Founded as a manufacturer of building hardware in 1889, Hegenscheidt very soon started developing special machine tools after
the first company successes and supplied the first wheelset lathe in 1920. Maschinenfabrik Deutschland (MFD) was founded in
Dortmund in 1872 already. In 1911, MFD became a subsidiary of Hoesch AG, and in the same year they built a wheel lathe.
With the introduction of the flow turning and fixed roller turning of work pieces in the machine tool industry, the production of crank-
shaft machining centres started at the location of Erkelenz in 1950. Hegenscheidt USA was founded in 1966, and Hegenscheidt
Australia was set up in 1982. In 1995, Vossloh AG purchased both companies, and combined them at the location of Erkelenz.
Hegenscheidt GmbH and Hoesch-MFD GmbH were merged into the present company under the name of Hegenscheidt-MFD
GmbH & Co. KG. In 1998, a new generation of underfloor machines (U2000), the wheelset diagnostic systems ARGUS and the
new crankshaft machine, the fixed roller machine and the dressing rollers 7893 were developed in 1998.

1872  Establishment of Maschinenfabrik Deutschland (MFD) in Dortmund as a machine producer for railway hardware.
1889  Establishment of Hegenscheidt Company in Racibórz / Upper Silesia by Wilhelm Hegenscheidt as a company
         for building hardware. Development into a special machine tool company for the production of wheelset lathes.
1911  MFD becomes a subsidiary of Hoesch AG. Construction and production of the first wheelset lathe in Dortmund.
1920  Construction and production of the first wheelset lathe in Racibórz.
1930  Adolf Schondorff purchases Hegenscheidt Company in Racibórz.
1945  Relocation from Racibórz to Erkelenz.
1949  The first wheelset lathe is designed and produced at the new location in Erkelenz in co-operation
         with Wirth & Co.
1950  Introduction of the flow turning and fixed roller technology for work pieces in the machine tool industry. Technical         further development for special use in production lines for passenger vehicle crankshafts.
1954 - 1962  Purchase of real estate and expansion of the company.
1964  A new production site is built.
1966  The first assembly hall is built for the production of wheelset and flow turning machines, and establishment
         of Hegenscheidt USA.
1971  Initial operation of a new production workshop, work scheduling department, welding department and
         material warehouse.
1972  Hegenscheidt produces the first vertical lathes to machine individual railway wheels, rims and tyre.
1973  Supply of entire wheel machining centres and fully automatic wheel machining centres.
1977  Introduction of the CNC technology for wheelset machining centres.
1982  Establishment of Hegenscheidt Australia.
1984  New building for construction and technical sales.
1988  Conclusion of a licensee contract with Kawasaki, Japan.
1991  Conclusion of a licensee contract for underfloor wheelset lathes with RCI / Itochu.
1995  The Vossloh Group acquires Hegenscheidt and Maschinenfabrik Deutschland. Both companies are merged
         into Hegenscheidt-MFD GmbH at the location of Erkelenz.
1997  Extension of the licensee contract with Itochu Tech Co. Ltd. of Japan for crankshaft machine.
1998  Development of a new generation of underfloor machines (U2000) and of wheelset diagnostic systems Argus,
         and the new crankshaft, fixed roller and dressing roller machine 7893.
1999  Renaming to Hegenscheidt-MFD GmbH & Co. KG
2001  Joint Venture between Niles-Simmons and Hegenscheidt-MFD