Mahle roots are in Germany, its birthday is considered 1 December 1920, making this year Mahle’s 100th anniversary. Today it is one of the top 3 system suppliers of engine systems, filtration, electrics, mechatronics, and thermal management.

It all started when pilot and engineer Hellmuth Hirth opened a small workshop in Cannstatt, Germany that developed and built a 2- stroke engine. On 12/1/1920 Hermann Mahle became the 7th employee of the shop, the shop that same year would be called Versuchsbau Hellmuth Hirth. The group seen the need to develope a new production to fund further engine tests. At that time most pistons were made of cast iron, so the group decided to attempt to make aluminum pistons.

On 1/11/1922 Hermann Mahle’s brother Ernst Mahle joined the shop as Head of Engineering. In 1924 the company was renamed Elektrometall GmbH. The company by 1927 had produced the first controlled expansion piston and by 1937, they had produced the first aluminum ring carrier piston for diesel engines. Following these developments, piston technology continued to improve.

In 1938 the company was converted to Mahle KG, a new logo was adopted and their products continued to expand. The began making aluminum piston sleeves coated in Cromal ( chrome plating ).

In 1964, the founders Hermann and Ernst Mahle decided to waive their private ownership of the company and make the company part of foundation for public benefit. They renounced the largest part of their property and transferred their company shares to the Mahle Foundation.

Today Mahle has 79,564 employees worldwide and 160 + production and research facilities in Germany, United States of America, Mexico, Great Britian, Japan, China, India, Slovenia, Brazil, and Luxembourg. In 2018 they had a revenue of €12.581 billion.

I feel Mahle has a interesting story and they are huge part of the automotive world. There is so much more to know, with some research I think you’ll do awesome with this topic.

Thanks, Keith