Security and Defence Industry
Experience that builds Confidence. Innovation that Secures the Future.Modern security and defence systems place the highest demands on materials, manufacturing quality and security of supply. This is where Schmidt + Clemens excels. With more than 145 years of experience in the development, production and processing of advanced steel and stainless steel materials, we combine metallurgical expertise, state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and international production capabilities to deliver high-performance solutions for the security and defence industry.
Whether for land, air or naval systems, we develop and manufacture high-quality steel and stainless steel components as well as advanced metallurgical solutions for safety-critical applications. Our customers benefit from our extensive materials expertise, a dedicated research and development centre, state-of-the-art production processes and an integrated European manufacturing network. The result is reliable, durable and future-ready solutions that support the European security and defence industry.
Manufacturing Excellence for the most Demanding Requirements
The performance of modern security and defence systems begins with the quality of their materials and components. Schmidt + Clemens brings together a comprehensive range of manufacturing technologies for the production of advanced steel and stainless steel components – from centrifugal casting and sand casting to investment castings and forged components, supplied through qualified German and European partners. The result is high-performance, reliable and future-ready solutions for safety-critical applications.
Centrifugal casting & Shaped centrifugal casting
- Horizontal Ø
- ≤ 1,100 mm
- Length (horiz.)
- ≤ 5,550 mm
- Vertical Ø
- ≤ 3,000 mm
- Length (vert.)
- ≤ 2,000 mm
- Maximum component weight
- max. 6,000 kg
Static casting
- Length
- ≤ 4,550 mm
- Width
- ≤ 2,000 mm
- Height
- ≤ 1,700 mm
- Maximum component weight
- 6,000 kg
Investment casting
- Length
- ≤ 500 mm
- Width
- ≤ 500 mm
- Height
- ≤ 400 mm
- Maximum component weight
- ≤ 45 kg
Forged components
Complementing our casting capabilities, Schmidt + Clemens supplies forged components for applications subject to exceptionally high mechanical loads in collaboration with qualified and approved European partners.
- Focus:
- High-performance steel components
- Applications:
- Individual components, small production batches and assemblies
One Responsibility. One Manufacturing Process. One Point of Contact.
Schmidt + Clemens covers the entire value chain – from materials development and melting through casting, heat treatment, machining and welding to non-destructive testing and fully finished, ready-to-install components. Every stage of the manufacturing process is seamlessly integrated, ensuring the highest standards of quality, documentation and product integrity.
- Materials Development & Melting
- Heat Treatment
- Machining
- Welding
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Quality Assurance
- Ready-to-Install Components & Assemblies
Every Application has its own Requirements.
Every application places unique demands on materials, manufacturing and quality assurance. Schmidt + Clemens develops and supplies high-quality steel and stainless steel components for demanding defence programmes, tailored to the technical, functional and safety-critical requirements of each application.
Maritime Security and Defence
High-performance Steels & Components for Submarines, Naval Vessels and UUVsIn the maritime sector, where reliability, materials expertise and robust manufacturing processes are essential, Schmidt + Clemens ensures long-term availability throughout the entire service life of critical systems. We support our customers with replacement parts for obsolete components, rapid repair solutions, and the repeatable manufacture and testing of complex components and assemblies to consistently high quality standards.
Typical components: Rudder bushes, stern tubes, locking cams, mast tubes, hoist tubes, closure covers, crossheads, intermediate shafts, steering gear components, flanges, exhaust manifolds, valve seat rings, coupling components and propulsion system components, hawses.
- Weldable stainless steel grades (e.g. 1.4317, 1.4468, 1.4469)
Hull structures, pressure hulls and piping systems - Non-magnetic stainless steel grades (e.g. 1.3964, 1.3967)
Submarines and mine countermeasure vessels - High-strength cast steel grades (e.g. 1.6220)
Hull structures, topside structures and deck constructions - Corrosion-resistant stainless steel grades (e.g. 1.4565)
Components exposed to permanent seawater contact
Optronic Mast Systems
Mast tubes, Guide systems, Bearings
Material: 1.4469 Super Duplex stainless steel castings
Certification: DNV / WIWeB
Pressure Hull Hatches
Internal decks, Outer hull structures, Torpedo tubes
Material: 1.4468 Duplex stainless steel castings
Certification: DNV / WIWeB
Naval Gun Components
Muzzle flash suppressors, Muzzle Brakes, Compensators
Manufactured from high-temperature-resistant stainless steels.
Gun cradles
Steering Gear Systems
Intermediate shafts, Steering arms, Bearings
Material: 1.4317 corrosion-resistant cast steel
Certification: DNV / WIWeB
Land-based Security and Defence Industry
High-Performance Materials & Components for Land Vehicles and Defence Systems
As a specialist foundry for high-alloy stainless steels, Schmidt + Clemens is a strong partner for land-based defence programmes. We provide manufacturing capability across the entire value chain – from materials development and prototype production to small production batches and series manufacture of complete assemblies.
Typical components: Exhaust systems, engine components, structural components, weapon system components and running gear.
- Weldable, corrosion-resistant stainless steel grades
- Weldable armour steel castings up to hardness class R ≥ 500 HB / 50 HRC
Typical applications: Structural and protection components - High-temperature-resistant alloys
Typical applications: Weapon systems and engine components - Wear-resistant materials
Typical applications: Running gear components - High-strength cast materials
Exhaust Systems
Pipes, Exhaust manifolds, Flanges, Bushings
Heat-resistant stainless steels for extreme operating conditions:
1.4832 · 1.4828 · 1.4825 · 1.4460
Engine Components
Valve seat rings for combustion engines
High-quality special steel for extreme thermal and mechanical loads.
Gun components
Protection Components
Armour steel castings for structural and protective applications.
Weapon System Components
Muzzle flash suppressors, Muzzle Brakes, Compensators
Manufactured from high-temperature-resistant stainless steels.
Gun cradles
Running Gear (e.g. 1.3401)
GCast running gear components, Tank track links
High-Performance Materials for Munition Components and Propulsion Systems
- Guided missiles & torpedoes: Housing tubes and propulsion system components.
Typical material: 1.4317 - Artillery & mortar munition bodies:
Typical materials: GJS spheroidal graphite iron and GS steel castings - High-temperature-resistant materials for jet and rocket propulsion systems
- Cryogenic stainless steel grades for cryogenic propellant systems and related applications
Independence & Resilience
100% German family-owned company – no private equity ownership, no sanctions-related risks and no exit risk.
Security of Supply
German and European manufacturing facilities, short decision-making processes and a qualified partner network ensure a secure and reliable supply chain for demanding defence programmes.
Obsolescence Management
Re-manufacturing, reverse engineering, adaptation and replacement of spare parts – even where materials, manufacturing processes or supply chains have become obsolete.
Research & Development
Direct access to metallurgical expertise, advanced simulation and testing technologies, and the Group's dedicated Research & Development Centre.
Quality & Certification
Certified quality management processes ensure consistent product quality and maximum reliability throughout the entire Schmidt + Clemens value chain.
Regulatory Sovereignty
As an EU- and NATO-compliant supplier headquartered in Germany, Schmidt + Clemens operates fully within the European regulatory framework, including the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS), GDPR and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).
Manufacturing Sovereignty
Fully integrated manufacturing – from raw materials and melting through cast components to ready-to-install system solutions. Complete independence from third-party manufacturers in all core competencies.
Market Leadership
Global market leader in the geopolitically critical field of petrochemical tube systems. Customers across Europe, North America and the Middle East rely on Schmidt + Clemens for technologies for which there is no comparable alternative within the European Union.
Quality & Safety
- Certified Management Systems: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001
- AQAP 2110–2131 (in preparation)
- Known Consignor (Regulated Air Cargo Security)
- Quality Management System for Material Manufacturers in accordance with EN 764-5 and the Pressure Equipment Directive (2014/68/EU)
- Qualification for Nuclear Applications: KTA 3201.1, KTA 1401 and AVS D 100
- S+C Excellence Laboratory – Level III in accordance with ISO 9712 and ISO/IEC 17025
- Material Certificates in accordance with standards such as DNV and WIWeB
- Radiographic Testing: Linear accelerators (1 MeV & 3 MeV), wall thicknesses up to 200 mm, Iridium-192, inspection area 20 × 5 × 4 m
- Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)
- Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT)
500+ Material Grades
- High-Temperature-Resistant Stainless Steels
Applications: Propulsion systems, weapon system components, engine components
Typical grades: 1.4832, 1.4825 - Armour Steel Castings
Applications: Armoured vehicles, protection systems, naval superstructures - Non-Magnetic Stainless Steels
Applications: Submarines, mine countermeasure vessels
Typical grades: 1.3964, 1.3974 - Super Duplex & Duplex Stainless Steels
Applications: Naval shipbuilding, seawater-resistant components
Typical grades: 1.4468, 1.4469 - Cryogenic Stainless Steels
Applications: Cryogenic propellant systems, ice-class naval vessels - Wear-Resistant Materials
Applications: Running gear components
Typical grade: 1.3401 - High-Strength Cast Materials
Applications: Naval topside structures
Typical grade: 1.6220
Manufacturing Expertise
- Raw Material Inventory
- Melting and alloy production for high-performance metallic materials
- Sand casting, horizontal and vertical centrifugal casting, and shaped centrifugal casting
- Investment castings and forged components
- CNC machining, including deep-hole drilling up to 6 m
- Welding (ISO 3834-2, AD 2000; DIN 2303 Q2 BK1 in preparation)
- Heat treatment and hardening
Services
- S+C Labs
Comprehensive metallurgical services, Materials development, Failure Analysis, Long-term testing, Corrosion testing
Foreign Material Exploitation (FME) – analysis of third-party and adversary materials and equipment - Quality Testing
Radiographic testing: Linear accelerators (1 MeV & 3 MeV), wall thicknesses up to 200 mm, Iridium-192, inspection area 20 × 5 × 4 m
Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)
Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) - Manufacturing Services
CNC machining, including deep-hole drilling up to 6 m
Welding (ISO 3834-2, AD 2000; DIN 2303 Q2 BK1 in preparation)
Heat treatment
Hardening
Straightening
Point of contact
Sascha Scholz
Security and Defense Industry
Phone: +49 2266 92-291
Email: s.scholz(at)schmidt-clemens.com
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