History

OUR MILESTONES

We have been contributing to the railway industry and to the development of wheelset solutions for more than 200 years. The history of both BONATRANS and GHH-RADSATZ has been marked by major technological breakthroughs, business achievements and other important milestones. The merger of the 2 companies to create GHH-BONATRANS in 2014 generated a tremendous opportunity for the future growth of both respected brands in one strong Group.

BONATRANS

GHH-RADSATZ

1965

ZDB Wheelset Division established

1782

Founding of Huttengewerkschaft und Handlung Jacobi, Haniel und Huyssen (JHH)

1970

First deliveries for passenger transport

1808

Antonihütte produces first wheelsets

1975

First locomotive wheels for 200 km/h

1845

Industrialized manufacturing of wheelsets started in Sterkrade

1977

First deliveries to the Western Europe

1873

Establishment of Gutehoffnungshütte, limited stock company for mining and foundry operations (GHH)

1991

Certified by Deutsche Bahn

1899

Wheelset factory established in Oberhausen

1992

First deliveries to Asia

1910

Wheelsets and parts thereof exported worldwide through GHH trading partnerships

1994

Creation of dedicated design department

1932

First „resilient wheel” introduced to the market (by SAB Sweden)

1995

First deliveries to the North and South America

1987

Starting point for low-floor technology (EEF running gear by Thyssen Guss / BSI)

1997

First deliveries for global OEM manufacturers for passenger transport and locomotives

1990

Low-floor car ‘Kassel‘ – First order for BSI and MAN-GHH for wheelsets and EEF with resilient wheels

1998

First deliveries of BONATRANS stress optimised freight wheelset

1992

Market introduction of SAB V60-Wheel

2008

Accreditation of dedicated Product fatigue testing laboratory

1994

Gutehoffnungshütte Radsatz GmbH founded

2010

Products designed by BONATRANS exceed 50 % of sales

2000

Centralization of all Light Rail products from former SAB and BSI at GHH-RADSATZ

2012

Launching of the new wheel and tyre heat treatment plant

2010

Integration of resilient GHH®ULTRA-R wheel in GHH-RADSATZ product portfolio

2013

Setting-up of Bonatrans India

Acquisition of GHH-Radsatz and formation of GHH-BONATRANS
2016

Establishment of Bonatrans Asia

2016

Official opening of Bonatrans India

2017

Opening of new hall for wheelsets maintenance, more precisely bogies

2018

Launching of a new technology for induction hardening of axles

2018

Wheelset deliveries for India's first Semi-High Speed Intercity

2020

Modernisation of wheel rolling line

2022

Launching wheel machining line 1