March 03, 2026 | Reading time: 14 minutes
Cutting, rolling, welding: Salzgitter AG is expanding its defense business with a modular system and a new, group-wide sales organization.
The two-and-a-half-meter-long half-shells weigh one tonne each, while the corresponding side wall weighs 5.5 tonnes: primed and coated with a matt gray protective paint, these monsters made of a combination of safety steel and high-strength fine-grained structural steel are waiting in a warehouse on the premises of medium-sized steel manufacturer Thyrolf & Uhle in Dessau, where they will be picked up and assembled into a mobile protective shelter. Resembling components from an oversized construction kit, these modular components represent nothing less than the start of a new chapter for Salzgitter AG: “By acquiring Thyrolf & Uhle, we are expanding our defense expertise and extending our value chain in this area. In so doing, we are investing in the security of our country while at the same time securing added value in Dessau,” says Ulrich Zieß.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Ulrich Zieß, Defence-Experte und Prokurist der Universal Eisen und Stahl, Tochtergesellschaft der Salzgitter AG](/fileadmin/stil-magazine/_processed_/3/6/csm_SALG-KOM-COP-002-26_Illu-Portraets__0007_Ziess-grau_1380x1068px_e52d02aba2.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Ulrich Zieß, Defence-Experte und Prokurist der Universal Eisen und Stahl, Tochtergesellschaft der Salzgitter AG")
Over a several month period, the authorized representative of Universal Eisen und Stahl, a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, played a key role in preparing and implementing the takeover of the medium-sized company based in Dessau in Saxony-Anhalt. Founded in 1859, following decades of eventful history the company emerged from the former GDR state holding company Zementanlagenbau (ZAB) in 1995, by way of a management buyout. Since then, the company, which currently employs some 100 members of staff, has specialized in steel construction, component manufacturing, and sheet metal processing. This also includes the production and processing of fine-grained structural steels, which are in high demand in crane construction, for example, thanks to their high strength and resilience combined with low weight – while also finding applications in the construction of military vehicles.
Shortly after relaunching their business in the market economy, the two founders of Thyrolf & Uhle decided to enter into partnership with Salzgitter AG. In 2018, the group also provided the initial impetus for the company to enter the defense industry; a sector in which the medium-sized company has been active since 2020. Today, Thyrolf & Uhle processes security steels in the SECURE® 400, 450, 500, and 600 grades, among others, and is one of the designated manufacturers of steel components and assemblies for infrastructure protection as well as civil and military vehicle construction.
“This acquisition marks 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,” says Gunnar Groebler, CEO of Salzgitter AG. “This is precisely where we, as Salzgitter AG, are strengthening our offerings.”
Salzgitter AG Defence: all defense activities consolidated under one roof
The reason for the internal rethink at Salzgitter AG, which had largely remained out of the arms business since the end of World War II, was the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 and the associated “turning point.” The company wanted to assume the responsibility that comes with its industrial expertise.
“It's about Germany's defense capability, about defending our democratic values,” says Thorsten Möllmann, Head of Corporate Communications and Defense Specialist at Salzgitter AG, summarizing the political challenges that applied then and still apply today. “As a German steel company, as a basic materials industry, we have a duty to do our part in view of this new global political situation.”
Certified safety steel for the German Armed Forces
It was therefore fortunate that the subsidiary Ilsenburger Grobblech had acquired the SECURE brand from competitor ThyssenKrupp in 2021. Originally intended for the expansion of Salzgitter AG's civilian portfolio – for instance the construction of safes, the armoring of cash transport vehicles, or private cars – these lightweight yet high-strength steels are also fundamentally suited for the construction of tanks. The group's management therefore immediately initiated the initial certification process with the German Armed Forces, which was successfully completed in July 2025 and was soon followed by others. When the further escalation of the geopolitical situation during the 2025 Munich Security Conference prompted the strengthening of European defense capabilities, a dedicated Defence Task Force led by Head of Communications Möllmann set its sights on a new goal: Salzgitter AG's entry into the defense business.
The provisional task force has now become a new, group-wide unit under the Salzgitter AG Defence brand, pooling together the group's expertise in military projects together under one roof:
- The subsidiary Ilsenburger Grobblech is responsible for material development and supplies the security steel certified by the German Armed Forces.
- Mannesmann pipe companies manufactures pipes for logistical purposes, such as securing the kerosene supply for NATO's eastern flank.
- The Flachstahl subsidiary produces thinner sheets, which are used, for example, for light armor plating in cars.
- The Universal trading company guarantees the further processing of sheet metal for the construction of entire system components.
- The newly acquired Thyrolf & Uhle contributes its expertise in steel and component construction, particularly with regard to the production and processing of safety and fine-grained structural steels.
Although complete military vehicles will not be rolling off the production lines at the Salzgitter plants at any time in the future: “Whether it's safety steel, fine-grained structural steel, or an entire assembly for bridge-laying systems, for example, and whether cutting, rolling, or welding: by providing a kind of construction kit, we will become a modular full-service provider for military solutions,” says Salzgitter defense expert Möllmann. “As a one-stop shop for our customers, we have all the relevant materials and expertise for the security and defense industry now on board.”
SECURE steel: lightweight, durable, fit for military service
SECURE steels combine high strength with specified energy absorption and are TL-certified, meaning they meet the technical supply requirements of the German Armed Forces. Precise alloy concepts, clearly defined thermomechanical processes, and data-based quality control optimize their safety-to-weight ratio. This combination makes them ideal for safety-relevant applications in vehicle construction, critical infrastructure, and protection systems.
Uniform branding as Salzgitter AG Defence
The pursuit of this new corporate identity also includes the development of an appropriate brand: Salzgitter AG Defence. The uniform brand image was presented for the first time at the EnforceTec security trade fair in February 2026 as part of the BDSV association stand. Further appearances are scheduled to follow: at EuroSatory in Paris, MSPO in Kielce, Poland, one of the leading defense exhibitions in Central and Eastern Europe, at the NATO Industry Day in Ingolstadt, and at IDEX in Abu Dhabi, one of the world's leading exhibitions for defense and security technology.
In addition to customer meetings, the focus here is also on discussions with potential employees. This is because the growth of the business will naturally go hand-in-hand with an increase in the required workforce – welders, lathe operators, and sales professionals are particularly sought after.
“Thanks to our attractive offerings in this field, we have a great opportunity for growth,” says defense expert Zieß. “And we will certainly take advantage of this position.”
Thyrolf & Uhle: Historic site with an eventful history
The site operated by the medium-sized company Thyrolf & Uhle in Dessau is one of the historic centers of German steel construction. Gottfried Polysius began processing sheet metal and metals here as early as 1859. By 1900, the workshop had grown into one of Germany's most important iron foundries and metal construction companies. Polysius gained prominence primarily through the construction of Europe's first cement rotary kiln and the development of a highly efficient process for cement production.
Following the expropriation of the globally active family business Polysius by the Soviet occupation authorities in 1946 and its integration into the Soviet State Joint Stock Company (Sowjetische Staatliche Aktiengesellschaft, SAG), the plant manufacturer operated under the name VEB Zementanlagenbau Dessau from 1957 onwards. The state-run holding company specialized in the construction and export of cement plants to Eastern Europe, as well as Central and South America. In 1995, ZAB finally became Thyrolf & Uhle, founded by two long-time employees of the holding company, Günter Thyrolf and Siegfried Uhle. Their goal: to establish Dessau as a Germany-wide location for uncompromising quality in steel construction and sheet metal processing.
Aviation pioneer Hugo Junkers also left his mark on what is now the 37,000-square-meter Thyrolf & Uhle site: it was here that Junkers laid the foundation for modern all-metal aircraft construction. After the Nazi Party expropriated Junkers, a pacifist, they turned the site into a major center for state-run air armament. With the end of World War II, significant parts of the company were dismantled.
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