13 August marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke (VDM). "VDM has reinvented itself several times in the course of its history. Nowhere else is the saying more true that nothing is as constant as change. The further development of VDM Metals once again demonstrates the company's adaptability and makes us proud of the successes of recent years," explains Dr. Niclas Müller, Chief Executive Officer of VDM Metals. 

VDM was founded in 1930 when Berg-Heckmann-Selve AG took over Heddernheimer Kupferwerk und Süddeutsche Kabelwerke GmbH. The two companies had joined forces due to economic constraints and brought various plants into the new company – so VDM initially had locations in Frankfurt, Mannheim, Gustavsburg (Mainz), Nuremberg, Cologne, Aschaffenburg, Duisburg, Altena and Werdohl. The product range included in particular different aluminum, copper and brass alloys, which were offered in various shapes and dimensions. The focus on nickel alloys, for which the VDM brand stands today, did not begin until the 1970s. 

In the course of its history, not only the manufacturing programme but also the corporate structure changed. Thus, by the mid-1980s, VDM parted with many of its original sites. For example, the plants in Cologne (1969), Frankfurt (1982) and Duisburg (1984) were closed down, and the production facilities in Mannheim (1970) and Nuremberg (1982) were sold. 

Rise to world market leader for nickel alloys

Today's company with its worldwide network of subsidiaries was spun off in 1987 as VDM Nickel-Technologie AG and taken over by Krupp Stahl AG one year later. In 1991 the company was renamed Krupp-VDM AG. A few months earlier, VDM had acquired the American company Precision Rolled Products (PRP) with production facilities in New Jersey and Nevada. The 1990s were extremely successful for VDM, not least because of a number of groundbreaking material developments, such as VDM® Alloy 59, at that time still known on the market under the name Nicrofer 5923 hMo. "Innovations have also characterized the company's development in the recent past", explains Dr. Müller, "VDM® Alloy C-264, Alloy 780 or Alloy 699 XA, for example, are new materials developed to help our customers to make their processes and applications even more efficient and thus more sustainable in the future. So we are keeping our finger on the pulse of the times."

Since March 2020, VDM Metals has been part of the Spanish Acerinox SA. "The Acerinox Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. So together we can look back on more than 140 years of experience. Following the acquisition of VDM Metals and the establishment of the new high-performance alloys division, our Group is stronger than ever. We can therefore not only look back with pride at what we have achieved, but also look forward with confidence," says Bernardo Velázquez, Chairman of the Management Board of Acerinox.

Customers benefit

Customers of VDM Metals will benefit from the anniversary in particular. Between 13 and 19 August 2020, they will receive an incredible 9.0% discount on all orders placed in the VDM Metals Online Shop (applies to freely available stock, not on cut parts). All you have to do is enter the promtion code "VDM90" into the given input field during the order process.

Further Information

Philip Verbnik, Head of Marketing & Communications

Phone: +49 2392 55 2274

E-mail: philipp.verbnik@vdm-metals.com

About VDM Metals

VDM Metals, based in Werdohl, Germany, is part of the Acerinox Group. The company develops and manufactures nickel, cobalt and zirconium alloys as well as high-alloyed special stainless steels. For 90 years, VDM Metals has been supplying sheet, strip, rod, wire, welding consumables and powders to customers in the chemical and plant engineering, power generation, oil and gas, electrical engineering and electronics, automotive and aerospace industries. VDM Metals employs around 2,000 people worldwide.

www.vdm-metals.com