History

Innovation and flexibility since 1929

As a specialist in the development and production of customised chassis systems for buses, rail and commercial vehicles, HEMSCHEIDT is today part of the globally active Hübner Group. HEMSCHEIDT products are in daily use in numerous commercial vehicles all over the world and inspire with revolutionary vehicle dynamics and valuable contributions to more economic and ecological efficiency.

 

For almost 100 years HEMSCHEIDT has stood for technologically leading and innovative engineering services "Made in Germany". Dr.-Ing. e.h. Hermann Hemscheidt founded the company in 1929 as Maschinenfabrik HEMSCHEIDT Wuppertal (MHW) for the production of machines and components for the mining industry. Only three years later the shock absorber production was added.

 

Initially, shock absorbers for wheeled and tracked vehicles were still manufactured under licence (patent Zenz), but from 1947 the Wuppertal plant produced up to 100,000 shock absorbers per month for VW, Borgward, Daimler Benz, Kreidler and other brands. After 1965 production was again concentrated on shock absorbers for wheeled and tracked vehicles.

 

On the basis of many years of experience with shock absorber systems, HEMSCHEIDT developed competences in the field of hydraulic systems for chassis at an early stage. Consequently, a hydropneumatic suspension for an 8x8 vehicle was first presented in 1988. The subsequent start of series production of the first hydraulically damped articulation for articulated buses, at the beginning of the 1990s, heralded the dynamic development of the following years. The prototype of the HEPLEX® suspension with dynamic damping followed in 1992. Shortly afterwards HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik GmbH & Co. is founded and spun off from the HEMSCHEIDT machine factory. The company is now based in Haan-Gruiten. What remains is a close relationship between HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik and the Bergisches Land. Most suppliers still come from the region today and have been reliable partners for the companies of HEMSCHEIDT Maschinenfabrik for decades.

 

In 1995 a prototype of the HEPLEX® suspension with dynamic roll stabilisation and controlled damping was also developed and series production of the hydropneumatic HEPLEX® suspension & damping system was started. The following years are characterised by numerous other hydropneumatic suspension solutions for commercial vehicles. In 2007 HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik finally became part of the Hübner Group.

 

With the appointment of Dr.-Ing. Mark Wöhrmann as Managing Director, the company initiates a reorientation in 2013. Just one year later the innovative air suspension system for trailer axles from HEMSCHEIDT is awarded 3rd place in the Trailer Award competition at the IAA for commercial vehicles. Series production starts in 2016 and the product portfolio is also expanded to include lightweight axel guides for the commercial vehicle industry.

 

In 2017, Hübner takes over SAMES Engineering from Feucht, the engineering company specialising in chassis systems for rail vehicles. As HEMSCHEIDT Engineering and sister company of HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik, the company expands the overall portfolio by competences in the field of development, testing and production of customised chassis systems for rail vehicles.


Milestones of the company history

1929

Foundation of Maschinenfabrik HEMSCHEIDT Wuppertal (MHW) by Hermann Hemscheidt on "Black Friday". First products: Machines and components for the mining industry.

1932

Introduction and development of shock absorber production.

1940

Begin of licensed shock absorber production for military vehicles (Zenz patent).

1947

Start of production of shock absorbers for VW, Borgward, Daimler Benz, Kreidler and others. Production volume of up to 100,000 shock absorbers per month.

1965

Focus on shock absorber production for military wheeled and tracked vehicles.

1988

First prototype of an 8x8 vehicle with a hydro-pneumatic suspension by HEMSCHEIDT.

1989

Foundation of IBS Ingenieurbüro Sames by Gerhold Sames (see 2016 foundation of HEMSCHEIDT Engineering).

1991

Series production of the hydraulically damped rotary joint for articulated buses.

1992

First prototype of HEPLEX® suspension with dynamic damping.

1993

1st December: HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik GmbH & Co. is founded and demerged from Maschinenfabrik HEMSCHEIDT.

1994

IBS: Production of various servo-hydraulic cylinders in small testing machines (see 2016 foundation of HEMSCHEIDT Engineering).

1995

1st January: Maschinenfabrik HEMSCHEIDT merged into Deutsche Bergbautechnik, which was founded by Ruhrkohle AG.

1st September: HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik leaves the Wuppertal site, and moves production facilities to Haan-Gruiten. 

First prototype of HEPLEX® suspension with dynamic roll stabilization and controlled damping.

1996

Series production of two types of vehicles for the German armed forces.

IBS: Development and delivery of a modern flat track test bench to Adam Opel AG and BMW AG. 

1997

Series production of construction vehicles with HEPLEX® suspension.

2001

Series production of vehicles with HEPLEX® suspension for the US army.

2002

HEMSCHEIDT delivers articulation systems as well as folding bellows for articulated buses.

IBS: Development of a new type of low-floor bogie for the tram CROTRAM (Koncar)

2003

Prototype of hydraulic spring with swing arm for tracked vehicles.

IBS: Start of series production of vehicle stabilisation systems; including suspensions, guides, dampers.

2005

Prototype of linear element for tracked vehicles.

2006

Prototype of a heat-compensating hydro-pneumatic spring with two suspension stages and cooling.

Prototype of HEPLEX® suspension for a 400 t vehicle.

2007

1st April: HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG becomes part of the Hübner Group.

2009

Prototype of a part-supporting damping system.

IBS: More than 4000 hydropneumatic systems delivered.

2011

Prototype and successful testing of a high-performance damping system.

2012

IBS: Development of two passenger coach bogies for Brazil.

2013

New management, start of the reorientation of the company.

2014

Presentation of innovative and excellent air suspension for trailer axles.

Presentation of lightweight guides for the commercial vehicle industry.

IBS: Development of a low-floor chassis for trams.

2016

Start of series production of the HEMSCHNEIDT air suspension system for trailer axles.

Foundation of HEMSCHEIDT Engineering GmbH & Co. KG by gaining the employees of the former IBS SAMES Engineering GmbH.

2017

Development and delivery of a new unscrewing test bench "RTRsys".

2019

More than 25,000 vehicle stabilisation systems supplied.

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info@hemscheidt.de