Bulk cargo solutions Salzgitter Maschinenbau

BULK CARGO SOLUTIONS

Specialist mechanical engineering company Salzgitter Maschinenbau AG (SMAG) is the world market leader in the development and manufacture of grabs for bulk cargo applications. Industry Europe looks at how the company has become the market leader in its sector.

Established in Salzgitter, Germany in 1919 by Anton Raky, a pioneer of the engineering industry, Salzgitter Maschinenbau AG (SMAG) today is the world market leader in grabs. A 500-person strong mechanical engineering company that specialises in the development, manufacture and operation of grabs for the loading and unloading of seagoing cargo vessels, SMAG operates worldwide.

Bought by the Salzgitter Group in 1937, SMAG has continued to acquire strategically beneficial companies throughout its nearly 100-year history in order to gain brands, skills and market presence. It bought the grab division of Peiner AG in 1986 and continues to operate under this well-known brand for its grabs. It uses the SMAG brand for motor, hydraulic and rope grabs. Both names are considered leaders in their fields.

A spokesperson for the company told Industry Europe how SMAG’s core competencies continue to be boosted by clever

acquisitions: “Relatively recently we bought special technology company Herbst GmbH located in Braunschweig, which has allowed us to enjoy rapid growth in this sector, as it was respected for its truck loading equipment specifically for the mining and steel mill industries. Now called Herbst SMAG Mining Technologies GmbH, it has brought us increased activity in mining technology which works well with our existing mining equipment capabilities.” Grabs and more

SMAG’s core competencies see mining technology sit alongside its famous grabs and mobile antenna equipment. These three SMAG divisions all work separately from its Salzgitter head office, with further production facilities in Döbeln, Germany and Shanghai, China. The mobile antenna equipment division primarily provides mechanically and hydraulically actuated antenna masts. The company also develops and manufactures fully automated drilling rigs specifically for salt mining applications. As the world market leader in grabs, SMAG’s Peiner grabs are ideally suited to bulk cargo applications such as the lifting and unloading of sand, gravel, coal, refuse, wood and agricultural commodities.

The blend of these services allows the company to meet the demanding bulk cargo loading and unloading needs of the marine industry, particularly for cargo shipping, as well as for steel mills, incinerator plants, construction

ODU Connection Systems - A perfect alliance

For many years SMAG Salzgitter Maschinenbau GmbH trusts in the expertise and the know-how of ODU. Whether it’s heavy plug connectors or durable individual contacts – as a specialist for innovative connection systems, ODU also offers the most suitable solutions specific for the most demanding of requirements on the market. It is on this basis that they have made a reputation as a reliable partner with their convincing implementation competence in markets such as medical, industrial, measurement and testing, military and security, energy and automotive.

Contact: Michael.gorski@odu.de

and timber sectors. It has extensive in-house capabilities that it has developed throughout its history, and added to by strategic acquisitions.

SMAG has 100 per cent ownership of a Leipzig-based company called Matec. Matec’s expertise in manufacturing cabins for trucks for excavators and other applications is a welcome addition to the SMAG portfolio. It also owns 70 per cent of a joint venture in China, where a further 420 employees are based.

Continuing investment

Ongoing investment also plays a key role in SMAG’s continuing success, both in terms of adding to its existing capabilities and by increasing its technical offer. The company invests every year, with upgrades in the past couple of years including a state-of-the-art paint shop and drying hall. This has ensured that SMAG remains ahead of the changing EU regulations requiring all companies to use only water-based paint for ecological reasons.

SMAG has also installed two machines which offer the very latest plasma cutting technology. Over the past two years these have significantly boosted its effectiveness and productivity in this department.

Already enjoying a broad global presence, SMAG can meet the needs of its customers worldwide, with a particularly strong position in Europe, the USA, Australia, Asia and South America. The company spokesperson continued, “As yet we are not that strong in the Middle East or Russia, where we are keen to find new partners to enable us to bring our products and services to these regions. Strategic acquisitions have long been an important part of our business development strategy and we have been cooperating closely with the German Chamber of Commerce to ensure that we are utilising all possible opportunities.”

SMAG is focusing its ongoing acquisition plans in the fields of coil tongs and paper tongs, as these will add value to its current crane and grab offer. Open-minded to the location and specific capabilities of its potential acquisition targets, SMAG expects that its marine activities will steadily be eclipsed by its growing material handling business. n