About VDL Steelweld
VDL Steelweld is a versatile international company that was established in 1965 and is active in production systems, contract engineering & prototyping and automated vehicles. The company has branches in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Romania, China, USA and India.
We design, build and commission automated production systems, offering a wide range of handling, assembly and joining technologies for industrial applications. Furthermore, we are a reliable partner to several OEM's. We manufacture various products, ranging from large, welded constructions to complex mechatronic systems and automated vehicles.
Together with more than 800 highly motivated staff, we deliver our products and services as projects to many satisfied customers across a wide variety of industries.
Philosophy
VDL Steelweld's corporate philosophy is to offer the best-in-class solutions to our customers by creating a close and long-term relationship. Through a thorough understanding of our customers' wishes and requirements, we are able to develop a fit-for-purpose manufacturing solution using state of the art technologies and practices.
VDL Steelweld has built up a reputation among its customers of living up to agreements and delivering high quality production systems. In this way, we have become known as a reliable partner.
Products and production processes
Our policy focuses on innovating products and production methods. Seeking continuous improvement is an integrated part of our entrepreneurship, that is led by creativity and having the guts to innovate. Decreasing our impact on the environment is the guiding principle of our business operations.
History
Incorporation
VDL Steelweld was established in 1965 and has since proven to be a reliable and innovative supplier of production systems, mainly focusing on the automotive industry. Over the years, we have established a solid reputation with many European OEMs. In the past few years, we have concentrated on building more structural partnerships with a limited number of customers and we are proud that Ford, Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW are among our regular clients. In addition to that, we have recently welcomed several EV companies into our customer base.
Acquisition by VDL Groep
VDL Steelweld joined VDL Group in 1995 and has further diversified since then. For example, we have become active as a supplier of turnkey production automation in many industries in which we can fully exploit our experience in the automotive industry. We have also automated various processes for performing operations on a multitude of products made of metal and plastic.
Special products
Thanks to our broad technical know-how, we have also become increasingly involved in development and innovation projects, often in co-operation with other VDL companies. As a result, we are recognised today as a leading supplier of "Special Products": for the semiconductor industry, heat and refrigeration technology, process technology, transport technology and other industries. Currently, we are focusing on the development of automated vehicles for cargo handling.
Founding of Steelweld by Charlie Beck, president of Ambac. The location of the new entity was the Hispano Suiza loacation in Breda , which at that time a weapon and ammunition factory. Bob Huener is appointed as managing director who married the granddaughter of Henry Ford.
Bob Heuner had a background in engineering for the Ford Motor Company. Ford had already started with automating steps in the car manufacturing process in the USA. In his new rol as managing directory of Steelweld he could share and develop this manufacturing strategy.
The fouding of Steelweld was nation wide news. It was europe's first factory that would build fully automatic welding machines for the car manufactruing industry. For this occasion our minister of economic affairs (Joop den Uyl) was present at the facotry opening.
An automated welding line for Opel in 1972
Steelweld continues to expand the building of automated production lines throughout europe. All the necessary equipment was designed and build at the location in Breda. The 'drawing room' had grown to 20-25 people.
To support our customers in the UK, Steelweld UK is founded
Steelweld is taken over by the VDL Groep
The first diversification has started; the development of a autonomous driving vehicle to transport sea containers between ship and terminal
VDL Steelweld continues to grow in Europe with the opening of offices in Sweden and Romania
VDL Steelweld is expanding their BiW business outside of Europe. Offices are opened in China (Suzhou), USA (Detroit), India (Pune)