VDM Metals is the world market leader for nickel alloys and high-alloy special stainless steels in a wide variety of product forms, such as sheet and strip (coils), bars, forgings, wires and welding consumables. In recent years, VDM Metals has also developed high-alloy powder materials for additive manufacturing.
Materials from VDM Metals are used wherever there are special requirements for corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance and also special mechanical properties. These applications can be found in a wide variety of industries, such as the chemical industry, oil and gas production, aerospace in aircraft turbines, and also in the automotive industry in turbochargers and catalytic converters. It is also used as a heating conductor in the manufacture of ceramic hobs and toasters. The company’s extensive materials know-how is the basis of its success. VDM Metals‘ materials are essential for sustainable energy generation, transmission and conversion. That’s why VDM Metals also focuses on further development and qualification of existing and new materials for clean energies. For example, materials from VDM Metals are used in the field of solar thermal plants, the production of hydrogen, in fuel cells, as well as in overhead power lines and geothermal energy.
More than 60 inventions and over 300 national patents are proof of the company’s innovative strength.
VDM Metals has seven production sites. Most of the production and development of nickel-base materials takes place in South Westphalia at the Werdohl, Altena and Siegen sites. Around 1,200 employees work here.
The company’s global sales network includes twelve of its own branches and 30 external sales partners. A good 60 percent of the products are exported. Increasing mobility worldwide, scarcity of resources and the trend towards efficiency improvements are driving product and sales development. Carl Berg and Gustav Selve, industrial pioneers from Werdohl and Altena, founded the predecessor companies of VDM. After being integrated into Krupp and ThyssenKrupp group structures in the 1990s, VDM Metals has been part of the Spanish stainless steel group Acerinox S.A. since 2020.
WORLD MARKET LEADER PRODUCT/S
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Merger of Berg-Heckmann-Selve AG and Heddernheimer Kupferwerk und Süddeutsche Kabelwerke GmbH to form Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke AG (VDM)
Construction of a smelting plant in Unna and specialization in nickel materials; headquarters for the division become Werdohl
Krupp acquires VDM Nickel-Technologie AG
Acquisition of Precision Rolled Products in the USA
Integration of ThyssenKrupp Titanium
ThyssenKrupp announces sale of VDM to Lindsay Goldberg
Madrid-based Spanish company Acerinox S.A. acquires VDM Metals
In the team for South Westphalia
c/o SIHK zu Hagen
Bahnhofstraße 18
D-58095 Hagen
Phone +49 (0) 2331 390-0
Email weltmarktfuehrer@hagen.ihk.de
An award from the IHKs in the team for South Westphalia
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The entrepreneurial success of hidden champions usually results from successfully occupying niche markets.