Velbert

Velbert
Coat of arms
Velbert
Location of Velbert within Mettmann district
Coordinates: 51°20′N 7°3′E / 51.333°N 7.050°E / 51.333; 7.050Coordinates: 51°20′N 7°3′E / 51.333°N 7.050°E / 51.333; 7.050
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Düsseldorf
District	Mettmann
Government
• Mayor	Dirk Lukrafka
Area
• Total	74.9 km2 (28.9 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	81,430
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	42549–42555
Dialling codes	02051–02053
Vehicle registration	ME
Website	www.velbert.de

Velbert is a large town in the district of Mettmann, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The city is renowned worldwide for the production of locks and fittings.

Velbert is located on the hills of 'Niederberg' (meaning Lower Berg), part of the Berg region, approx. 20 kilometres north-east of the state capital Düsseldorf and 12 kilometres north-west of Wuppertal on the left side of the Ruhr river.

Velbert stands on the highest part of the Niederberg region and also in its centre. Its average elevation is around 230 metres above sea level; its highest point, at 303 metres, is the Hordt-Berg, and its lowest, at around 80 metres, is in Nierenhof am Deilbach. The highest point in Velbert itself is 263 metres above sea level, at the corner of Friedrichstraße and Langenberger Straße.

As part of the reform of local government districts in North Rhine-Westphalia that came into effect on 1 January 1975, the formerly independent cities of Velbert, Neviges and Langenberg were merged to form the present city of Velbert.

For the History of Velbert please see Velbert (History).

Velbert is divided into three administrative areas, reflecting the three former cities: Velbert-Mitte (Central Velbert), Neviges and Langenberg. There are also numerous suburbs, including Tönisheide, Losenburg, Nordpark, Langenhorst, Birth, Röttgen and Hefel.

The first coat of arms was created in 1882 and abolished in local government reform of 1975. It showed the lion of the Counts, later Dukes, of Berg (originally the symbol of Limburg) and keys referring to locksmithing, a traditional industry in Velbert.

After 1975 a new coat of arms was created that included heraldic symbols for all three formerly independent towns. The key, referring to Velbert's main traditional industry, was retained with a simpler design. Langenberg is represented by an oak leaf, referring to the oak in the old arms of Langenberg. The chevrons in the bit of the key refer to the coat of arms of the lords of Hardenberg, from the coat of arms of Neviges.

The main traditional industry of Velbert is small scale manufacturing, mostly metal based, typical products include locks, hinges, small tools, hoseclamps. Most companies are small to medium scale and many evolved from backyard forges. There are also companies producing parts for the automotive industry, for example the suppliers of vehicle access systems Witte Automotive and Huf. As well as this Stein & Co Gmbh, the makers of Sebo vacuum cleaners, are based in the town.