Salzgitter AG strengthens its position in the defense steel market

German concern Salzgitter AG has announced the acquisition of Thyrolf & Uhle GmbH, strengthening its position in the steel and defense components segment. This is a strategic move towards a growing market that is gaining momentum in Germany and Europe amid geopolitical changes. This is stated in a press release.

Thyrolf & Uhle has been located in Dessau-Roßlau since 1859 and specializes in steel processing, component manufacturing, and sheet metal processing. The company employs about 100 people and has an annual processing capacity of over 12,000 tons of steel. The company manufactures steel components for ballistic protection and infrastructure facilities, and also supplies special steels of grades SECURE 400, 450, 500, and 600.

For Salzgitter AG, this agreement means an expansion of its expertise in the defense sector. Thyrolf & Uhle is certified for the processing of protective steel parts in accordance with TL-2350-0000 and is a qualified manufacturer in accordance with DIN 2303 Q3 BK. This will enable the group to strengthen its position in the production of products for infrastructure protection and specialized equipment.

«This acquisition is another step in our active portfolio management policy with targeted investments in growth markets. Germany and Europe need a strong defense industry with a qualified material base to counter geopolitical challenges. This is precisely where we, as Salzgitter AG, are strengthening our offering,» said CEO Gunnar Groebler.

The agreement is still subject to regulatory approval. The parties are not disclosing the financial terms.

Earlier, Salzgitter announced its intention to buy out the co-owners of the Hüttenwerke-Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) steel joint venture to become the sole owner of the company from mid-2026. Thyssenkrupp owns 50% of HKM, Salzgitter owns 30%, and French pipe manufacturer Vallourec owns 20%.