From Allgäu all around the world: 35 years of mixing and separation technology at Bauer MAT

• Founded in May 1990 with a focus on mixing plants for preparing slurries for specialist foundation engineering projects, as well as customized solutions
• 2016: Largest separation plant BE 2550 successfully completes first deployment on Swiss tunnel project
• 2019: The 1,000th desanding plant leaves the factory
• Today: Digitalization and sustainability as central topics for the ongoing development and enhancement of the plants

Immenstadt, Germany – With expanded production facilities and modernized logistics, BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems is setting the course for continued growth. For more than three decades, the Allgäu-based branch of BAUER Maschinen GmbH has been developing and constructing plants for mixing, materials handling and separation technology – primarily for specialist foundation engineering projects and tunnel construction.

The early years

In May 1990, the company was founded by Josef Soier – then Head of Mechanical Engineering at Bauer Spezialtiefbau and later Managing Director of BAUER Maschinen GmbH – along with experienced mechanical engineer Manfred Kleimeier and Ernst-Wolfram Blaschke as the third partner. Their goal: to develop easily transportable batch mixers for the preparation of slurries on construction sites in specialist foundation engineering, since the existing technology at the time met neither the economic nor technological requirements.

In its early years, the company manufactured not just mixers and plants for slurry preparation, but also numerous customized solutions. Later on, the activities relating to slurry handling for specialist foundation engineering projects, tunnel construction, deep drilling technology and the construction material industry were consolidated into MAT Mischanlagentechnik GmbH. Both direct customers and companies within the BAUER Group continue to benefit from this expertise today: every KLEMM drilling rig comes with a matching injection plant, nd every drilling or cutting system has a tailored separation and mixing system – all from a single source.

Entering the tunnel market with the BE 2550

In 2015, MAT Mischanlagentechnik GmbH became a branch of BAUER Maschinen GmbH. Two years later, MAT entered the market for mechanical tunnel boring with its largest separation plant to date – the BE 2550. Comprising six modular units, the system processes up to 2,400 m³ of drilling fluid per hour. It was first used on the major Eppenberg Tunnel project in Switzerland. 

Since April 2018, the branch has changed its name to BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems – clearly underlining its affiliation with the BAUER Group. One year later, the 1,000th desanding plant left the factory.

Expanded portfolio and production capacities 

On November 1, 2019, the BAUER Group acquired Mühlhäuser-Obermann GmbH. Under the new name Obermann MAT GmbH, this company has since expanded the MAT portfolio with injection and grouting pumps, mixers and HDI pumps. One example of the successful combination of these two technologies is the IPA 250-E injection plant, which premiered at the bauma 2025. A new ring exchange method for rotors on decanter centrifuges was also unveiled. This replacement with an overhauled rotor considerably shortens the time-intensive and costly rotor maintenance. The advantage for customers is that the downtime of their decanter due to maintenance is reduced by weeks. With the CMS 50, Bauer MAT presented the next generation of its mixing technology. 

This continued success made it necessary to expand the company and plant grounds in 2025. After purchasing the adjacent property, Bauer MAT will be able to produce more than 250 plants per year in the future. Logistics were also modernized – including an in-house tower crane and an additional transport vehicle.

Focus on digitalization and sustainability

In recent years, digitalization has also gained increasing importance for Bauer MAT. Many plants – such as the BE 300, the CMS batch mixers or the IPA 250-E – already record and analyze operating data automatically. This digital solution for optimizing machine deployment has proven successful in customer operation. The result: reduced downtimes on construction sites and improved reaction times from the service team. 

“Apart from digitalization, the topic of sustainability also plays a key role,” emphasizes Product Manager Kurt Ostermeier. Bauer MAT is steadily reducing the use of diesel-powered systems and prioritizing energy-efficient machinery. Second-life concepts, such as reprocessing and resale of used equipment, have also been tested successfully. “A major strategic success was the introduction of comprehensive supply chain management, which has significantly shortended delivery times for standard products,” continues Branch Manager Rainer Rossbach.

A broad market presence

While MAT concentrated almost exclusively on specialist foundation engineering in the early years, the business today is much more diversified. Plants for specialist foundation engineering projects currently make up around 50% of sales – with growth at the same time. Tunnel construction (35%) as well for construction material and special applications (15%) are gaining increasing importance. “Our technology is constantly changing – our commitment remains the same: to deliver robust, practical solutions for the jobsite,” remarks Rainer Rossbach. “That philosophy has carried us through 35 years – and it will continue to guide us for decades to come.”