{{dablink|This article is about a company, for the German trade unionist, see Carl Windhoff}} {{Infobox company | name = Windhoff | logo = Windhoff-Logo-Horizontal-RGB-540.gif | caption = | type = | traded_as = | genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies --> | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = 1889 <ref name="Foundation date">In 1889, the engineer Rudolf WINDHOFF founded the company as Rheiner Maschinenfabrik </ref> | founder = Rudolf Windhoff | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | location_city = | location_country = | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = <!-- Only used with financial services companies --> | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = Georgsmarienhütte Holding GmbH (2002–present)<ref name="worldcargo">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcargonews.com/htm/n20020315.535271.htm|title=New owners for Windhoff|publisher=WorldCargo News|date=March 2002|quote=Windhoff AG in Rheine, known for its special purpose vehicles for railway maintenance including Cargo-Sprinter MPVs, has been taken over by Georgsmarienhutte Holding}}</ref> | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = [http://www.windhoff.com www.windhoff.com] | footnotes = | intl = }}
'''Windhoff''' is a German manufacturer of specialised railways rolling stock, and heavy industrial plant. The company was founded in 1889.
The company is well known for its CargoSprinter rail vehicle, and derivatives.
==History== The company started out as the ''{{lang|de|Rheiner Maschinenfabrik}}'' (Machine Factory of Rheine) in Rheine near Münster, Germany in 1889 manufacturing machines for the weaving industry and founded by Rudolf Windhoff. By 1901 the company was employing over 100 people.<ref name="portrait"/>
As similar control mechanisms were used for steam-driven automated weaving looms and for stream-driven railway traversers and turntables, Rudolf Windhoff also founded the ''{{lang|de|Motoren- und Fahrzeugfabrik Gebr. Windhoff}}'' (Windhoff Brothers' Engine and Vehicle Factory).<ref name="portrait"/>
In 1913, these two private companies were combined to form the share-based ''{{lang|de|Rheiner Maschinenfabrik Windhoff}}'' (Windhoff Machine Factory Rheine). This combined company suffered losses during the 1930s. Later, a bomb destroyed the manufacturing premises on 5 October 1944.<ref name="portrait"/> In 1957 the company stopped manufacturing normal locomotives and start to concentrate on tracking machines (ballast tampers).
The Windhoff company was first listed on the stock exchange in 1993.<ref name="portrait"/> On 19 December 2001,<ref name="merte">{{cite web|url=http://www.werkbahn.de/eisenbahn/lokbau/windhoff.htm|title=Rheiner Maschinenfabrik, Rheine|language=German|first=Jens|last=Merte|accessdate=2009-05-17}}</ref> the main company was declared bankrupt and the industrial plant and railway engineering divisions being taken over on 1 March 2002,<ref name="merte"/> to become part of Georgsmarienhütte Holdings GmbH.<ref name="portrait">{{cite web|url=http://www.windhoff.de/e/wh/por/welcome.htm|title=Portrait of Enterprise|publisher=Georgsmarienhütte Group of Companies|accessdate=2009-05-17|archive-date=2011-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719114120/http://www.windhoff.de/e/wh/por/welcome.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Windhoff division, as ''{{lang|de|Windhoff Bahn- und Anlagentechnik GmbH}}'' (Windhoff Railway- and Equipment Technology) continues to supply specialist railway vehicles and infrastructure with a team of around 250 people.<ref name="portrait"/> The company is an approved railway contractor for in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Norway.<ref name="railway-technology">{{cite web|url=http://www.railway-technology.com/contractors/track/windhoff/ |title=Windhoff - Railway Workshop Equipment and On-Track Plant |publisher=SPG Media Limited |accessdate=2009-05-17 |quote=further bespoke vehicles are fire fighting and rescue trains, and Freight Multiple Units (FMUs) on MPV basis. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427202938/http://www.railway-technology.com/contractors/track/windhoff/ |archivedate=April 27, 2009 }}</ref>
==Products== Windhoff manufactures specialised rail vehicles including the diesel freight multiple unit the CargoSprinter, and the Windhoff MPV, used for infrastructure and service trains, as well as electric and diesel shunting machines, shunting locomotives, and stationary shunting equipment. The company also manufactures a wide variety of rail service equipment including lifting equipment, traversers and turntables and equipment for wheelset maintenance including wheel and bogie drop machines, and wheelset and bogie measuring equipment.<ref>Windhoff website, "Rail Technologies", March 2012</ref>
Windhoff has a contract to supply Network Rail with a factory train which will be used by Amey plc in the Great Western electrification project.<ref name=rgi20120327>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/windhoff-to-build-network-rails-electrification-factory-train.html| title=Windhoff to build Network Rail's electrification factory train| date=5 December 2011| magazine=Railway Gazette International| access-date=29 March 2012| archive-date=17 February 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217180511/https://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/windhoff-to-build-network-rails-electrification-factory-train.html| url-status=dead}}</ref>
The company also manufactures equipment for heavy industrial plants, including steel-works equipment such as ladle transporters and tippers, torpedo wagons (in association with IAG-MAGNUM), and machinery for steel coil handling.<ref>Windhoff website, "Plant Technologies", March 2012</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Windhoff}} *{{citation| url = http://www.windhoff.com/| work = www.windhoff.com| title = Windhoff GmbH Online| language = German, English}}, company website
Category:Rolling stock manufacturers of Germany