Gebr. Heller

Gebr. Heller, commonly known as Heller or HELLER, is a German machine-tool manufacturer headquartered in Nürtingen in the Stuttgart region. The company supplies machining centers, milling and turning systems, flexible manufacturing systems, automation, coating equipment, and specialized machinery for crankshaft and camshaft production. Its customer base spans automotive manufacturers and their suppliers, general machine builders, contract manufacturers, power-engineering companies, tool-and-die makers, and aerospace businesses. The company originated on February 7, 1894, when 25-year-old Herman Heller established a trading and manufacturing business focused on patented products and watchmaker's tools. Its early workforce consisted of craftsmen and apprentices, and its output included machinist vices, chimney cowls, fans, spiral staircases, and other engineered products. Heller entered machine building in 1898 with cold circular metal saws, saw-blade skiving machines, and thread-cutting machines. In 1900, the original enterprise was replaced by Gebr. Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH, founded by the brothers Ernst and Hermann Heller. Heller progressively developed from a general machinery producer into a specialist supplier of production technology. The company began producing milling machines for crankshaft machining in 1940, establishing a long-term connection with powertrain manufacturing. Its product portfolio later expanded to horizontal and five-axis machining centers, flexible manufacturing systems, automation solutions, and equipment for high-volume metalworking. Heller's technologies are intended to combine machining productivity, dimensional accuracy, process integration, and repeatability, particularly in demanding industrial production environments. Internationalization accelerated during the second half of the twentieth century. Heller established subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Brazil in 1970, opened production facilities in Chicago in 1982, and subsequently built a wider network of subsidiaries, representatives, service operations, and production locations. The group has maintained manufacturing or operating activities in Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the United States, and China, while also expanding its Asian presence through a TechnologyCenter in Pune, India, subsidiaries in Shanghai and Beijing, and a production facility in Changzhou, China. During the 2000s and 2010s, Heller introduced several important technology families. These included the ModuleLine manufacturing system, the H series of machining centers, the F series for simultaneous five-axis machining, and five-axis solutions for bevel-gear machining. The company also developed CylinderBoreCoating technology and related CBC modules for coating cylinder bores in engine crankcases. In 2013, Heller and Daimler received Germany's Innovation Award for Climate and Environment for work involving arc-spraying technology for coating cylinder surfaces in automotive engines. Heller also operates through service and training activities. HELLER Services GmbH, based in Nürtingen, provides services and training, while the wider group supports customers through application engineering, maintenance, modernization, and production-system assistance. Its CNC-ProfiTrainer is designed to support training for operators of horizontal machining centers. The company therefore positions itself not only as a machine supplier but also as a provider of integrated manufacturing technology and lifecycle support. On January 28, 2026, DN Solutions completed the acquisition of Heller's shares, making Heller a wholly owned subsidiary of DN Solutions. This transaction placed the long-established German machine-tool business within a larger industrial machine-tool group. Heller remains associated with high-performance machining, production systems, and specialized powertrain manufacturing equipment, although its ownership structure has changed.

Heller was established on February 7, 1894, in Germany by Herman Heller, who founded a trading and manufacturing business dealing in patented products and watchmaker's tools. The initial operation employed seven craftsmen and three apprentices. Its early production was varied and included machinist vices, chimney cowls, fans, spiral staircases, and other engineered goods. In 1898, the business entered machine building. It began producing cold circular metal sawing machines, saw-blade skiving machines, and thread-cutting machines. Two years later, the original enterprise was superseded by Gebr. Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH, established by the brothers Ernst and Hermann Heller. This reorganization marked the basis of the company associated with the Heller name in the machine-tool industry. A significant technological direction emerged in 1940, when Heller produced its first milling machines for crankshaft machining. This work connected the company to the automotive and engine-manufacturing sectors and became a recurring theme in its later product portfolio. Heller subsequently developed machinery for high-volume and precision production, including machining centers, manufacturing systems, and specialized crankshaft and camshaft equipment. The company expanded beyond Germany during the twentieth century. Subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Brazil were established in 1970, followed by production facilities in Chicago, United States, in 1982. Heller later operated production and service activities in Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the United States, and China, with subsidiaries and representatives serving other industrial markets. Its Asian development included the establishment of a TechnologyCenter in Pune in 2009, operations in Shanghai and Beijing, and a production facility in Changzhou opened in 2013. Heller's quality and production systems received formal recognition in 2000, when the company was certified to ISO 9001, QS 9000, TES, and VDA 6.4 standards. That year also saw the doubling of production capacity at its United States plant and the introduction of a new internal milling machine for crankshaft machining. Product development accelerated in the late 2000s. In 2007, Heller introduced the ModuleLine manufacturing system and presented the H series of machining centers at EMO in Hanover. In 2009, it launched the F series for simultaneous five-axis machining. In 2010, the company demonstrated bevel-gear machining on five-axis machining centers from the MCH-C and F series. These developments broadened Heller's role from an individual machine supplier to an integrated provider of production lines and application-specific manufacturing systems. Heller also developed CylinderBoreCoating technology for coating cylinder bores in engine crankcases. The technology uses arc spraying and is represented by CBC modules such as the CBC 200. In 2013, Heller and Daimler received the German Innovation Award for Climate and Environment for their work on coating cylinder surfaces in automobile engines. The HELLER Group's business includes machinery, automation, manufacturing systems, service, and training. HELLER Services GmbH, based in Nürtingen, supports customers with service and training, while the company's global network provides local market and application support. The CNC-ProfiTrainer forms part of the training portfolio for operators of horizontal machining centers. On January 28, 2026, DN Solutions completed the acquisition of Heller's shares. Heller consequently became a wholly owned subsidiary of DN Solutions. The transaction represents the latest ownership milestone in the history of a company that has evolved from a small nineteenth-century producer of patented goods and tools into an international supplier of advanced metal-cutting and production technology.

1. 2026Acquisition by DN Solutions

   DN Solutions completed the acquisition of Heller's shares, making Heller a wholly owned subsidiary.

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2. 2013Changzhou production facility and innovation award

   Heller opened a production facility in Changzhou, China, and, together with Daimler, received the German Innovation Award for Climate and Environment for engine-cylinder coating technology.

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3. 2010Five-axis bevel-gear machining

   Heller presented bevel-gear machining on five-axis machining centers from the MCH-C and F series.

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4. 2009F series and Pune TechnologyCenter

   The company launched its F series for simultaneous five-axis machining and established a TechnologyCenter in Pune, India.

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5. 2007ModuleLine and H series introduced

   Heller introduced the ModuleLine manufacturing system and presented the H series of machining centers at EMO Hanover.

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6. 2000Quality certifications and United States capacity expansion

   Heller received ISO 9001, QS 9000, TES, and VDA 6.4 certifications, doubled production capacity at its United States plant, and introduced a new internal crankshaft-milling machine.

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7. 1982United States production expansion

   The company opened production facilities in Chicago, Illinois.

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8. 1970International subsidiaries established

   Heller established subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Brazil.

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9. 1940First crankshaft milling machines

   Heller produced its first milling machines designed for crankshaft machining.

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10. 1900Gebr. Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH is founded

    The original enterprise was replaced by a company founded by Ernst and Hermann Heller.

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11. 1898Entry into machine building

    The company began manufacturing cold circular metal sawing machines, saw-blade skiving machines, and thread-cutting machines.

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12. 1894Herman Heller establishes the original business

    Herman Heller founded a trading and manufacturing enterprise in Germany producing patented goods and watchmaker's tools.

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High-precision, integrated metal-cutting and production-system solutions for demanding industrial manufacturers.

• H seriesFour-axis machining centers2007

  The H series comprises horizontal machining centers intended for productive and repeatable metal cutting in industrial manufacturing. The series is associated with four-axis machining and is suitable for applications requiring integrated multi-face processing, production efficiency, and robust operation in sectors such as automotive component manufacturing and general machine building.

• HF and F seriesFive-axis machining centers2009

  The HF and F families provide five-axis machining capabilities for complex components and applications requiring simultaneous multi-axis cutting. The F series was introduced for simultaneous five-axis machining and supports production processes in which part accessibility, reduced setup requirements, and flexible tool paths are important.

• C seriesFive-axis milling and turning centers

  The C series combines milling and turning operations with five-axis machining. This type of integrated platform is intended to reduce transfers between machines and support complex component production requiring multiple cutting processes within a coordinated manufacturing setup.

• ModuleLineFlexible manufacturing systems2007

  ModuleLine is Heller's manufacturing-system concept for configuring production around modular machining and automation elements. It extends the company's offering beyond standalone machine tools toward integrated and adaptable production arrangements for industrial customers.

• CBC 200Cylinder-bore coating modules

  CBC 200 modules use Heller's CylinderBoreCoating technology to coat cylinder bores in engine crankcases. The process is associated with arc-spraying technology for cylinder-surface treatment and was developed for demanding automotive and engine-manufacturing applications.

• RFK, DRZ, MCC 15, and RFNCrankshaft and camshaft machining systems

  These specialized machine families are designed for crankshaft and camshaft machining. They reflect Heller's long-standing expertise in powertrain production, dating back to its first crankshaft-milling machines in 1940, and are aimed at high-precision industrial engine-component manufacturing.

• CNC-ProfiTrainerOperator training equipment

  CNC-ProfiTrainer is a training machine intended to help prepare operators of horizontal machining centers. It forms part of Heller's broader service and education offering, supporting workforce development alongside the company's machine and production-system business.

• 2026DN Solutions acquisitionM&A

  Heller had operated as an international German machine-tool group with manufacturing, service, and sales activities across several major industrial markets.

  What changed. DN Solutions completed the acquisition of Heller's shares on January 28, 2026, making Heller a wholly owned subsidiary.

  Aftermath. Heller became part of DN Solutions while retaining its identity as a specialist supplier of machining centers, manufacturing systems, and powertrain-production machinery.

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• 2009Launch of the F seriesProduct launch

  Industrial customers increasingly required complex machining with fewer setups and greater multi-axis flexibility.

  What changed. Heller launched the F series for simultaneous five-axis machining.

  Aftermath. The launch expanded Heller's five-axis machining offering and supported more complex component-production applications.

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• 2007Expansion toward modular manufacturing systemsStrategy

  Heller was broadening its role from individual machine-tool production toward integrated and configurable manufacturing solutions.

  What changed. The company introduced the ModuleLine manufacturing system and presented the H series of machining centers at EMO Hanover.

  Aftermath. The move strengthened Heller's portfolio in flexible and integrated industrial production.

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• 2026DN Solutions completes acquisition of Heller

  DN Solutions completed the acquisition of Heller's shares, making the German machine-tool manufacturer a wholly owned subsidiary.

  M&A
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• 2013Heller and Daimler receive German innovation award for engine-cylinder coating technology

  Heller and Daimler were jointly recognized with the German Innovation Award for Climate and Environment for arc-spraying technology used to coat cylinder surfaces in automobile engines.

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• 2013Heller and Daimler receive German innovation award for cylinder-surface coating technology

  Heller and Daimler were recognized with the German Innovation Award for Climate and Environment for an arc-spraying process used to coat cylinder surfaces in automobile engines.

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• 2013Heller opens production facility in Changzhou

  Heller expanded its Asian manufacturing presence with the opening of a production facility in Changzhou, China, complementing its Chinese subsidiaries and wider international network.

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1. Heller Group