Manufacturer of light-alloy and magnesium wheels using the low-pressure casting process
ATS Leichtmetallräder GmbH
Bad Dürkheim · WerdohlNew on Amplifa
About ATS
ATS Leichtmetallräder GmbH is a manufacturer of light-alloy wheels based in Bad Dürkheim. From the company Auto Technisches Spezialzubehör founded by Günter Schmid in 1969, the first ATS aluminium wheels were produced in 1969 using the sand moulding process. In 1970, ATS became the first company in the world to produce wheels using the low-pressure casting process, which, unlike forged wheels, allows almost complete freedom of design. The production portfolio includes aluminium and magnesium wheels as well as truck aluminium wheels. Customers come from the automotive industry and the tyre and wheel trade; from 1971, ATS supplied Porsche with original equipment wheels. The plant in Werdohl (Werdohl-Dresel) is operated via ATS Stahlschmidt & Maiworm GmbH. Since 2008, the ATS Group has been part of the Uniwheels Group, in which around 8 million alloy wheels are produced per year.
- Site
- Bad Dürkheim
- Processes
- Low-pressure casting (light-alloy wheels), Sand moulding process (casting of aluminium wheels), Production of light-alloy wheels using the low-pressure casting process, Series production of magnesium wheels using the low-pressure casting process, Truck aluminium wheels
- Materials
- Aluminium, Magnesium, Low-pressure casting, Sand moulding process
- Founded
- 1969
- Employees
- over 2,000
- Industries
- Automotive supplier, Trade (tyres/wheels)
- 01
Sand moulding / low-pressure casting
- 02
Machining
- 03
Assembly
- 04
Sales (automotive industry and trade)
Materials and Processes
Low-pressure casting
Core process for aluminium and magnesium wheels with almost complete freedom of design.
Sand moulding process
Used for the first aluminium wheels in 1969.
Sites
Bad Dürkheim
DEHeadquarters/Holding
- Materials
- Aluminium, Magnesium
Werdohl
DEPlant (Werdohl-Dresel)
- Materials
- Aluminium, Magnesium
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-pressure casting (light-alloy wheels)Casting | – | – | – | – | Aluminium, Magnesium |
| Sand moulding process (casting of aluminium wheels)Casting | – | – | – | – | Aluminium |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 1969
Founding of the company Auto Technisches Spezialzubehör by Günter Schmid in Bad Dürkheim; first ATS aluminium wheels using the sand moulding process.
- 1970
First ATS light-alloy wheels using the low-pressure casting process, deployed for the first time worldwide.
- 1971
Porsche chooses ATS light-alloy wheels for original equipment.
- 1972
Founding of ATS Leichtmetallräder GmbH; model 'Classic'.
- 1975
Model 'Cup'.
- 1976
Opening of the plant in Werdohl-Dresel.
- 1977–1983
ATS Racing Team active in Formula 1.
- 1985
World's first truck aluminium wheels using the low-pressure casting process.
- 1990
Start of series production of magnesium wheels; founding of ATS-Beteiligungs-GmbH and Stahlschmidt-&-Maiworm-Technics-GmbH.
- 1998
Merger with the South African wheel manufacturer Tiger Wheels.
- 2007
Insolvency petition of ATS Stahlschmidt & Maiworm GmbH filed on 13 July 2007 is withdrawn.
- 2008
UNIWHEELS acquires the ATS Group; the Group produces approx. 8 million alloy wheels annually.