Vossloh AG is a rail technology company based in Werdohl in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

In the following decades, the company expanded into the production of general hardware, including decorative items and lampholders for electric lighting.

Vossloh previously owned three business units for Electrical Systems, Locomotives, and Rail Vehicles; these were sold in 2015, 2020 and 2016 respectively.

After having returned from the Franco-Prussian War, Vossloh undertook various forms of work and struggled to turn a profit until he secured a major contract during 1883 for the manufacture of spring washers, used for rail fasteners, from the Royal Prussian Railway; allegedly, the Prussian authorities had looked positively upon his military service.

[5] Lacking the resources to fulfil the order, Vossloh hired several workers and obtained help from another German company, Kugel & Berg, which delivered the needed wire to construct the metal lock rings.

[5] On 11 July 1888, the Eduard Vossloh Company was registered; that same year, the business moved to new premises outside of Werdohl's inner core that facilitated an expanded workshop and product range.

[5] One of these sons, Karl Vossloh, became an engineer and expanded the company’s product range by developing various new metal components for the railways.

The business grew steadily around this time; by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, it employed roughly 240 people and provided a steady living for the Vossloh family.

[5] During 1917, a large German steel maker, Rheinische Stahlwerke Duisburg, held talks with the Vossloh family on acquiring the firm; however, terms could not be agreed and no such deal took place.

During 1927, Karl Vossloh developed the high tension ring, which went on to become the standard used on numerous railways across Europe, including Germany.

Throughout the early 20th century, the company continued to grow, producing general hardware, including decorative items and lampholders for electric lights; its diverse product range helped it survive the Great Recession.

A decisive turning point in the company's fortunes occurred in 1967 when Vossloh obtained a license to produce a new tension clamp rail fastening developed by Prof. Hermann Meier, director of the Deutsche Bundesbahn.

During the 1990s, the reunification of Germany, and the opening of new markets in eastern Europe, resulted in additional demand for its rail fastening products on the former Deutsche Reichsbahn and elsewhere.

In 2002, the lighting division was sold to Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. of Osaka, Japan,[6][7][8] and the company decided to expand into the rail industry market through a number of acquisitions.

The company continued to expand; its first acquisition in North America was Pohl Corp (switch manufacturer), followed by Cleveland Track Material Inc., both acquired in 2007.

[11] In mid 2013, Knorr-Bremse owner, Heinz Hermann Thiele, became chairman of the Vossloh board, after having raised his shareholding in the company from below 5% to over 10% in March 2011, and to over 25% in 2013.

New executive board members were introduced and high level management numbers were reduced by a third, and talks started on general workforce redundancies.

[25] During late 2016, Vossloh acquired Rocla Concrete Tie, Inc., headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado from Altus Capital Partners II.

Around the same time, Vossloh has purchased the remaining 50% of the shares in the previous Alpha Rail Team joint venture.

[26] The Core Components division manufactures standardized products on an industrial scale, which are required in large quantities for rail infrastructure.

Approximately 50 million tension clamps leave Vossloh's production sites in Europe, Asia and North America every year.

[26][27] The division includes Vossloh Fastening Systems GmbH (Werdohl Germany), Delkor Rail Pty.

In addition, six own production sites in the US and another one in Mexico also produce switch ties, concrete low-vibration track blocks and crossing panels.

The Vossloh offer covers all fields of application: standard, high-speed, special and heavy-haul switches, as well as solutions[buzzword] for urban networks.

The company's major orders included G1206/1700 variants for the French (SNCF Class BB 61000[35]) and Swiss railways (SBB Am 843[36]).

A three axle shunting locomotive, type Vossloh G6 was introduced in 2008, in 2009 the company announced to the intention to offer diesel electric or diesel hydraulic variant of four axle centre cab locomotives in two power ranges: G 12 or DE 12 and G 18 or DE 18[37] (approximately corresponding to the power ranges of the G1206 and G1700 versions.)

[40][41] During May 2020, Vossloh sold its locomotives business unit to China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation Zhuzhou Locomotive Co.[42][43] In 2012, Vossloh España and front-company Swifambo signed a R3.5 billion (2012) (equivalent to R4.81 billion or US$363.15 million in 2018)[44] contract with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).

[6] A legal dispute between Vossloh and Alpha Trains was heard at the High Court in London concerning the difference in law between a guarantee and an indemnity.