He was born in Bohemia and in 1894 moved to Vienna, where he began competing in weightlifting in 1898.

He won three world titles in 1904–1905 and two medals at the 1906 Intercalated Games: a gold in one-hand and a silver in two-hand lift.

At the same competition, Steinbach also participated as a member of Austria's tug of war team, which did not medal, finishing in fourth place.

In 1910 he repeatedly challenged Arthur Saxon for the world professional weightlifting title, but to no avail.

The same year a large granite monument was built in his honor, sponsored by a group of Austrian and German weightlifters and wrestlers.