Salzgitter is investing €2 million in capacity for the defense industry

The project at the Ilsenburger site will boost steel processing for the defense sector and support the decarbonization of production

Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH, a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, is investing over €2 million in a new waterjet cutting system at its facility in Ilsenburg. This was announced in a press release.

The project is primarily aimed at strengthening the company’s position in the growing defense sector, as well as expanding its capabilities in the production of SECURE high-security special steels.

The new 300-square-meter facility will be constructed alongside a water treatment system and an extension in the metal cutting area. Its commissioning will enable more efficient processing of sensitive steel grades, for which traditional gas or plasma cutting can cause undesirable thermal effects. The cold cutting method using a jet of water, abrasive, and air ensures lower material loss and high-quality processing of high-strength steels across a wide range of thicknesses.

In terms of its technical specifications, the new complex will be one of the largest in Europe among installations of this type manufactured by the German company H.G. Ridder Automatisierungs-GmbH. The cutting table will be approximately 18 m long, and the maximum cutting width will exceed 5 m.

Unlike traditional cutting processes that use natural gas, the new facility will be powered by electricity. The company emphasizes that, by utilizing renewable energy sources, this enables a carbon-neutral production process. Additionally, a water treatment system featuring innovative pumping technology will ensure a closed-loop and more efficient use of water. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of the second quarter of 2026.

Robert Kühn, CEO of Ilsenburger Grobblech, noted that the investment strengthens the Ilsenburg site in the long term and better prepares it for the needs of the defense industry. According to him, the new technology expands steel processing capabilities, helps meet customers’ high demands, and simultaneously contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of products, supporting the Salzgitter Group’s environmental transformation.

As a reminder, Salzgitter AG previously announced the acquisition of Thyrolf & Uhle GmbH, strengthening its position in the steel and defense components segment. This is a strategic move toward a growing market that is gaining momentum in Germany and Europe amid geopolitical changes.