DGS

Name

DGS

Legal name

DGS Druckguss Systeme AG

Website

https://dgs-druckguss.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Die Casting Components

NAICS

Forging and Stamping (3321)

akta.pro primary industry

Body Panels, Doors, Hoods & Closures Manufacturing (IMACAGAH)

Keywords

• Aluminum die casting
• Magnesium die casting
• Automotive structural components
• Lightweight metal parts
• High-pressure die casting

Headquarters

HQ city

Sankt Gallen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Die Casting Component Manufacturing: Design, development, and series production of aluminum and magnesium die casting components for automotive and industrial applications. Revenue generated from component sales with full value chain including heat treatment, machining, coating, and assembly services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DGS designs and manufactures high-pressure die-cast aluminum and magnesium components, primarily for automotive structural applications such as body, interior, steering, e-mobility, and powertrain parts. The company operates a vertically integrated value chain that includes melting, casting (250-4400 t closing force), heat treatment (T5/T6/T7), CNC machining, surface coating, and assembly, together with in-house development services covering process engineering, tool design, alloy development, and rapid prototyping. Production is delivered globally from facilities in Switzerland, Czech Republic, and China with just-in-time/just-in-sequence logistics.

Product overview

DGS Druckguss Systeme AG is a die-casting manufacturing company offering aluminum and magnesium high-pressure die-cast components and comprehensive manufacturing services. The company operates as a system partner providing innovative customized solutions from development through production to delivery. Their core offerings include die-cast components (Aluminum and Magnesium), supported by in-house manufacturing processes: Casting, Heat Treatment (T5/T6/T7), CNC Machining, Surface Coating, Assembly & Systems, and Logistics. Development services include Process Development, Tool Design, Alloy Development, and Rapid Prototyping. Applications focus primarily on automotive (body, interior, steering, e-mobility, powertrain) with additional industrial segments (renewable energy, industrial, consumer goods). DGS serves automotive manufacturers globally with manufacturing facilities in Switzerland, Czech Republic, and China.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aluminum Automotive Body Components (Structural Castings) Structural aluminum die-cast components for crash-relevant automotive body applications, including spring strut mounts, crossbeams, longitudinal beams (Audi A8 Space-Frame), A-pillars, B-pillars, hinge reinforcements, and impact absorbers. Sold to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers for body-in-white and chassis integration.
• Aluminum and Magnesium Automotive Interior Components Interior die-cast components with high functionality and compaction requirements, including CQT consoles, shift housings, CQT braces, and handbrake systems. VW handbrake systems have been produced across three generations with magnesium, achieving ~1 kg weight reduction.
• Magnesium Automotive Steering Components Safety-critical magnesium die-cast steering components, including steering column supports and steering column adjustment (mantel tubes). Produced for automotive OEMs requiring lightweight chassis solutions.
• E-Mobility and BEV Cast Components Aluminum die-cast components for electric vehicles, including battery housings and structural cast components. First series deliveries of aggregate and battery components for BEVs from Mercedes-Benz and BMW started November 2022 from the Frýdlant plant.
• Front/Rear-End Cast Modules Front- and rear-end solutions from individual cast parts to assembled modules, including air outlet grilles (e.g., Audi R8), front-end supports, crash absorber mounts, and front-end brackets.
• Engine and Powertrain Cast Components Complex and tolerance-critical aluminum die-cast powertrain components that withstand extraordinary thermal-dynamic loads, including cylinder head covers, oil pans, transmission internals, transmission housings (VW premium manufacturer global platform, ~1.8M vehicles/year), and cooling housings.
• Renewable Energy / Solar Frame Castings Large-scale aluminum die-cast solar panel frames for renewable energy customers. The Hoval solar frame (Euroguss 2014 award) is the largest European die-cast part in a single shot at 2050 x 1230 x 54 mm and 6.4 kg.
• Industrial and Consumer Goods Die-Cast Components Precision die-cast components for industrial equipment and consumer goods, including scale housings, lamp enclosures, drill machine bearing bridges, and sewing machine components. Approximately 5% of DGS revenue comes from this segment.
• Development Services (Process, Tool, Alloy, Prototyping) Bundled development services including process development (alloy and property development, product/system development, 3D data optimization, die casting consulting), in-house tool design (3D construction, gating, mold filling/solidification/stress/cooling simulation, FEM, NC programming), alloy development (testing programs with alternative casting alloys, quenching simulation), and rapid prototyping (milled and 3D-printed plastic prototypes, milled metal, sand casting, rapid tooling, and die-cast prototypes). Sold to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers as part of component programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19% weight reduction in Audi structural component vs predecessor
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hochschule AalencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for research and development collaboration in die casting technology and materials science.
• Fachhochschule St. Gallen (FHSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences for digitalization and informatics education collaboration.
• IRPD (Institute for Rapid Product Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution partnership for rapid prototyping and product development.
• Giessereiverband Schweiz (Swiss Foundry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership for networking, standards development, and vocational training promotion (OBA trade fair participation).
• StartfeldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation network for technology transfer and startup collaboration.
• Tuno SchweizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership for training and education initiatives.
• Institut für Digitale und Informatische Bildung (IDIB-PHSG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for digital education and informatics training programs. Joint initiative for filming and documenting learning experiences.
• OST - Ostschweizer FachhochschuleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences for student visits and educational programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nemak: Mexico-headquartered global leader in aluminum die casting for automotive powertrain, e-mobility, and structural components; directly comparable to DGS on lightweight aluminum castings supplied to global OEMs.
• Dynacast (Form Technologies): Global precision metal die casting manufacturer (aluminum, magnesium, zinc) with multi-continent footprint serving automotive, industrial, and consumer markets; competes with DGS on engineered cast components for tier-1 customers.
• Shiloh Industries: US supplier of lightweighting, noise/vibration/harshness, and chassis components, with significant aluminum and magnesium die casting capacity serving automotive structural applications similar to DGS.
• Endurance Technologies: Indian Tier-1 automotive component manufacturer with aluminum die casting and suspension product lines serving global OEMs; comparable to DGS on aluminum casting content per vehicle and global OEM supply.
• Georg Fischer AG (GF Casting Solutions): Swiss industrial group with a major GF Casting Solutions division producing iron, aluminum, and magnesium castings for automotive and industrial customers; competes head-to-head with DGS on global automotive structural casting contracts.
• Ryobi Die Casting: Japanese die casting specialist with large-scale aluminum and magnesium HPDC operations supplying global automotive OEMs for structural and powertrain components, directly comparable to DGS's HPDC structural casting focus.

Broad incumbents

• Magna International: World's largest tier-1 automotive supplier with body, chassis, and powertrain operations including aluminum casting capabilities; broader and much larger than DGS but materially overlaps on structural cast components and OEM system supply.
• Martinrea International: Canadian diversified automotive supplier with aluminum casting and lightweight metal forming capabilities across body, chassis, and powertrain; broader portfolio than DGS but overlapping on automotive structural castings.
• Rheinmetall Automotive (formerly KSPG): German automotive division of Rheinmetall, large supplier of powertrain and cast components (including pistons and structural castings) using aluminum and other alloys; competes with DGS on engine/powertrain castings and increasingly on e-mobility housings.

Others

• Bühler Group: Swiss supplier of die casting machines and complete die casting cells — the original parent lineage of DGS (Bühler Druckguss AG) and a long-standing technology partner; comparable as an equipment and process supplier enabling DGS's HPDC operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dgs-druckguss-systeme-ag

Compliance19 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DGS