E-Archive

Articles

in Vol. 6 - July Issue - Year 2005
Process Automation Specialist KSA Set For Expansion

KSA Kugelstrahlzentrum Aachen GmbH has announced the successful closing of a management buyout accompanied by a substantial capital investment for the company’s further growth.
A majority stake in the company has been acquired by Dr. Frank Wüstefeld, CEO of KSA, and Axel F.E. Friese, KSA’s new CFO. The buyout was backed by KSA’s third shareholder S-UBG. The S-UBG group is one of the oldest and largest private-equity companies in Germany to be financed by savings banks only. The group holds investments in about 50 technology-focused start-ups and growing mid-cap companies.
KSA was founded in 1993 as a spin-off from Aachen Technical University. KSA’s mission statement: "We help our partners in industry to realize their maximum potential out of shot peening processes." Based on its unique technology of shot peening process control, KSA has over the years successfully built a contracting services business for peen forming Ariane structures and also delivers complete automation solutions for companies such as Airbus.
The crucial factor for market success as an automation solution provider is a highly qualified team of technical experts. Besides Frank and Axel, three more KSA team members have a stake in the company. In consequence, the KSA core team is highly motivated and dedicated to the company’s long term success in the shot peening market.
Axel Friese: "The capital investment from our new partner S-UBG strengthens KSA’s financial position for further international expansion. I’m looking forward to being part of the KSA team and building new business partnerships with the overall goal of providing the best solutions for our customers."
Frank Wüstefeld: "The buyout has been a major step forward for our company. The capital will be put towards launching KSA’s ‘Automated Peen Forming’ (APF) solutions and our new on-line process control tool, which will be of great value for the whole shot peening market in the future."

KSA Kugelstrahlzentrum Aachen GmbH
Weststraße 22-24, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Tel: +49.2407.51565, Fax: 2407.5188565
E-mail: axel.friese@ksa.de.com
www.ksa.de.com