WaldrichSiegen
German manufacturer of heavy-duty machine tools for demanding metalworking applications.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
WaldrichSiegen is a German manufacturer of heavy-duty machine tools serving industries that require the machining of very large, heavy, or technically demanding workpieces. Its product range covers milling, turning, boring, grinding, and texturing equipment. Typical applications include the manufacture and refurbishment of steel and aluminum mill rolls, large industrial components, housings for marine diesel engines, crankshafts, and other parts used in capital-intensive industrial production. The company traces its origins to 1840, when Heinrich Adolf Waldrich established Maschinenfabrik H.A. Waldrich in Siegen, then part of the Prussian province of Westphalia. The original business made pumps, pulleys, and furnace fans. It entered engine and machine-tool production during the nineteenth century: the company designed and built its first steam engine in 1863 and subsequently produced its first turning machine. After the founder died in 1879, management passed to his son, also named Heinrich Adolf Waldrich. The business expanded its portfolio over the following decades, including the production of its first roll lathe in 1897 and the beginning of roll-grinder production in 1920. Following the First World War, Oskar Waldrich, the founder's grandson, assumed management. Under his leadership, the company pursued new markets and began exporting more actively. One documented milestone was the delivery of its first machines to Russia in 1927. The Second World War severely damaged the business: bombing raids on Siegen in 1944 destroyed almost all of the company's production halls. Reconstruction and subsequent technological development nevertheless enabled WaldrichSiegen to re-establish itself as a specialist in large machine tools. A major strategic and technological turning point came in 1961, when the company combined with Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. of the United States to introduce portal milling technology into its European product offering. The resulting Waldrich Siegen-Ingersoll GmbH required a purpose-built facility because of the exceptional size and weight of the high-performance machines. A new plant was built on a greenfield site in Burbach, and the headquarters moved there after completion of the new production building in 1981. Ingersoll acquired WaldrichSiegen in 1971, and Waldrich Coburg was integrated into the wider concern in 1986. After Ingersoll, USA, became insolvent, WaldrichSiegen and Waldrich Coburg were acquired in 2004 by the owner family of Maschinenfabrik Herkules. Waldrich Coburg was sold again in 2005, while WaldrichSiegen remained within the owner-managed HerkulesGroup. UnionChemnitz, which joined the HerkulesGroup in 2011, has been identified as a future joint market presence with WaldrichSiegen, reflecting the group's effort to combine complementary heavy-machine-tool capabilities. WaldrichSiegen's competitive position rests on large-machine engineering, application-specific design, precision, and lifecycle service rather than on high-volume standardized equipment. Its international operating footprint includes production and service locations in the United States, China, and India in addition to Germany. The company is associated with engineering developments such as hydrostatic worm drives for turning and milling machines, introduced in 1970, and the WaldrichSiegen master-head concept, developed in 2009. As an autonomous company within the HerkulesGroup, it continues to focus on specialized machine tools for heavy industrial users.
History
WaldrichSiegen began in 1840 as Maschinenfabrik H.A. Waldrich, founded by Heinrich Adolf Waldrich in Siegen. Its earliest products were pumps, pulleys, and fans for furnaces. The company entered more advanced mechanical production with a steam engine in 1863 and its first turning machine. After the founder's death in 1879, his son assumed management and broadened the product range. The company produced its first roll lathe in 1897 and started roll-grinder production in 1920. After the First World War, Oskar Waldrich, the founder's grandson, led the business and developed new export markets. The first machines were delivered to Russia in 1927. Wartime bombing destroyed almost all production halls in Siegen in 1944, requiring extensive postwar reconstruction. In 1961, WaldrichSiegen joined with Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. to establish Waldrich Siegen-Ingersoll GmbH and bring portal milling technology to Europe. The scale of the machines led to construction of a new production facility in Burbach. The building was completed in 1981, when the headquarters moved from Siegen to Burbach. Ingersoll acquired WaldrichSiegen in 1971, and Waldrich Coburg was added to the concern in 1986. Following Ingersoll's insolvency, the Herkules owner family acquired WaldrichSiegen and Waldrich Coburg in 2004. Waldrich Coburg was sold in 2005, while WaldrichSiegen remained an autonomous business in the owner-managed HerkulesGroup. UnionChemnitz joined the group in 2011, and the two businesses were subsequently intended to appear jointly in the market. WaldrichSiegen now supplies and supports heavy-duty milling, turning, boring, grinding, and texturing machines internationally, with production and service operations in Germany, the United States, China, and India.
- 2011
UnionChemnitz joins HerkulesGroup
[1]UnionChemnitz became part of the HerkulesGroup, supporting plans for joint market activity with WaldrichSiegen.
- 2009
Master-head concept
[1]The WaldrichSiegen master-head concept was developed.
- 2004
Herkules owner family acquisition
[1]WaldrichSiegen and Waldrich Coburg were acquired after Ingersoll's insolvency.
- 1986
Waldrich Coburg integrated
[1]Waldrich Coburg was integrated into the Ingersoll concern.
- 1981
Burbach plant completed
[1]A new production site in Burbach was completed and the headquarters moved from Siegen.
- 1971
Acquisition by Ingersoll
[1]WaldrichSiegen was acquired by Ingersoll.
- 1970
Hydrostatic worm-drive development
[1]WaldrichSiegen developed hydrostatic worm drives for turning and milling machines.
- 1961
Portal milling line launched
[1]The company combined with Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. and introduced portal milling capability for the European market.
- 1944
Wartime destruction of Siegen facilities
[1]Bombing raids destroyed almost all of the company's production halls.
- 1927
First documented Russian export
[1]The company delivered its first machines to Russia.
Products and positioning
Specialist engineering brand for very large, high-precision machine tools used in heavy industry, with emphasis on customized configurations, difficult workpieces, process integration, and international service support.
Milling machines · 1961
Portal milling machines
Large portal milling machines form one of WaldrichSiegen's historically important product lines. They are designed for the machining of large and heavy workpieces that require substantial working envelopes, rigidity, and controlled high-performance cutting. The line emerged from the company's cooperation with Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. and led to the construction of a dedicated Burbach facility.
Turning machines
Horizontal lathes
WaldrichSiegen's horizontal lathes are intended for large rotational components and demanding heavy-machining operations. The company's history includes early turning-machine production and the later development of roll lathes, making large-scale turning a central part of its industrial identity.
Turning machines
Vertical lathes
Vertical lathes support the machining of large-diameter or heavy components whose geometry and weight make vertical workholding advantageous. They are part of the company's heavy-duty turning portfolio for industrial customers requiring specialized large-machine configurations.
Boring and milling machines
Horizontal boring machines
Horizontal boring machines are used for accurate boring, milling, and related operations on large housings and structural components. WaldrichSiegen positions this equipment for applications where dimensional accuracy, machine rigidity, and the ability to handle very large workpieces are essential.
Grinding machines · 1920
Roll grinders
Roll grinders are used to restore and finish industrial rolls, including rolls used in metal-processing operations. The company began roll-grinder production in 1920, making this one of its longest-established specialist capabilities.
Texturing machines
Texturing machines
Texturing machines apply controlled surface structures to rolls and other suitable workpieces. They complement WaldrichSiegen's turning and grinding equipment by supporting customers that need both dimensional finishing and defined surface characteristics.
Turning machines · 1897
Roll lathes
Roll lathes are specialized turning systems for the machining of large rolls. WaldrichSiegen produced its first roll lathe in 1897, and the product type remains closely associated with the company's expertise in heavy machine tools for steel and related industries.
Brand decisions
2004
Join the HerkulesGroup after Ingersoll insolvencyM&ABackground
Ingersoll's insolvency in the United States created an ownership transition for WaldrichSiegen and Waldrich Coburg.
Action taken
The owner family of Maschinenfabrik Herkules acquired both companies.
Aftermath
WaldrichSiegen became an autonomous company within the owner-managed HerkulesGroup, while Waldrich Coburg was subsequently sold.
1981
Move large-machine production and headquarters to BurbachStrategyBackground
The size and weight of high-performance portal milling machines exceeded the practical capabilities of the earlier facilities.
Action taken
The company built a new greenfield production site in Burbach and moved its headquarters there after completion.
Aftermath
The new site provided infrastructure suited to the manufacture of very large machine tools.
1961
Enter the European portal-milling market through cooperation with IngersollStrategyBackground
The company sought to extend its heavy-machine-tool portfolio with portal milling technology originating from the United States.
Action taken
WaldrichSiegen combined with Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. and established Waldrich Siegen-Ingersoll GmbH.
Aftermath
The cooperation led to a portal-milling product line and ultimately required a large new production site in Burbach.
Recent events
- 2011
UnionChemnitz joins the HerkulesGroup[1]
M&A
UnionChemnitz became part of the HerkulesGroup, creating a basis for a joint market presence with WaldrichSiegen.
- 2005
Waldrich Coburg sold again[1]
M&A
The Herkules owners sold Waldrich Coburg, while WaldrichSiegen remained within the developing HerkulesGroup.
- 2004
WaldrichSiegen acquired by the Herkules owner family[1]
M&A
Following the insolvency of Ingersoll in the United States, WaldrichSiegen and Waldrich Coburg were acquired by the owner family of Maschinenfabrik Herkules.
- 1986
Waldrich Coburg integrated into the Ingersoll concern[1]
M&A
Waldrich Coburg was integrated into the wider Ingersoll organization.
- 1981
Burbach production site and headquarters relocation[1]
Other
A purpose-built production facility in Burbach was completed for the manufacture of exceptionally large portal milling machines, and the headquarters moved from Siegen.
- 1971
Ingersoll acquires WaldrichSiegen[1]
M&A
WaldrichSiegen became part of Ingersoll, deepening the company's connection with American milling technology and international industrial markets.
- 1961
Waldrich Siegen-Ingersoll introduces portal milling capability[1]
M&A · Product launch
A combination with Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. brought portal milling technology into the company's European product offering.
- 1944
Siegen production facilities largely destroyed during wartime bombing[1]
Other
Bombing raids on Siegen during the Second World War destroyed almost all of the company's production halls.
- 1927
First machines delivered to Russia[1]
Other
The company expanded its export activity by delivering its first documented machines to Russia.
- 1920
Roll-grinder production starts[1]
Product launch
WaldrichSiegen began manufacturing roll grinders, establishing an important product line for steel and metal-processing customers.
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