Histroy of MKM at a glance

We live copper.

MKM is a leading European manufacturer of primary and semi-finished products made of copper and copper alloys. As a company with more than a century of expertise we have always offered ground-breaking technologies, service concepts and solutions tailored to the market, and true German quality.

Outstanding material, strong aspiration

We produce in the town of Hettstedt in the German state of Sachsen-Anhalt and are represented around the world by our sales offices. Demand for semi-finished products made of non-ferrous metal is growing. Emerging global markets and megatrends such as eMobility, renewable energies, climate change, megacitys, digitalisation and communication all need an outstanding material: copper. And MKM can answer that need. We live copper.

What makes us proud

MKM is the only manufacturer in the world to offer wire, strips, tubes, bars and sheets from a single source. Our range is truly a complete one – and our reliability is absolute. Each and every one of our 1,100 employees strives on a daily basis for the unique quality of our products and for innovation. Around the world, our 1,000 customers in 60 countries trust those employees. It is they who have made our company so strong, so customer-focused and so fit for the future. They create value and they embody value. That is what we are proud of.

We are a strong partner

A high equity ratio of around 60 percent puts us on an extremely strong growth footing. MKM has invested more than €400 million since 1997. Our far-sighted owner Hannam & Partners enables us to make comprehensive future investments and in the coming three years alone we will be investing around €40 million in making ourselves more competitive. That way we can become even better.

MKM as corporate citizen

We are careful to maintain an open and collaborative relationship with our immediate neighbours. By keeping in frequent contact with local communities and the state of Sachsen-Anhalt, we participate actively whenever we are needed – from supra-regional training all the way to providing social support for people in need. We encourage our employees to engage in voluntary work.

MKM as an environmentally conscious company

We believe in sustainability. Not only do we reduce the amount of raw materials used because copper is such an easy material to recycle; we also aim to reduce immissions, emissions and the waste we produce. In 2008 we voluntarily subscribed to the new European Chemical Regulation – REACH – to ensure that our products would only contain registered substances (metals).

Histroy

The region of Mansfeld has been a mining region for more than 800 years and the town of Hettstedt has more than a century of experience with copper. That is what makes Mansfelder Kupfer und Messing GmbH so special. Copper has never just been a product to MKM. To many of us here it is like family – and many of our staff are already second or third generation. We’re proud of that.

MKM’s history – from the 1909 joint stock company, via trade union federation and East German co-operative Planbetrieb, to today’s MKM GmbH – is impossible to tell in just a few sentences. What we can say is that tradition and innovation belong together at MKM. That can be seen in every phase of our company development. A chronological overview shows some of the most important milestones. There are various commemorative publications containing more detailed information about the corporate, product and technological history of MKM:

• On the 100th anniversary of Mansfelder Kupfer und Messing GmbH, published by MKM GmbH, Hettstedt 2009
• 100 years of wire production, published by MKM GmbH, Hettstedt 2009
• 100 years of the Wide Reverse Mill at MKM Mansfelder Kupfer und Messing GmbH, published by MKM GmbH, Hettstedt 2010

1199 : Discovery of copper shale near Hettstedt

1818 : Commencement of further processing of copper hammers in Rothenburg on the river Saale

1907 : Decision to build the Hettstedt copper and brass works

1909 : Founding and commencement of production of the wire-rolling mill

1910 : Commencement of operations of the new reverse rolling mills

1912 : Start of the copper sheet rolling mill, wire-drawing mill, bar line

1916 : Commencement of operations of the strip rolling mill

1935 : Commencement of production of aluminium semi-finished products

1946 : Conversion for operation in the Soviet corporation

1970 : Incorporation into the VEB Mansfeld combine, "Wilhelm Pieck"

1981 : New fine-wire pull, SM bolt foundry, strip rolling mill II

1990 : Founding of the rolling mill Hettstedt AG, administered by the "Treuhand" agency

1995 : Privatization and takeover by the Belgian Lamitref Group

1998 : Start of new anode operations

1999 : Opening of a new DGW plant and Conti M®

2004 : Takeover by Kazakhmys plc.

2013 : Acquired by Copper 1909 Bidco GmbH

MKM as employer

MKM is one of the biggest employers in Sachsen-Anhalt and is represented worldwide by numerous sales offices. Our workforce of over 1,100 people produced around 250,000 tons of copper in 2014, which we supplied to around 1,000 customers in 60 countries. We offer our employees and their families – some of whom have been with us for three generations – not only an attractive environment to work in, but also prospects they can rely upon.

MKM is one of Sachsen-Anhalt’s recognised training establishments. We are currently training 82 young people, 61 of whom are our own apprentices, the other 21 being specialists-in-training belonging to partner companies.