G 1206 BB and related designs became particularly durable products, with later shunting variants extending the family. MaK also entered diesel-electric locomotive production using electrical equipment supplied by BBC. One notable result was the EN 6400, of which Nederlandse Spoorwegen purchased 120 units. The company attempted to broaden its customer base during a difficult economic period, while continuing its marine-engine and military activities. The military business was separated in 1990 as MaK System GmbH and sold to Rheinmetall. The locomotive operation was sold to Siemens in 1992 and later incorporated into Siemens rail technology. Siemens sold the Kiel factory and a Moers branch to Vossloh on 1 October 1998. The successor became Vossloh Schienenfahrzeugtechnik GmbH and was renamed Vossloh Locomotives GmbH in 2004. The marine diesel-engine division was sold to Caterpillar in 1997 and became Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, with MaK retained as a product brand. Several related activities followed separate paths. MaK DATA SYSTEM, originally an internal Krupp MaK information-technology service, became independent in 1995. The former foundry was sold in 2006 and later operated as Gießerei Kiel. Thus, Maschinenbau Kiel no longer exists as an integrated company, but its former businesses and the MaK name remain visible in Kiel's marine and rail engineering industries.
- 2006
Former foundry is sold
[1]The Caterpillar engine works' foundry and former MaK foundry were sold to SHW Casting Technologies.
- 2004
Vossloh locomotive company is renamed
[1]The successor locomotive company adopted the name Vossloh Locomotives GmbH.
- 1998
Vossloh acquires the Kiel locomotive factory
[1]Vossloh acquired the Kiel and Moers locomotive operations from Siemens.
- 1997
Marine-engine division acquired by Caterpillar
[1]Caterpillar purchased the marine diesel-engine business and continued the MaK product identity.
- 1992
Locomotive division transferred to Siemens
[1]The locomotive manufacturing business was sold to Siemens and integrated into its rail activities.
- 1990
Military division sold to Rheinmetall
[1]The military-vehicle operation became MaK System GmbH and was acquired by Rheinmetall.
- 1971
First production Marder delivered
[1]The first production Marder infantry fighting vehicle was delivered to the West German Army on 7 May.
- 1964
MaK becomes part of Krupp
[1]MaK entered the Krupp group through Krupp's takeover of its parent company.
- 1959
Acquisition by Bremer Atlas
[1]A business crisis led to the acquisition of MaK by Bremer Atlas GmbH.
- 1954
Company adopts the MaK name
[1]Following a legal dispute with MAN, the company changed its name presentation from MAK to MaK.
Products and positioning
Industrial engineering brand focused on durable diesel power, rail traction, marine propulsion, and military vehicle production. The historical company combined heavy manufacturing with specialized engineering for government, railway, shipping, and industrial customers.
Marine engines
MaK marine diesel engines
MaK's marine-engine activity developed medium-speed four-stroke diesel engines for commercial vessels, ships, and other marine applications. After Caterpillar acquired the division in 1997, the business became Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, while engines continued to carry the MaK name. Later product families included diesel and dual-fuel models, with power outputs spanning roughly 1,020 to 16,800 kW in the referenced product range.
Rail vehicles
MaK diesel locomotives
The locomotive portfolio covered shunting, industrial, and mainline diesel locomotives. Early designs used rod coupling and jackshafts; later models adopted cardan-shaft drives, diesel-electric systems, and standardized components. The company supplied Deutsche Bundesbahn and private operators, and its later G-series designs became important products under successor ownership.
Diesel-electric locomotive
EN 6400
The EN 6400 was one of MaK's more successful diesel-electric locomotive designs. It used electrical equipment supplied by BBC and was adopted in substantial numbers by Nederlandse Spoorwegen, which purchased 120 locomotives.
Tracked military vehicle · 1971
Marder
The Marder infantry fighting vehicle was among MaK's major military products. The first production vehicle was delivered to the West German Army in May 1971, and production continued through 1975, reaching 2,136 completed vehicles according to the referenced history.
Brand decisions
1998
Sell the Kiel locomotive factory to VosslohM&ABackground
After Siemens had incorporated the locomotive activity into its rail-technology organization, the Kiel and Moers operations were divested.
Action taken
Vossloh acquired the facilities and formed Vossloh Schienenfahrzeugtechnik GmbH.
Aftermath
Locomotive production continued in Kiel under Vossloh ownership, initially retaining the traditional MaK logo on products.
1997
Sell the marine-engine division to CaterpillarM&ABackground
The company's divisions were being separated as part of the broader dismantling of the integrated Maschinenbau Kiel business.
Action taken
Caterpillar acquired the marine diesel-engine division and established it as Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG.
Aftermath
The MaK brand survived in marine engines, and the Kiel operation remained part of Caterpillar's global marine-engine business.
1992
Transfer the locomotive business to SiemensM&ABackground
Krupp reorganized its transportation activities and changed the company name to Krupp Verkehrstechnik GmbH.
Action taken
The locomotive manufacturing operation was sold to Siemens and became part of Siemens rail technology.
Aftermath
Siemens later sold the Kiel factory and a Moers branch to Vossloh in 1998.
1990
Separate and sell the military-vehicle operationM&ABackground
The end of Leopard 2 production and uncertain prospects for future military orders created pressure to reorganize the defense activity.
Action taken
The military-equipment division was organized as MaK System GmbH and sold to Rheinmetall.
Aftermath
The military business left the Maschinenbau Kiel structure and continued under Rheinmetall.
Recent events
- 1998
Vossloh takes over Kiel locomotive factory[1]
M&A
Siemens sold the Kiel factory and a Moers branch to Vossloh, creating Vossloh Schienenfahrzeugtechnik GmbH.
- 1997
Caterpillar acquires MaK marine-engine division[1]
M&A
Caterpillar purchased the marine diesel-engine business, which became part of Caterpillar Motoren while continuing to use the MaK brand.
- 1992
Siemens acquires MaK locomotive manufacturing operation[1]
M&A
The locomotive business was sold to Siemens and incorporated into Siemens rail-technology activities.
- 1990
Rheinmetall acquires MaK military-vehicle division[1]
M&A
The military equipment operation was reorganized as MaK System GmbH and acquired by Rheinmetall.
Sources2 sources
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