The institute was founded in 1860 as "Technical association for steelmaking" (Technischer Verein für Eisenhüttenwesen).
The current chairman of the association is Henrik Adam[2] and the CEO is Stefanie Brockmann.
The three specialist journals – stahl und eisen, MPT International and stahlmarkt – are printed and also available as mobile tablet apps and e-papers on the internet.
The new stahl und eisen INTERNATIONAL is only published electronically (four issues per year).
The offices of the Normenausschuss Eisen und Stahl (FES) (the Committee for Iron and Steel Standardisation) are associated with the VDEh regarding their organisation, financing and personnel.