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OUR HISTORY GOES BACK
ALMOST 200 YEARS

HBT technology for underground coal mining can look back on a long – almost 200-year history. Even though coal mining in Germany has come to an end, German technological know-how in the field of mining remains an unmistakable trademark.

Today, HBT can draw on a wealth of experience gained over many years from mastering even the most difficult geological conditions – as was the case in part of the German mining industry.

Today, as in the past, this know-how constitutes one of the greatest quality factors. Experienced engineers, inventive technicians, a worldwide team of highly motivated employees – they are all valuable capital and the best prerequisite for HBT’s success in the future.

1826
1826
Foundation of the Westfalia ironworks union.
1826
1850
1850
Iron production is reduced in favor of iron processing.
1850
1930
1930
Increasing production of mining technology
1930
1940
1940
Mechanization and modernization of mining methods in underground mining. Development of the coal plow and the coal conveyor (later PANZER conveyor).
1940
1947
1947
The designer Wilhelm Löbbe further developed the coal plane for the Westfalia ironworks, and the so-called "Löbbe plow" came into use worldwide.

1947
1960
1960
Additional products for gallery and tunnel construction were developed.
1960
1991
1991
Gewerkschaft Eisenhütte Westfalia merges with Klöckner Becorit (Castrop-Rauxel) to form the company Westfalia Becorit Industrietechnik (WBI)
1991
1994
1994
DBT Deutsche Bergbau-Technik GmbH is founded by merging the companies Maschinenfabrik Hemscheidt, Halbach & Braun and Westfalia Becorit under the umbrella of RAG (Ruhrkohle AG).
1994
1999
1999
The headquarters of DBT Deutsche Bergbau-Technik GmbH is moved from Wuppertal to Lünen.
1999
2001
2001
DBT Deutsche Bergbau-Technik GmbH takes over Long Airdox, Saartech and Seneca. Expansion of the product range to include products from the room & pillar mining sector. The company now trades under the name DBT GmbH.

2001
2003
2003
DBT takes over the Continuous Miner Division from Eimco.
2003
2005
2005
DBT has developed into one of the world's largest manufacturers of systems and equipment for underground coal mining.

A focus of DBT's development work is the progressive automation of mining and process operations. The PM-4 electro-hydraulic control system and the electronically controlled CST gearbox (CST = Controlled Start Technology) have brought a considerable increase in efficiency in coal mining, in addition to safety-related advantages.
2005
2007
2007
Acquisition of DBT by Bucyrus Internationl Inc. (USA).
2007
2011
2011
Acquisition of Bucyrus International by Caterpillar Inc.
2011
February 2023
February 2023
Hauhinco Holding GmbH takes over Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH in Lünen. The company is renamed Hauhinco Bergbautechnik (HBT) GmbH. Hauhinco Maschinenfabrik becomes part of the international HBT Group.

February 2023
March 2023
March 2023
Renaming of the former Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH site to Westfalia Campus. In addition to HBT GmbH, other industrial companies settle here.
March 2023
April 2023
April 2023
As a strategic investor, Hauhinco Holding GmbH is taking over the automation specialist EXPPROTEC GMBH (formerly Bartec) from Menden, North Rhine-Westphalia. The company, which focuses on electrical engineering for potentially explosive atmospheres, operates under the name HBT Automation GmbH and completes the longwall technology portfolio of HBT GmbH.

April 2023
April 2023
April 2023
Relocation of HBT hydraulik production from Wuppertal to Sprockhövel, the site of Hauhinco Maschinenfabrik. Reconstruction of cubic production and the Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) for the production of hydraulic valves for longwall mining (electrohydraulic controls, ram check valves, pressure relief valves, valves for various cylinders, check valves, components for gearboxes, automation and shearer loaders).
April 2023
May 2023
May 2023
Reconstruction of in-house production at HBT in Lünen - with reactivation of long hydraulics (legs & cylinders) and heavy steel construction (machine frames, special line pans, cross frames), new machines for sprocket and planetary carrier production and a new welding shop with welding robots and circular welding machines. Construction of a system for laser cladding, for the coating of legs and cylinders to protect against wear and corrosion.
May 2023
June 2023
June 2023
To close strategic gaps in the current product portfolio and to expand the product range, HBT GmbH has acquired 50% of the shares in ADVANTEC Tunnel & Mining Solution GmbH – a division of the ADVANTEC Group. The company is based in Werne, NRW and designs and manufactures roadheaders for the global mining and tunnel construction industry. The share purchase will take effect on June 1, 2023.

June 2023
July 2023
July 2023
HBT Australia acquires the Australian mining equipment supplier Waratah Engineering in Argenton, NSW from the Questas Group. With the service center for the reconditioning of mining equipment, the HBT Group is also expanding its product range to include vehicles and machines for chamber and pillar construction.

July 2023
February 2024
February 2024
HBT Australia is opening a new service center in Queensland, Australia. HBT Services QLD Pty Ltd will provide mechanical, electrical, and structural maintenance services to its customers in Queensland. Key services include minor and major overhauls (including full AS3800 compliance), component refurbishment, re-engineering, spare parts supply, technical support, conveyor installations, outbye services, and project management.
February 2024
March 2024
March 2024
With effect from March 1, 2024, Hauhinco Holding GmbH – parent company of HBT GmbH – has acquired the Australian mining supplier Pempek Systems Pty.

Pempek Systems is an Australian mining components supplier based in Castle Hill near Sydney. Pempek is a leading global supplier of equipment control, telemetry, hydraulic control, and roof bolting solutions for mining applications. The Pempek product range is an ideal complement to the HBT Group’s longwall systems, room & pillar mining vehicles and roadheaders.
March 2024
March 2024
March 2024
HBT Australia and leading energy sector solutions company TotalEnergies Marketing Australia (a subsidiary of TotalEnergies SE) agree to partner on mining and tunneling lubricants, including HFA fluid for longwall systems.
March 2024
March 2024
March 2024
Hauhinco Holding GmbH - parent company of HBT GmbH in Lünen - takes over Breuer Motoren GmbH & Co. KG in Bochum. HBT now offers complete drive solutions for longwall systems - including electric motors and frequency inverters - from a single source.
March 2024
March 2024
March 2024
HBT is starting the installation of approx. 40,000 square meters of photovoltaic panels for a self-sufficient power supply for the companies on the Westfalia Campus site. In the first phase, a total output of approx. 2.5 megawatts is to be achieved. In a second phase, the output is to be increased to 3.0 megawatts.
March 2024

Commitment to Innovation

Below is a list of achievements by timeline as a guide to our commitment to innovation.

1941
Invention of the plowing technology
1942
Invention and introduction of the world’s first armored face conveyor in Poland and Germany
1971
World’s first lemniscate shield introduced
1989
World’s first fully automated, manless face installed in the USA
1991
World’s first rolled profile line pan introduced in the USA
1993
World’s first reliable electronic shield control system PM 4 introduced in the USA
1994
Introduction of the CST drive system for high-capacity face conveyors
1996
The so called „Superwall“ with a guaranted production of more than 5,000 tonnes/h started production in the US
1998
World’s first Longwall face with a length of more than 400 m successfully installed
2002
World’s first 2 m wide 2-leg shield installed in the USA
2003
First GH 1600 Gleithobel plow with 2 x 800 kW installed
2004
Long-life PF 6 line pan technology introduced in the USA
2005
Market introduction of the PMC® family (Programable Mining Control)
2007
The first face in Australia with longwall top coal caving (LTCC) started operation
2008
The first completely redesigned base plate plow went into operation in Ukraine
2009
Market introduction of our online vibration monitoring system VibraGuard
2010
The new Electra® Evo series of shearers with state-of-the-art Ethernet communication and the new PF 7 line pan for seams higher than 6.0 m goes to the market
2013
GH800B plow with optimised loading characteristics launched in Germany
2015
Successful market introduction of the first new EL1000 shearers in Turkey
2019
High Torque Drive pilot system HTD first successful load tests on rig in France Product launch of the heavy-duty PF HD line pans in the USA
2021
Product launch of PMC-R 2.0 roof support control system in Australia
2022
New Overload Control Algorithm first implemented on an EL1000 shearer in the USA
2023
Next generation Personal Proximity Detection system PPD commissioning planned for August in Australia
2023
Engineering release of future haulage system Jumbotrack 2000 HD
1941
1942
1971
1989
1991
1993
1994
1996
1998
2002
2003
2004
2005
2007
2008
2009
2010
2013
2015
2019
2021
2022
2023
2023

Company

HBT is a world class machine manufacturer and fully integrated single solution provider – specializing in systems and equipment for underground coal mining.

Management

The managing directors of
HBT GmbH.

Contact

Get in touch with the HBT group of companies.