From the inventor of Thermit© welding to the world market leader

In 2022, Hans Goldschmidt's patent for Thermit^© welding had its 127th anniversary.

In 1895, a German chemist Hans Goldschmidt received the Kaiser patent number 96317 for an aluminothermical welding method he invented, which was the beginning to two stories of success: the Thermit^© welding process, and the Goldschmidt . Did he realize that he had created a production base for modern rail transport? Thanks to the Thermit^© welding technology, it was possible to securely and firmly weld the rail joints, which became an important factor for improving the comfort of travelling by train how we know it today, and for the invention of high-speed trains and extremely loaded rail transport.

Moreover, even 120 years after the patent had been put into operation, the “Goldschmidt method” is considered one of the best rail welding technologies and remains the standard for all railway companies around the world. In addition, this method has been continuously improved and optimized over several decades: thanks to its commitment to innovation, Goldschmidt currently is the world market leader with the Thermit^© rail welding of any profile and purpose, having become a successful supplier of a wide range of products and services for construction, repair, maintenance, and modernization of rail tracks. This success story was possible thanks to the vigorous research performed by its founder, Hans Goldschmidt, which is still a kind of motto for the Goldschmidt , as planning for the future is our tradition.