Albert Handtmann Holding GmbH & Co. KG

About Handtmann

The Handtmann group of companies is a family-run technology company founded in 1873, based in Biberach an der Riß, with five business divisions: light metal casting, systems engineering, plastics engineering, processing and plant engineering. The light metal casting division produces precision aluminium die casting components for the automotive industry with more than 2,300 employees; die casting machines with clamping forces from 840 to 6,100 tonnes produce compact parts as well as large-format aluminium components, supported by processes such as mega casting, semi-solid processing and AI-supported process control. Handtmann is the largest family-owned aluminium foundry in Germany. The value chain extends from simulation, design and topology optimisation through casting and CNC finishing to ready-to-assemble components; in addition, the systems engineering division develops and industrialises drive and battery systems for ICE, PHEV, BEV and fuel cell applications. The plastics engineering division supplies prototypes, small series, 3D printing, semi-finished products and injection moulding, while plant engineering manufactures fittings, valves and process systems for the food, pharmaceutical and bio industries. Production sites are located in Germany, Slovakia and China; in 2025 the group generated revenue of EUR 1.4 billion with 4,700 employees.

Site

Biberach/Riß

Processes

Aluminium die casting (conventional die casting, mega casting, semi-solid processing), Gravity die casting, Post-casting processing, CNC machining, Simulation, design and topology optimisation, additive prototype production, Ready-to-assemble components (highly automated production with integrated manufacturing/assembly), 3D printing (various processes), Semi-finished and injection-moulded production (plastics)

Materials

Aluminium alloys (customised), Brass, Malleable cast iron, Stainless steel, Polyamide (lactam casting, Lauramid®), Plastics (various), Aluminium alloys (EN AW-AlSi, customised)

Certificates

ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, IATF 16949

Founded

1873

Employees

4700

Industries

Automotive industry, Mechanical engineering, Food technology, Plastics engineering, Pharmaceutical industry, Bio industry

1. 01

   Development and design

2. 02

   Simulation, design and topology optimisation

3. 03

   Aluminium die casting

4. 04

   Post-casting processing and CNC machining

5. 05

   Assembly

6. 06

   Installation and application support

Materials and Processes

Sites

Biberach/Riß

DE

Headquarters, light metal casting, systems engineering, plastics engineering, processing, plant engineering

Materials

Aluminium, stainless steel, plastics

• Die casting machines up to 6,100 t clamping force
• fully automated CNC machining
• highly automated assembly systems

Annaberg-Buchholz

DE

Light metal casting (Handtmann Leichtmetallgießerei Annaberg GmbH)

Materials

Aluminium

• more than 20 die casting machines, 420–4,000 t clamping force

Košice

SK

Light metal casting (Handtmann Slovakia s.r.o)

Materials

Aluminium

• Die casting systems

Kechnec

SK

Light metal casting (Handtmann Kechnec s.r.o)

Materials

Aluminium

Tianjin

CN

Light metal casting (Handtmann Light Metal Foundry Tianjin)

Materials

Aluminium

Mittelherwigsdorf

DE

Processing, Zittau site

Materials

Stainless steel

Reutlingen

DE

Processing (Handtmann Reutlingen GmbH)

Hluk

CZ

Processing (Handtmann Hluk s.r.o.)

Rodgau-Jügesheim

DE

Plastics engineering (Kegelmann Technik GmbH)

Materials

Plastics

• 3D printing processes

Parts and Components

Inside the production

Processes & technical limits

5 Anlagen & Maschinen

Quality

Certifications in occupational health and safety and environmental protection as well as a risk management system under the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act are firmly established; the internally integrated CNC machining and post-casting processing in production ensures component quality. The company was awarded the SAP Quality Award in 2025.

History

1. 1873

   Christoph Albert Handtmann founds a brass foundry in the Biberach Bachmühle mill; first fittings for fruit presses

2. 1919

   Sons Karl Albert and Adolf Karl Handtmann take over as partners; expansion of the business to include wholesale of water taps and malleable iron fittings

3. 1929

   Plant relocated from Biberach city centre to Brühlstraße/Fabrikstraße

4. 1953

   Arthur Handtmann becomes sole owner; 51 employees

5. 1954

   Foundation of the Handtmann Maschinenfabrik (sausage filling and portioning machines); introduction of the gravity die casting process (series parts up to 20 kg)

6. 1961

   Start of industrial aluminium die casting with two Fries machines (120/250 t); first contact with the German automotive industry

7. 1964

   Expansion of die casting capacity with a 400-tonne machine

8. 1967

   Purchase of the Birkenallee company premises (today Arthur-Handtmann-Straße) in Biberach

9. 1968

   Conversion of fittings manufacture to stainless steel; foundation of Handtmann Elteka (lactam casting, later Lauramid®); 377 employees, DM 18 million revenue

10. 1986

    First foreign branch, Handtmann Ltd. in England, for the sales of butchery machines

11. 1992

    Acquisition of Leichtmetallgießerei Annaberg GmbH; more than 20 die casting machines with 420–4,000 t clamping force are installed there

12. 1998

    125th company anniversary; Thomas Handtmann takes over the management of the group; 1,600 employees, DM 498 million revenue

13. 1999

    The expanding machine factory moves to the new Aspach industrial park in Biberach

14. 2023

    Markus Handtmann and Valentin Ulrich take over the management as the 5th generation

15. 2025

    Markus Weber becomes Group CFO; 4,700 employees, EUR 1.4 billion revenue