1866

Ordnance Depot: Founded as ordnance depot with development and production of surface and submarine weapons.

1891

Imperial Torpedo Works: Used as Imperial Torpedo Works with about 1,000 employees.

1898

Foundry Activities: Start of foundry activities at the Facility Site in Kiel-Friedrichsort to accelerate work processes and streamline product development.

1919/1920

Deutsche Werke Kiel AG: Together with the Imperial Shipyard in Kiel and fifteen other state-owned enterprises the facility was incorporated into the Deutsche Werke AG, Berlin (state owned group). The spin-off would become Deutsche Werke Kiel AG (DWK).

1922

Production of Diesel Engines: Development and production of diesel engines for ships and locomotives, starting with hot-bulb engines, followed by two-stroke engines.

1930

Series Production of Four-stroke Diesel Engines: Start of series production of four-stroke diesel engines of types M 36, M 42, and M 581. Formation of a sales organization at home and abroad.

1940-1950

Founding and Early Engines: Early deliveries included the M 24 and M 36 marine diesel engines, establishing the MaK brand. By 1954, the company became independent, producing a range of products including tracked vehicles, locomotives, textile machinery, and maritime technology. 

1950-1970

Traditional Diesel Engines: The diesel engine product range began with the M 451 and Z 451 series. During this period, developed numerous two- and four-stroke engines with 4 to 16 cylinders, including the M 281/282, M 331/332, M 452/453, and M551/552 series. Many of these engines remain in use and continue to be supported with spare parts.

1969 Onward

Global Sales and Stationary Power: A worldwide sales and service network was established, supporting both marine engines and stationary power plants, the latter beginning in 1969.

1977 Onward

Expansion into Large Engines and Mobile Power: We introduced the large engine series M 601 and soon after expanded into mobile power generator development, marking the company’s continued innovation and diversification.

1990-1993

Restructuring and Focus on Engines: We underwent a major restructuring at its Kiel-Friedrichsort site. The company shifted its focus exclusively to engine construction, strengthening its global brand presence and laying the foundation for continued innovation in large engines and mobile power solutions.

1992

M 20 Engine Model: Designed for safety, efficiency, and environmental performance, the M 20 uses 40% fewer components and serves as the platform for future diesel, gas, and dual-fuel engines.

1994

M 32 Engine Model: This model delivers over 3,000 kW with a robust, long-stroke design optimized for efficient combustion, flexible installation, and both marine and land-based power generation.

1996

M 25 Engine Model: This engine bridges the gap between the M 20 and M 32, offering a cost-efficient, low-maintenance solution optimized for fixed-pitch propellers and new industries such as inland navigation.

1997

Caterpillar acquired MaK: The company was renamed to Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, establishing Kiel as its global technology center for medium-speed engines. The site developed and produced MaK and Cat® diesel, gas, and dual-fuel engines for marine, power, and oil and gas applications, and remains Caterpillar’s oldest facility within its Energy & Transportation segment.

1999-2004 Expansion and Integration

1999: Additional production site established: MaK Motoren Rostock GmbH, designed for final engine assembly and testing.

2004: Founding of Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. in China.

2010-2013 Logistics, Training, and Joint Ventures

2010: Logistics center established to ensure efficient global spare parts distribution.

2011: Caterpillar Engine Training Center Kiel modernized to provide operators and dealer teams with comprehensive engine knowledge.

2012: Joint venture formed with Anqing CSSC Diesel Engine Co. Ltd., combining German medium-speed engine technology with Chinese manufacturing.

2013: Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH acquired; the foundry cast its first cylinder block, modernizing equipment to support R&D and production efficiency.

2014-2016 Modernization and Environmental Innovation

2014: Launch of dual-fuel engine M 46 DF and M 34 DF for operation on MDO, HFO, and LNG.

2015: Introduction of optimized E-type engines M 25 E and M 32 E (based on the engine models of M 25 C and M 32 C) for low operational costs and high reliability.

2016: Development of SCR System to retrofit engines for reduced NOₓ emissions, ensuring compliance with IMO III standards.