The Mönchengladbach site was associated with the name "Meer" for over 140 years. The "Maschinenfabrik und Eisengiesserei Meer" (Meer machine factory and iron foundry) first opened its doors in Karmannstrasse in Mönchengladbach in 1872. Around 1900, the company's foundry was relocated to Bahnstrasse, where the corporate premises of SMS group are today. The site was developed and expanded after the Second World War. In 1962, the new administration building was built on Ohlerkirchweg for 300 employees and, in the decades to come, the site was gradually expanded to include modern workshops and additional office buildings.

The opening of the highly innovative SMS group Campus in 2023 will be a milestone and not just for Mönchengladbach. By combining all activities in the Rhineland region under one roof, the location will become a center for technology, digitalization, and service.