SCHIESS – Founded in 1857. Still Leading Today.
SCHIESS Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik GmbH looks back on over 160 years of tradition: In 1857 – 168 years ago – Heinrich Billeter and Wilhelm Klunz founded the Maschinenbauanstalt Aschersleben in Aschersleben. In 1866, Ernst Schiess established SCHIESS in Düsseldorf. All three belonged to the generation of Magdeburg’s “Young Wild Engineers” of the 19th century. In 1891, Ernst Schiess initiated the founding of the Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken (VDW – German Machine Tool Builders’ Association). After German reunification, the three companies were reunited in 1991 – though no longer in person.
From Founding to 1945
Billeter and Klunz started as a repair workshop, including for lathes. By 1860, they began producing their first machine tools. In the 1870s, they specialized in planing machines, which brought them worldwide fame at the 1889 Paris World’s Fair.
By 1880, it was among the top three machine tool manufacturers in the German Empire. During World War Ⅰ, the company was classified as essential to the war effort and supplied German shipyards. In World War Ⅱ, it was again involved in producing critical military goods.
By the 1920s, their product range expanded to 15 different types of planing machines. In 1931, they diversified into surface grinding machines. During World War Ⅱ, the company also produced malitary equipment. Similarly, SCHIESS began as a repair shop and contract manufacturer. Only after 1870 did it start producing machine tools (vertical lathes, portal milling machines, and later horizontal milling machines).
From 1945 to 1989
After World War II, Billeter und Klunz was nationalized as VEB Werkzeugmaschinen (WEMA) Aschersleben in East Germany. The company resumed production of planing and grinding machines. By the 1960s, it began developing new products, and in the 1970s, it expanded into large machining centers. Meanwhile, in West Germany, Schiess restarted production of its classic machine tools in Düsseldorf during the 1950s. Even then, its machines were massive – capable of handling workpieces up to 25,500 mm in diameter and weighing 1,800 tons. Both companies continued operating separately during Germany’s division.
1991: Reunification
After German reunification, Lentjes Holding / SCHIESS AG acquired WEMA Aschersleben. In 1993, shares were transferred to Bremer Vulkan, which filed for bankruptcy in 1996. A management buyout in 1997 led to the formation of SCHIESS Wema GmbH, focusing on contract manufacturing. By 1999, SCHIESS began designing a completely new product line, including horizontal boring machines, vertical turning lathes, and gantry milling machines. This period was marked by challenges – ownership changes, privatizations, mergers, crises, and transformations – all aimed at preserving the company’s centuries-old expertise.
A new chapter began when China’s Shenyang Machine Tool Group (SYMG) acquired SCHIESS GmbH in 2004. However, after 15 years, SCHIESS GmbH ceased operations in 2019.
2019: Begin of A New Era
At the end of 2019, SCHIESS Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik GmbH was re-established as a subsidiary of Shandong Longma Holding Group (ALM), a Chinese wind energy specialist. This marked a major milestone in SCHIESS’s 160+ year history, opening new opportunities for global expansion.
Renowned for its outstanding German engineering prowess, SCHIESS now combines its time-honored expertise with the resources and global reach of China’s Shandong Longma Holding Group (ALM). This powerful synergy enables the company to expand its range of ultra-precision machine tools while developing innovative new products that meet the evolving demands of modern industry.
The story of SCHIESS stands as a testament to continuous reinvention and adaptability in an intensely competitive and ever-changing market. From its founding in 1866 to its current position as part of a globally operating industrial group, the company has remained steadfast in its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer focus. With the backing of Shandong Longma Holding (ALM), SCHIESS is now well-equipped to maintain its leadership in the machine tool industry, setting new banchmarks in precision and performance for the future.