VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut (BFI) GmbH is, with a staff of 140 people (more than 70% engineers), one of Europe's leading private-sector institutes for applied research and development in the field of steel technology and a great number of other branches of industry. Our creative ideas and state-of-the-art facilities ensure sophisticated innovations and a high standard of advisory and development services for our industrial partners.

VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut was founded in 1968 through the merger of the "Energy and Industrial Management" and "Machinery" departments of the VDEh. The BFI has since worked successfully on multifarious industrial task assignments within the framework of research projects and engineering services. Innovations, developments and proven problem solutions implemented operationally and industrially characterise the work of the Institute. The BFI thereby provides an important link between basic research and industrial application.
 
VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut is a non-profit, limited liability company in which Steel Institute VDEh is the sole shareholder. It operates under the roof of the Stahl-Zentrum, with its registered office in Sohnstrasse in Düsseldorf, Germany.