Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, previously MWM GmbH and Deutz Power Systems, is a mechanical engineering company based in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. For many years it was known as Motoren-Werke Mannheim. In 2009 the company was the third-largest producer by revenue of gas and diesel engines. The main focus of production is gensets for the generation of electrical energy from 400 to 4,300 kWel per unit. It also provides consulting, designing and engineering, construction and commissioning of plants as well as global aftersales service. The company also has its own training center.
History
In 1922 the department for the construction of stationary engines was outsourced and had its name changed from Benz & Cie. Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik in Mannheim to Motorenwerke Mannheim. The renowned German engineer Prosper L'Orange, a pioneer of diesel engine technology, was the technical manager then. Before that he worked for Benz & Cie. The construction of diesel engines in particular used to be the core business of MWM, amongst others for utility vehicles and agricultural machines. In 1924 MWM manufactured their first tractor, which was called Motorpferd. In 1931, tractor production was discontinued. For quite a long time, combines by Claas, tractors by the French manufacturer Renault, and by the German companies Fendt, Lanz, Bautz, Holder and Ritscher, were equipped with MWM engines. In 1926 Knorr-Bremse AG was able to acquire the majority of shares and took over. In 1985 they sold MWM to Deutz AG. The company's site was maintained. The company, along with MAN SE, remained the chief engine manufacturer in the field of commercial diesel engines in Germany. DEUTZ restructured the whole company several times and expanded the gas engine division. In August 2007, DEUTZ sold the engine company to the financial investor 3i as Deutz Power Systems for 360 million euros. On 1 October 2008 Deutz Power Systems was renamed MWM GmbH. Today MWM offers mainly gas engines for cogeneration units and biogas plants with an output between 400 and 4,300 kilowatts. To a smaller extent also diesel engines are still produced. On 22 October 2010 Caterpillar Inc. officially announced an agreement with 3i regarding the acquisition of MWM for 580 million euros. Subject to the consent of prudential authorities MWM will then become part of Caterpillar's Electric Power Division. On 8 October MWM announced that it would change its name to Caterpillar Energy Solutions from 1 November 2013.
