The move stands out as a key element of GMH Gruppe’s transformation strategy and aims to strengthen the group’s position in the European tool steel and open die forging markets. To support the integration, GMH Gruppe will invest approximately EUR 30 million across the Open Die Forging Group.
As part of the consolidation, coordination will be enhanced among the three companies in production planning, metallurgy, logistics and sales. Efficiency gains are expected through shared capacity management, process harmonization and the integration of interfaces.
Within the integrated structure, each brand has been given a clear positioning. Kind & Co. focuses on hot work tool steels, premium and remelted tool steels for technically demanding applications, while also offering end user services, technical application support and vacuum hardening. Schmiedewerke Gröditz specializes in open die forgings, rolled rings, engineering steels, special forged components for plastics processing, as well as stainless and remelted steels. Buderus Edelstahl is positioned as a full service tool steel supplier, providing high depth of processing engineering steels for large components, plastics processing applications, tool holders and die supports. This differentiation enables GMH Gruppe to address diverse customer requirements across a wide range of applications.
Within the Open Die Forging Group, standard, performance oriented and premium solutions are offered, allowing customers to select the option best suited to their technical requirements and expected service life. Together, the three companies cover the entire value chain for tool steel and open die forging, from scrap melting and remelting to forging, machining and heat treatment.
Across the integrated structure, the portfolio includes more than 400 steel grades and over 2,500 analysis modifications, ranging from standard tool steels to premium remelted grades. The ability to source small quantities and small format components from a single supplier is particularly important for industries requiring short lead times, prototyping and special geometries. GMH Gruppe CEO Dr. Alexander Becker stated that bringing three strong companies together under the GMH Open Die Forging Group has created a unique product and service portfolio, offering customers integrated solutions ranging from technological consulting and in house steel production and refining to forging, heat treatment and complex machining processes.
The integration also aligns with increasing demand for reliable Europe based supply in sectors such as automotive, mechanical engineering and foundry industries. Combined inventories in Germany, Italy, China and the United States are expected to improve material availability and reduce volatility in international supply chains. Total annual production across the integrated portfolio exceeds 100,000 tons.
Under the investment program, a new ladle transfer car will be commissioned at Schmiedewerke Gröditz to enhance production efficiency and material purity. Additional plans include the installation of a new hardening furnace for large structural and gigacasting components at the Bielstein site, the relocation of energy efficient forging furnaces from Wetzlar to Gröditz, and further modernization measures across the group. These steps are expected to contribute to capacity expansion, improved energy efficiency and the modernization of production technology.
GMH Gruppe follows a production route based exclusively on electric furnaces and recycled scrap material, achieving up to an 80 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with conventional blast furnace methods. As one of Europe’s largest privately owned metal processing companies, GMH Gruppe operates more than 20 facilities in over 50 countries, employs around 6,000 people and generates annual revenues exceeding EUR 2 billion. Active in sustainable steel production, the group contributes to the circular economy through the use of recycled scrap and supplies low carbon footprint products to sectors ranging from automotive and mechanical engineering to energy and construction.
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