Since trains have drived the first time on rails, these important components of the wheel/rail system are subject to the wear.Therefore short time after the establishment of the Elektro-Thermit GmbH in the year 1919 first attempts were already executed for deposition-welding at rails. At First,  the arc welding method by Tramways, later also by the German National Railroad.

At the beginning of the 50's was further developed the "ELLIRA procedure" (Elektro Linde Rapid ), invented by the company Linde, as underpowder welding method for the application at rails. This procedure became in the course of the time to the standard technique with the maintenance of tracks with local transporting enterprises at home as well as abroad with the state railways.

The increasing meaning of these activities has ended in the establishment of Elektro-Thermit Service GmbH. Since 1. January 1997 ETDL is responsible for research, development and services on this special field in the Goldschmidt-Thermit-Group. With mobile working units weldings at shifted rails and switches are executed.

In the factory in Essen ETDL is working with self-developed systems the welding technical compensation of new rails, which are transported and inserted afterwards to their point of usage.

To the fields of work of electrical deposition welding counts the repair of strong wear subjected curve rails and wheel-basic track items, like the welding technical processing of switches, in particular the hearts, and the recovery of operation-conditioned rail damage take a large scope.

The Goldschmidt Thermit Railservice GmbH is a member of the Goldschmidt-Thermit-Group.