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MWM History
What Do the Great-Grandchildren of Carl Benz Invent Today?
MWM looks back on a tradition of more than 100 years, with an omnipresent spirit of innovation. The establishment of the "Mechanische Werkstätte" (Mechanical Workshop) by automobile pioneer Carl Benz in Mannheim in 1871 marked the beginning of the era of gas engines. Over more than a dozen decades, the enthusiasm and innovative drive of engineers have produced an ongoing flow of new developments and contributed to MWM's current position as one of the leading providers of gas engines and power generators. Thus, MWM has continually improved the performance, efficiency, and reliability of its systems, which are sold from Mannheim to the whole world.
Carl Benz and August Ritter
With the establishment of the "Mechanische Werkstätte Mannheim" (Mechanical Workshop Mannheim) under the name Carl Benz and August Ritter, famous engine and automobile inventor Carl Benz laid the foundation for MWM.
First two-stroke engine
A new era of drives began on New Year's Eve 1879/1880, when Carl Benz succeeded in starting up the first gas engine, which was followed by the first stationary gas drive in the same year. A horizontal two-stroke crosshead engine was the first operable genset from the Benz company. The reason why it had to be a two-stroke engine was that the four-stroke principle had already been patented and protected by Nicolaus Otto. Subsequently, the Benz workshop continued to build engines of this type.
Foundation of the partnership Benz & Co.
In October 1883, Carl Friedrich Benz, Max Rose, and Friedrich Esslinger founded the partnership Benz & Co., Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik in Mannheim, Germany.
The patent motorcar - the first automobile
On January 29, 1886, patent 37435 was registered for the "patent motorcar", the first vehicle with an autonomous combustion engine and electrical ignition. Thus, Carl Friedrich Benz became the father of the automobile. In the same year, the company relocated to the current site on Carl-Benz-Strasse in Mannheim.
The world's largest automotive manufacturer
On May 10, 1899, Benz & Cie. was renamed Benz & Cie., Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik AG. The company, which started out with a share capital of 3,000 marks, is considered the predecessor of MWM. In 1900, Benz & Cie was already the world's largest automotive manufacturer, with about 2,000 vehicles.
Diesel engines
In 1910, the production of diesel engines controlled by rotary valves started in Mannheim. With its economic operating principle for combustion engines, diesel engines proved highly suitable for further development.
Motorenwerke Mannheim
In 1922, the department for the construction of stationary engines of Benz & Cie., Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik AG, was spun off under the name Motorenwerke Mannheim. The technical manager was the German engineer Prosper L'Orange, who invented the pre-combustion chamber that enabled a more compact design and higher revolution speed. The core business of Motorenwerke Mannheim comprised diesel engines for utility vehicles and agricultural machinery.
MWM specialises in construction of diesel engines
In 1926, Knorr Bremse AG, Berlin, acquired the majority of the shares in MWM. Knorr delineated the fields of operation of MWM and its other engine-building subsidiary Süddeutsche Bremsen AG so that Südbremse built small engines and MWM was responsible for the production of the larger ones. Under the uniform sales organization, MWM started concentrating exclusively on the construction of diesel engines. Ten years later, the first large engine with exhaust turbocharger and four-valve technology was produced (BBC. VT 400 System Büchi). In 1938, the company presented a small diesel engine that became a very successful built-in engine for tractors and gensets and a substitute for gasoline-fueled truck engines.
Production of air-cooled small diesel engines
Three decades later, MWM started producing air-cooled small diesel engines. The one to eight-cylinder engines were equipped with MWM's patented constant pressure pre-combustion chamber system, which resulted in considerably lower noise levels and in a significant reduction in the stress on engine components. The early 1950s witnessed a noticeable trend towards air cooling for vehicle and built-in engines especially in the field of agriculture.
100 years MWM
In 1979, MWM celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Deutz AG
In 1985, Knorr Bremse AG sold MWM to Deutz AG, Cologne. The company continued to operate at its Mannheim plant. Apart from MAN and Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz (KHD), Deutz AG was Germany's largest engine manufacturer in the field of commercial diesel drives. Deutz undertook several restructuring measures in Mannheim and expanded the gas engine division. In 1986, the large engine production was relocated to Mannheim.
Focus on gas engines
Since 1992, the activities in the field of gas engines (high-performance gas engines, etc.) have been stepped up. In 1998, Motorenwerke Mannheim AG was fully integrated in DEUTZ AG. From this date on, all engines produced in Mannheim were marketed under the DEUTZ brand.
Back to MWM
DEUTZ AG changed the name of MWM to DEUTZ Power Systems in 2005 and sold it as an independent entity in 2007. In 2008, the company returned to the tradition-rich name MWM GmbH.
Energy. Efficiency. Environment.
In 2009, several technology updates further increased the performance and efficiency of MWM gensets. The current product range comprises gas gensets for generating electricity, cold, and heat as well as complete decentralized energy supply plants.
MWM becomes part of Caterpillar Inc., USA
In November 2011, MWM becomes part of Caterpillar’s Electric Power Division (EPD), with more than 50 subsidiaries worldwide. Thus, Caterpillar offers MWM excellent sales and growth opportunities for its environmentally friendly energy generation systems.
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