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{{Short description|Former German company}}
{{distinguish|Demak (disambiguation){{!}}Demak}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Demag
| type = [[GmbH]]
| logo = RvancoppDemagAGlogo.tif
| successor = Demag Cranes & Components GmbH
| location = [[Düsseldorf, Germany]]
| foundation = 1819
| defunct = 
| fate = Acquired by the [[Mannesmann]] group
| products = [[Bridge crane]]s, [[hoist (device)|hoist]]s, material handling equipment, [[gantry crane]]s and port technology
| industry = [[Engineering]] and service
| homepage = {{URL|www.demag.com/}}
}}

'''Demag''' (In German '''''De'''utsche '''M'''aschinenbau-'''A'''ktien'''g'''esellschaft'') was a German [[heavy equipment]] industrial group whose individual companies are now scattered. The Demag name can be today found for example as the [[Konecranes|Demag Cranes and Components]] and [[Sumitomo Heavy Industries|Sumitomo]] (SHI) Demag.

The roots of Demag date back prior to its formation, but became Märkische Maschinenbau-Anstalt, Ludwig A.-G in 1906 as the biggest crane building company in Germany employing 250-300 people. The company was a manufacturer of industrial cranes that included types like, [[bridge cranes]], [[hoist (device)]], [[overhead crane]]s, [[Gantry crane]] to name a few. In 1910 came the hour of the Deutsche Maschinenfabrik in Duisburg – known worldwide by its telegram abbreviation Demag (now ''Demag Cranes & Components [[GmbH]]'').<ref name="Kurrer2008">{{cite book|last=Kurrer|first=Karl-Eugen|title=The history of the theory of structures: from arch analysis to computational mechanics|year=2008|publisher=Ernst & Sohn|location=Berlin|isbn=978-3-433-01838-5}}</ref>{{rp|429–430}}

In 1973 The [[Mannesmann]] group assumed ownership of Demag.

==Founding==
The Demag company was formed finally 1910 in [[Duisburg]] through the union of the ''Märkische Maschinenbau-Anstalt L. Stuckenholz AG'', the ''Duisburg Mechanical Engineering AG'', and the ''[[Düsseldorf-Benrath|Benrath]] Machine Works GmbH''.

The ''Märkische Maschinenbau-Anstalt L. Stuckenholz AG'' traces back to the [[machine factory]] ''Mechanische Werkstätten Harkort & Co.'', founded 1819 in [[Wetter (Ruhr)|Wetter an der Ruhr]], already beginning the manufacturing of cranes in 1840.

In 1908, they designed what was then the world's largest floating crane, built for [[Harland & Wolff]] in [[Belfast]], which would be used for the building of the passenger liners [[RMS Olympic|RMS ''Olympic'']] and [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']].<ref>http://www.preservedtanks.com/Locations.aspx?LocationCategoryId=1155 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

Starting in 1925, Demag also manufactured [[excavator]]s. They expanded to manufacture [[locomotives]] and [[railroad car]]s. During the [[Second World War]], [[armoured fighting vehicles]] (in particular [[Bergepanther]]) were built in the [[Berlin]] [[Staaken]] plant.

During the buildup to, and during World War II, Demag-designed halftrack military vehicles, both in [[Sd.Kfz. 10|unarmored "artillery tractor" models]] in the late 1930s, the basis for the powertrain of their armored [[Sd.Kfz. 250]], which itself played an important role during the war, with just over 6,600 built by Demag and their subcontractors.

==Hydraulic era==
In 1954, Demag developed their first [[hydraulics|hydraulic]] excavators. Demag would soon expand into construction machines, vehicle cranes, moving and conveying engineering (workshop crane and control devices), steel mill technology (complete metallurgical plants, in particular continuous casting equipment), [[gas compressor|compressor]]s, and compressed air engineering. The company also became a world leader in the manufacturing of [[injection moulding]] machines.

==As part of the Mannesmann group==

[[Image:Bridge Crane with Wire Rope Hoist.jpg|thumb|Demag [[Overhead crane]] and [[hoist (device)]] Demag Bridge Crane.]]

In 1973 the ownership of Demag was assumed by the [[Mannesmann]] group, based in [[Düsseldorf]]. In 1983 Mannesmann-Demag AG and [[Stedman Machine Company#Wean United|Wean United, Inc.]] of [[Pittsburgh]], United States, founded a daughter company to produce steel working equipment, Mannesmann Demag Wean Co.

A joint venture with the Japanese manufacturer [[Komatsu Limited|Komatsu]] led to spinning off of the large-scale excavation operations and their renaming as Komatsu Mining.

The steel and rolling mill technology division, based in [[Duisburg]], was spun off to Schloemann-Siemag (SMS) and continues today under the name SMS group.

The compressor division was sold in 1996 to CompAir, which was then  part of the British Siebe/Invensys group, but has since become an independent company.

Later (1999), the injection moulding manufacturing was merged with that of [[Krauss-Maffei]], which had itself been acquired by Mannesmann from 1989, to form Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei and formed part of Mannesmann Atecs (for Advanced Technologies), a holding company for all of Mannesmann's non-telecom activities. Krauss Maffei's general equipment manufacturing and defence portions later passed to Linke/Hoffmann/Busch. The holding company was later named Mannesmann Plastics Machinery or MPM, with primary divisions Demag Plastics and Krauss-Maffei.

[[File:Portalkran Vaubeka Berlin-Tempelhof 2.JPG|thumb|left|Crane built by Demag in 1935]]

== Dissolution as part of Vodafone's acquisition of Mannesmann ==
In February 2000 Mannesmann was taken over by [[Vodafone]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mannesmann takeover – DW – 02/03/2010 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/mannesmann-the-mother-of-all-takeovers/a-5206028 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

All of Mannesmann's industrial activities, which had been combined under Atecs (meaning Advanced Technologies) holding company in order to strategically separate mobile communications and industrial activities, were divested to a consortium of [[Siemens]] and [[Bosch (company)|Bosch.]] Siemens and Bosch then divested the different units between them and the Demag units became a part of Siemens. These were Demag plastics technology (with Krauss-Maffei), Demag compressor technology and Demag conveyor technology, which included the Demag mobile cranes and the crane manufacturer Gottwald.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Press corner |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=European Commission - European Commission |language=en}}</ref>

== Restructuring, purchase and sales by KKR ==
In the autumn of 2001, Siemens sold the core activities of the former Demag (Demag Cranes & Components, Gottwald and MPM) to [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]] (KKR).<ref>{{Cite web |title=KKR takes ownership of Demag and Gottwald - HOIST magazine |url=https://www.hoistmagazine.com/news/kkr-takes-ownership-of-demag-and-gottwald/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.hoistmagazine.com|date=16 September 2002 }}</ref> Those that remained were restructured and became part of the new company focus for future growth. For example parts of the conveying engineering activities remained with Siemens under the name [[Dematic]]. In 2002 Siemens sold the Demag Mobile Cranes division, which has not been a part of the package sold to KKR, was sold to US based company [[Terex]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terex Corporation to Acquire Demag Mobile Cranes |url=https://investors.terex.com/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2002/Terex-Corporation-to-Acquire-Demag-Mobile-Cranes/default.aspx |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=investors.terex.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

KKR initiated a major reorganization of the Demag Crane & Components organization, including a refocused effort of their product lines. The production and general company focus changed to [[Overhead crane]]s, [[Hoist (device)|hoists]], [[Gantry crane]]s, and Portal cranes under the name [http://www.gottwald.com/gottwald/site/gottwald/en/start/index.jsp Gottwald].

In 2006 KKR combined Demag Cranes and Gottwald under Demag Cranes Ag and went public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Demag flotation uncovered - HOIST magazine |url=https://www.hoistmagazine.com/features/demag-flotation-uncovered/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.hoistmagazine.com|date=21 November 2006 }}</ref>

in 2011 Terex completed the takeover of Demag when it purchased 82% of the shares of Demag Cranes Ag.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terex Completes Purchase of Tendered Demag Cranes AG Shares |url=https://investors.terex.com/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2011/Terex-Completes-Purchase-of-Tendered-Demag-Cranes-AG-Shares/default.aspx |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=investors.terex.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Demag became the Terex Material Handling & Port Solutions (MHPS) division.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Demagcranes |url=https://www.demagcranes.com/en/company/history |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.demagcranes.com}}</ref>

== Where is Demag now? ==
In 2008 KRR sold MPM to [[Sumitomo Heavy Industries]] and is known today as Sumitomo (SHI) Demag.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sumitomo Group - Sumitomo (SHI) Demag |url=https://www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu/company/the-sumitomo-group |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu}}</ref>

In 2019 [[Terex]] decided to sell the Mobile Cranes division to the Japan based [[Tadano]] and it became the Tadano Demag Gmbh. In 2020 Tadano Demag Gmbh filed for insolvency.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-28 |title=Tadano announces plan to restructure Demag and Faun |url=https://www.equipmentjournal.com/construction-news/tadano-announces-plan-to-restructure-demag-and-faun/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Equipment Journal |language=en-CA}}</ref> Surviving restructuring Tadano announced that it will drop the Demag brand name in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-07 |title=Tadano to drop Demag brand |url=https://www.internationalcranes.media/news/tadano-to-drop-demag-brand/8011397.article |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=International Cranes and Specialized Transport |language=en}}</ref>

In 2017 [[Konecranes]] from Finland purchases the MHPS division from Terex. In addition to becoming again a European owned company, Konecranes also revives the Demag name as the MHPS becomes the Demag Cranes & Components Gmbh <ref>{{Cite web |title=Konecranes buys Terex port/Material Handling |url=https://vertikal.net/en/news/story/25574/konecranes-buys-terex-portmaterial-handling |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=vertikal.net |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Notable dates.==

*1819 The present-day Demag Cranes & Components GmbH founded under the name Mechanische Werkstätten Harkort & Co. in Wetter an der Ruhr. First [[Steam powered]]<ref name="Kurrer2008"/>{{rp|411–416}} crane produced by Ludwig Stuckenholz company. Now Demag Cranes & Components GmbH.
*1840: Demag Cranes & Components starts full production of [[Overhead cranes]] in Germany.
*1906 The present-day Gottwald Port Technology GmbH founded under the name of Maschinenfabrik Ernst Halbach AG in Düsseldorf
*1910 Successor companies to Mechanische Werkstätten Harkort & Co. become part of Deutsche Maschinenfabrik AG (Demag: Demag starts production of [[Electric motor]] hoist.
*1956 Leo Gottwald KG builds the first mobile harbor crane
*1969: Demag introduces the first [[AC motor]] with a sliding rotor on its crane product in the USA.
*1988 Mannesmann takes over Leo Gottwald KG and integrates it in Mannesmann Demag AG
*1992 Restructuring of the Mannesmann Demag Group and spin-off of Mannesmann Demag Fördertechnik AG in Wetter
*1996 Mannesmann Demag Fördertechnik AG takes over the Mobile Cranes segment from Mannesmann Demag AG in Duisburg.
*1997 Mannesmann Demag Fördertechnik AG is renamed Mannesmann Dematic AG
*2000 Mannesmann Dematic becomes an integral part of the Atecs Mannesmann AG Group; spin-off of Demag Cranes & Components GmbH (Wetter); Mannesmann taken over by Vodafone; Siemens AG and Robert Bosch GmbH acquire Atecs Mannesmann; the mechanical engineering division of Atecs Mannesmann AG, to which the current segments of Demag Cranes belonged, remains in the Siemens Group
*2002 Demag Cranes & Components GmbH and Gottwald Port Technology GmbH taken over by Demag Holding S.à r.l (Luxembourg), in which private equity investment funds advised by KKR hold an 81% interest and Siemens AG holds 19% interest
*2005: Demag Crane & Components Corp. produces the first "Smart hoist" with self-diagnostic capability.
*2006 Consolidation of Demag Cranes & Components GmbH and Gottwald Port Technology GmbH under the umbrella of Demag Cranes AG and IPO and 23 June 2006.
*2010: Demag becomes the first company to receive the industry certification by HMI.
*30 June 2011: [[Terex]] gains 67% of Demag Cranes.
*2017: Finland based [[Konecranes]] acquires Demag Overhead division in [[Wetter (Ruhr)|Wetter]] and Gottwald Port Cranes division from Terex and changes the name to Demag Cranes & Components GmbH<ref>{{Cite web |title=Konecranes buys Terex port/Material Handling |url=https://vertikal.net/en/news/story/25574/konecranes-buys-terex-portmaterial-handling |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=vertikal.net |language=en}}</ref>
*2019: Japan based [[Tadano]] acquires the Demag Mobile Cranes business from Terex changes the name to Tadano Demag GmbH.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2019 |title=Tadano acquisition of Demag Mobile Cranes ushers in new era |url=https://www.tadano.com.au/news/tadano-acquisition-of-demag-mobile-cranes-ushers-in-new-era/}}</ref>
*2020: Konecranes acquires MHE-Demag after purchasing Jebsen & Jessen’s stake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Konecranes has completed the acquisition of MHE-Demag {{!}} Corporate press releases |url=https://www.konecranes.com/press/releases/2020/konecranes-has-completed-the-acquisition-of-mhe-demag |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Konecranes |language=en}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:RvancoppSteamCrane1262010.jpg|Example of steam powered overhead crane from 1875, produced by Ludwig Stuckenholz AG, [[Wetter (Ruhr)|Wetter an der Ruhr]], Germany. Design developed by [[:de:Rudolf Bredt|Rudolf Bredt]] from an original installation at Crewe railway works<ref name="Kurrer2008" />
File:DCC03042011rvancopp.jpg|Circa 2010 Double girder top running Demag bridge crane operated via radio control.  Radio control is often used when handling steel coils.
File:Demag DCC03042011-Rvancopp.jpg|Demag sliding rotor motor concept with main motor and creep motor.  This type of configuration  was mostly used in hoists found on Bridge Cranes from 1925 in the "N" series hoist to present day.
File:EmdenWerftkräne retouched.jpg|Demag gantry crane of the North Sea stations in Emden, Germany Author, Frisia Orientalis.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 137-038192, Tsingtau, feststehender Turmdrehkran.jpg|Crane located in Tsingtao China. Giant crane supplied by Demag. During the war a large blast destroyed the foundation dumping the crane in the sea, where it remained for 5 years, until the Japanese brought it up again, and repaired the systems completely.
File:Fotothek df roe-neg 0006072 002 Innenansicht der Textima-Messehalle mit Textilmaschinen.jpg|A Demag crane suspended above a factory floor handling textile machines in a company called Textima. Photographs by Roger and Renate Rössing from 1951
File:DCC38974rvancopp.jpg| Circa 2010 Demag [[Overhead crane]] and [[hoist (device)]] being used in typical machine shop. The hoist is operated via a wired pushbutton station, known as a pendant, to move the system and the load in any direction
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Demag}}
*[http://www.demag.com Demag Web Site]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Düsseldorf]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Duisburg]]
[[Category:Engineering companies of Germany]]
[[Category:German brands]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1906]]
[[Category:Crane manufacturers]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Kohlberg Kravis Roberts companies]]