What is the history of Vossloh?

The corporate history of Vossloh stretches back over a century, originating in 1888 when Eduard Vossloh established a small industrial workshop in Werdohl, Germany, initially producing components for the burgeoning electrical and lighting industries. Over subsequent decades, the company successfully transitioned its manufacturing expertise into the railway sector, pioneering specialized rail fastening systems that revolutionized track stability. Throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Vossloh expanded internationally through strategic acquisitions, evolving from a regional German hardware producer into a dominant global rail infrastructure group while continuously divesting non-core manufacturing units to focus exclusively on railway technology.

Vossloh traces its origins back to 1883 when Eduard Vossloh established a blacksmith workshop in Werdohl, Germany, initially securing a component manufacturing contract for spring washers from the Royal Prussian Railway. Over subsequent decades, the family business expanded into electrical lighting hardware and specialized railway track components. Following its public incorporation on the stock exchange in 1990, the company systematically divested non-rail divisions to focus entirely on global rail infrastructure technology, expanding significantly through international acquisitions in Europe, the Americas, and Australia.