Featured by KfW: OKM as a Best Practice in Business Succession
The long-term success of a company depends significantly on proactively managing leadership transitions. OKM Detectors took exactly this step in 2019. With the appointment of Stephan Grund as the new managing director, the future of the global market leader for professional metal detectors and 3D ground scanners based in Altenburg, Germany, was secured.
A Practical Financing Approach to Business Succession
The successful transition required a viable financing plan. A key element of this was a promotional loan provided through the KfW’s “Start-ups and Business Succession” program. In combination with equity and additional financial components, this created a stable foundation for the succession process. The KfW loan served as an enabler – making the entrepreneurial succession at OKM possible in the first place, a process that in many cases would be difficult to realize without structured financing.
What Is the KfW?
The KfW is one of the world’s leading development banks. It's supporting private individuals, companies, and public institutions for decades in investment, innovation, and transformation projects. The KfW offers specialized funding programs for the German SME sector, particularly in the areas of business formation and succession.
What Has the Succession Meant for OKM?
Since the change in leadership, OKM has been able to continue its long-standing success story while introducing key new initiatives:
- Stability and Continuity: The existing team remained in place, retaining the company’s technical expertise and innovative capacity.
- Securing International Competitiveness: Our products – from treasure-hunting detectors to high-precision 3D ground scanners – are used around the world. The succession ensures we remain globally active.
- Shaping the Future: The transition brought new momentum to digitalization and smart technologies, which are now key aspects of product development.
- Maintaining Regional Strength: 95% of our devices are manufactured in Altenburg – supported by an in-house quality management system, dedicated test facilities, and a team passionate about innovation.
The business succession has allowed OKM to remain a reliable global partner – with products “Made in Germany” and a strong identity as a medium-sized enterprise.
A Model for the SME Sector
OKM’s successful transition was selected by the KfW as a best practice example for SME business succession. As part of a feature story and video, the KfW highlighted how this financing approach supported the continuation of an innovative technology company. OKM is proud to be recognized and to contribute as a practical example to increasing visibility for successful SME succession models in Germany.
OKM Summit 2024 in OKM's Headquarters in Germany
OKM's recent gathering was a successful event, filled with valuable dealer and customer feedback, insightful presentations, and hands-on workshops. Highlights ...
Meet OKM's First Dual Student
Meet OKM's first dual student, bringing innovative ideas, strong expertise in international customer acquisition, and high motivation to his studies ...
OKM Celebrates 25 Years Detectors Made in Germany
OKM celebrated its 25th anniversary with guests from politics and business. Find out what could be discovered ...