Crankshafts
Forged crankshafts are critical components for large engines, pumps and compressors, where maximum strength, precision and reliability under extreme loads are essential.
A crankshaft converts the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational motion. Its fatigue strength and dimensional accuracy therefore determine the reliability of the entire machine.
As a forged crankshaft manufacturer in Germany, Wildauer Schmiede und Kurbelwellentechnik (WSK), part of GMH Gruppe, produces crankshafts that are ready for installation, with finished weights of up to 25 tonnes and lengths of up to 13 metres. They are manufactured for demanding industrial and energy applications.
Within GMH Gruppe, the entire value chain is covered internally, from steel production and forging to machining and final finishing. This integrated approach gives full control over material quality, dimensional accuracy and process reliability.
With more than 120 years of manufacturing expertise at our Wildau location, we supply large crankshafts forged from alloy steel. Carbon, carbon manganese and stainless grades are available on request. All crankshafts are produced according to individual customer specifications.
Technical Specifications of Forged Crankshafts
The following values define the manufacturing capabilities and dimensional range at Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik (WSK).
Specifications
Crankshafts for 4-Stroke Engines
| Technical Characteristic | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Crank radius | max. 450 mm |
| Bearing diameter | 100 bis 480 mm |
| Swing diameter | max. 1,300 mm |
| Total length | 1,500 bis 13,000 mm |
| Finished weight | max. 20,000 kg |
Ready-to-Install Eccentric Shafts and Crankshafts for Compressors and Pumps
| Technical Characteristic | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Total length | min. 1,500 mm |
| Swing diameter | max. 1,300 mm |
| Finished weight | min. 1,500 kg |
| Special dimensions | On request |
Crankshafts
Crankshaft Materials
WSK forges crankshafts from alloy steels, delivered in the quenched and tempered condition for high fatigue strength. Carbon, carbon-manganese and stainless steel grades are available on request. Crankshafts are forged using free-form, die and continuous-grain-flow (CGF/TR) processes, with the grain flow following the crank geometry to maximise load capacity. All grades are supplied in accordance with the customer specification and classification-society-approved drawings.
Your contact
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
Product Variants of Forged Crankshafts
All crankshafts are manufactured on an order-specific basis, tailored to customer-specific dimensions, tolerances, and application requirements.
Your contact for Crankshafts
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
Crankshafts for 4-Stroke Engines
Crankshafts for large pump systems that run continuously under high mechanical load, often in abrasive or wet environments.
Applications
- Mining (dewatering systems, tailings and overburden sludge handling)
- Construction sites (large-scale dewatering and industrial pump systems)
Your contact for Crankshafts
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
Crankshafts for Compressors
Crankshafts for compressor systems where precision and reliable running matter under demanding process conditions, including safety-critical gas applications.
Applications
- Chemical and petrochemical industry
- Hydrogen production systems
- LNG (liquefied natural gas) applications
- Gas processing, energy infrastructure and industrial process systems
Your contact for Crankshafts
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
Eccentric Shafts
Eccentric shafts convert rotation into controlled oscillating or linear motion, which makes them essential wherever precise motion control is required in mechanical engineering, plant construction and industrial systems.
Applications
- Mechanical and plant engineering
- Industrial machinery and custom equipment
Your contact for Crankshafts
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
Custom Shafts
When a standard solution is not enough, WSK develops tailored shaft geometries from first engineering support through to the finished component, adapted precisely to the load conditions, dimensions and function you specify.
Capabilities
- Design support and technical coordination
- Complex, application-specific geometries
- Integrated forging, machining and finishing
Applications
- Mechanical and plant engineering
- Energy and power generation
- Industrial machinery and special-purpose equipment
Your contact for Crankshafts
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
Quality Assurance and Testing
Every crankshaft is verified against the customer’s specification using our own materials laboratory and a comprehensive range of non-destructive testing. Our NDT is carried out by staff certified to DIN EN ISO 9712 levels 1, 2 and 3, covering ultrasonic (UT), magnetic-particle (MT), penetrant (PT) and visual (VT) testing.
Two capabilities stand out for large crankshafts:
- World’s largest magnetic-particle (MT) testing equipment for crankshafts, giving reliable detection of surface and near-surface defects across the full length of multi-tonne shafts.
- Phased-array ultrasonic testing, a 128-transducer system that automatically scans the component and detects internal defects down to the equivalent of a 0.3 mm bore, ensuring material integrity even in safety-critical parts.
Dimensional accuracy is confirmed on a CNC coordinate measuring machine, one of the largest in the world, measuring parts up to 15,000 mm long and components up to 60,000 kg to an accuracy of 0.005 mm.
Your contact for Crankshafts
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
After-Sales Service for Crankshafts
WSK provides comprehensive after-sales services for crankshafts, supporting customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their components.
Service Scope
- Inspection and assessment of damage and wear
- Technical evaluation and condition analysis
- Refurbishment and repair based on assessment results
Our after-sales services help to:
- Extend the service life of crankshafts
- Reduce downtime and replacement costs
- Ensure continued operational reliability
Your contact for Crankshafts
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes of crankshafts does WSK manufacture?
WSK manufactures forged crankshafts for large 4-stroke engines with:
- Total length: 1,500 to 13,000 mm
- Finished weight: up to 20,000 kg
- Bearing diameter: 100 to 480 mm
- Swing diameter: up to 1,300 mm
Crankshafts for pumps, compressors, and eccentric shafts are produced from:
- Minimum length: 1,500 mm
- Minimum finished weight: 1,500 kg
Special dimensions are available on request.
Which industries use WSK crankshafts?
WSK crankshafts are used in demanding industrial and energy applications, including:
- Marine propulsion systems (shipbuilding)
- Railway technology (locomotives)
- Stationary power generation
- Mining and construction (large pumps, dewatering systems)
- Hydrogen production and LNG applications (compressors)
- Mechanical and plant engineering (eccentric shafts)
How are crankshafts manufactured at WSK?
WSK covers the full forging process using different technologies depending on component size and requirements:
- Die forging: Components from 100 kg to 3,500 kg using a 630 kNm counterblow hammer
- Open-die and semi-open die forging: Production on a 2000 t hydraulic press for larger components
Pre-machining is carried out according to customer specifications on request.
How is the dimensional accuracy of crankshafts ensured?
Dimensional accuracy is verified using a CNC-controlled coordinate measuring machine (CMM), one of the largest of its kind in the world.
- Measurement capacity: forged parts and crankshafts up to 15,000 mm long and up to 2,000 mm high and wide
- Component weight: up to 60,000 kg on the measuring table
- Accuracy: 0.005 mm
To achieve this accuracy, the machine is mounted on a granite bed supported by an air cushion and operates at a constant 20 °C inside a separate climate-controlled cabin, guaranteeing the comparability and repeatability of every measurement.
Does WSK offer crankshaft repair and refurbishment?
Yes. WSK provides after-sales services for crankshafts, including:
- Damage and wear assessment
- Technical evaluation
- Refurbishment and repair based on inspection results
These services help extend component lifetime and ensure continued operational reliability.
Which certifications and approvals does WSK have?
WSK is certified according to international standards:
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management
- ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management
- ISO 50001:2018 – Energy Management
Additionally, WSK is approved by major classification societies, including:
ABS, Bureau Veritas, DNV, Lloyd’s Register, RINA, NKK, PRS, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, TÜV, and Deutsche Bahn AG.
Your contact for Crankshafts
We manufacture all our products to customer specifications. So what are your specifications?
Please feel free to contact us. Together we will find your perfectly customized solution.
Matthias Utzinger
Sales Manager – Large Engines, Pumps & Compressors Wildauer Schmiede- und Kurbelwellentechnik GmbH
Further processing possibilities
Mechanical processing options
Milling
Turning
Turning-milling
Drilling
Grinding
Material Testing
US testing
Magnetic crack detection
Determination of chemical analysis
Compression, tensile and notch impact testing
Microstructure check
Hardness testing according to HV, HB, HRc
Automatic dimensional inspection
Phased-array
What you can expect
Raw material recycling
We use almost 100 % scrap in steel production for our open-die forged products, thereby enabling closed cycles
Wide range
Various machining options for crankshafts
Great variety
We can offer a wide range of material grades for crankshafts