The idea for shm® – Süddeutsche Hülsenmanufaktur was conceived in 2010 during a visit to the Jagd & Hund in Dortmund. During a joint dinner at “Pfefferkorn” – a highly recommended steakhouse – with hunting and business associates, the topic of cartridge cases came up.
One of our hunting associates primarily used rare calibers and pointed out the limited availability in this area. After an extended discussion, I agreed to take a closer look at the issue – after all, it couldn’t be “that complicated.” A misconception, as soon became apparent.
Days and weeks of intensive research followed: analyses of the existing market for specialized cartridge cases, evaluations of suitable calibers, potential customers, competitors, and realistic production volumes. It quickly became clear that this represented a compelling and economically relevant field. Further weeks were defined by phone calls, calculations, and initial concept designs – until the decision was made to establish our own cartridge case production. From the outset, the production setup was specifically designed for small to medium batch sizes. Existing manufacturing operations were analyzed in detail, particularly with regard to their limitations in handling smaller production volumes.
In parallel, suitable suppliers were identified, evaluated, and contracts negotiated. Processes were continuously reviewed, refined – and often discarded. This was followed by intensive development phases: days and nights spent working with CAD systems and sketches, simulations using FEM software, and close coordination with machine manufacturers and toolmakers. In March 2011, the first cartridge case was finally produced – and, still unfired, went straight to scrap.
This marked the beginning of the optimization phase. Materials were changed, hardness levels adjusted, lubricants tested, and tooling continuously refined. Setbacks were part of the process. As a graduate mechanical engineer (FH) specializing in manufacturing technology, I was familiar with this approach – even if it proved more demanding than expected at times. The timeline had to be revised several times. With each iteration, the quality of the cartridge cases improved, while the required effort initially remained high.
Step by step, processes were stabilized, streamlined, and partially automated – always with the goal of maintaining maximum flexibility. Today, we offer a solid product range that can be manufactured economically from batch sizes of approximately 1,000 units. Our portfolio continues to expand, and the optimization of our processes remains an ongoing focus. Most importantly, however, the original objective has been achieved: the reliable supply of our hunting associate from Dortmund with his cartridge cases is now secured.