Seissenschmidt

Seissenschmidt is a German industrial and automotive supplier brand with roots dating to 1846, when Hermann Bernhard Seissenschmidt founded the company in Plettenberg to produce wood screws. Over the following decades the business, known as H. B. Seissenschmidt, expanded into railway superstructure materials, wagon fittings, screws and nuts, and later into heating radiator fittings and prestressed concrete components. From 1964 it began producing forged parts for the automotive industry, investing in fully automatic horizontal multi-stage presses for hot forming. The company was converted into a family stock corporation in 1924 and remained under the influence of the founder's descendants for much of its history. By 2013 the Seissenschmidt group employed around 900 people and generated revenue of 228 million euros, with subsidiaries in Germany, Hungary and the United States. In 2014 planning began for its acquisition by the Canadian automotive supplier Linamar, and from early 2015 Seissenschmidt belonged entirely to Linamar. The stock corporation was converted into Seissenschmidt GmbH in June 2015 and deleted from the commercial register. In February 2021 the company was renamed Linamar Plettenberg GmbH. Today it operates as a Linamar subsidiary manufacturing precision components for transmissions, engines, differentials, axles, drive shafts and other drivetrain and chassis applications.

The company was founded in 1846 by Hermann Bernhard Seissenschmidt in Plettenberg, initially manufacturing wood screws. In the following years it added railway superstructure materials, wagon fittings, screws and nuts, operating under the name H. B. Seissenschmidt. In 1859 the first Plettenberg steam engines replaced water power. After the founder's death in 1860, his son Wilhelm Seissenschmidt took over the business. Between 1882 and 1891 the forge was expanded with 14 drop hammers, and the first electric motors came into use. Wilhelm Seissenschmidt had workers' housing built, donated a poorhouse and in 1893 a hospital, and founded a factory health insurance fund. After Wilhelm's death, his wife Eleonore took over the business. In 1917 it was taken over by the daughter Anna Engelhard. In 1924 H. B. Seissenschmidt was converted into a family stock corporation. From 1928 Egenolf Engelhard, the founder's great-grandson, led the company. In 1933/1934 a modern forging hall was built. In 1948 production of fittings for heating radiators began. Seissenschmidt supplied products for the railway industry, heating construction and prestressed concrete construction, among others. Production of forged parts for the automotive industry began in 1964 with investment in a first fully automatic horizontal multi-stage press for hot forming. Fully automatic horizontal multi-stage presses were used for large-series production, capable of producing 10,800 forged parts per hour. In the 1970s the inner-city operation, founded on Grünestraße and headquartered there until then, was relocated to the Köbbinghausen industrial area as part of inner-city redevelopment. The move to Köbbinghausen began in 1976. Between 1993 and 1995 Seissenschmidt was transformed from a conventional to a fully automated forming operation. In 2013 the group employed around 900 people and generated revenue of 228 million euros. The group included, alongside the stock corporation, subsidiaries Seissenschmidt Components Processing GmbH + Co. KG (Plettenberg), Seissenschmidt Components Processing Verwaltungs GmbH (Plettenberg), Seissenschmidt Heat Treatment GmbH + Co. KG (Halver), Seissenschmidt Heat Treatment Verwaltungs GmbH (Halver), Seissenschmidt Precision Components Kft. (Gyöngyös, Hungary), Seissenschmidt Corporation (Oscoda, Michigan, USA), Seissenschmidt Future Energy GmbH + Co. KG (Plettenberg) and Seissenschmidt Future Energy Verwaltungs GmbH (Plettenberg). In 2014 planning began for the acquisition of Seissenschmidt Aktiengesellschaft by the Canadian automotive supplier Linamar. From early 2015 Seissenschmidt belonged entirely to Linamar. On 1 June 2015, following a resolution of the annual general meeting, Seissenschmidt GmbH was created by conversion through change of legal form from Seissenschmidt Aktiengesellschaft. On 10 June 2015 the stock corporation was deleted from the commercial register. In February 2021 Seissenschmidt GmbH was renamed Linamar Plettenberg GmbH.

• 2021

  Renamed Linamar Plettenberg GmbH in February 2021.

• 2015

  From early 2015 fully owned by Linamar; on 1 June 2015 converted into Seissenschmidt GmbH; stock corporation deleted from commercial register on 10 June 2015.

• 2014

  Planning began for acquisition by Canadian automotive supplier Linamar.

• 2013

  Group employed around 900 people and generated revenue of 228 million euros.

• 1993

  Transformation from conventional to fully automated forming operation (1993–1995).

• 1976

  Began relocation from inner-city site to Köbbinghausen industrial area.

• 1964

  Began production of forged parts for automotive industry with first fully automatic horizontal multi-stage press.

• 1948

  Began production of fittings for heating radiators.

• 1933

  Modern forging hall built (1933/1934).

• 1928

  Egenolf Engelhard, great-grandson of founder, began leading the company.

• 1924

  H. B. Seissenschmidt converted into a family stock corporation.

• 1917

  Takeover by daughter Anna Engelhard.

• 1893

  Wilhelm Seissenschmidt donated a hospital and founded a factory health insurance fund.

• 1882

  Expansion of forge with 14 drop hammers (until 1891); first electric motors used.

• 1860

  After founder's death, son Wilhelm Seissenschmidt took over the business.

• 1859

  First Plettenberg steam engines replaced water power.

• 1846

  Founded by Hermann Bernhard Seissenschmidt in Plettenberg; initially produced wood screws.

German engineering heritage in precision forging and automotive components, now integrated into a global automotive supplier.

• Precision components for transmissions

• Engine components

• Differential components

• Axle components

• Drive shafts

• Forged parts for automotive industry

• Screws and nuts

• Railway superstructure materials

• Heating radiator fittings

1. 1Seissenschmidt - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Linamar Plettenberg - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org