The long-established company, which is internationally renowned for stainless steel components and artistic castings, is thus adding security-related products such as protective cladding and door hinges for tanks to its portfolio.
As Isabel Klaas reports in the Rheinische Post Langenfeld (August 14, 2025), it took almost eight years from the initial idea to approval by the German Armed Forces. The company spent three years working on the optimal steel alloy, says sales manager Tobias Bohn. Although the first ballistic test failed, Schmees now produces its own high-strength steel solution under the brand name “Seculloy,” which is already being delivered as painted tank door cladding. There are only two other steel foundries in Germany that supply the German Armed Forces.
Managing Director Clemens Schmees, who runs the company in its second generation with his sister, emphasizes the strategic orientation: The new division secures jobs and strengthens competitiveness against Asian competitors. At the same time, he sees himself more as a pacifist: “We only produce for the protection of people. Everything that has to do with shooting is done by others.”
In addition to the defense division, art casting for international sculptors such as Tony Cragg remains a project close to the company's heart. The Schmees foundry in Pirna creates monumental stainless steel sculptures that can be found in museums and public spaces around the world.
This example shows how Schmees masters the balancing act between art, industry, and defense technology—a “dual use” of stainless steel at the highest technical and design level.
Source: www.rp-online.de
