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Topic

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Companies

Digital upgrades, sustainable production, XXL projects abroad: on this page of KfW Stories, you will find examples of companies whose services or products are particularly compelling to us.

Image-Reference

On our website, pictures taken, among others, by the following photographers/photo agencies are used:

Agentur photothek.net, Deutsche Messe Hannover, Andreas Arnold, Jörg Böthling, Dominik Butzmann, Carsten Costard, Susanne Esche, Charlie Fawell, Rendel Freude, Torsten George, Gaby Gerster, David Greedy, Peter Himsel, Barbara Högner, Frank Homann, Fred Hoogervorst, Steffen Jagenburg (BRANSCH EUROPE), Thomas Klewar, Studio Kohlmeier , Florian Kopp, Georg Lopata, Jürgen Lösel, Kirsten Milhahn, Rüdiger Nehmzow, Rolf Obertreis, Rubén Arnaldo Farina Ortiz, Holger Peters, Joachim Röttgers, Mika Schmidt, Bernhard Schurian, Jens Steingässer, Pietro Sutera, Uwe Tölle, Jan Zappner.

Fotolia.com: amandare, Yuri Arcurs, Kitch Bain, Ingo Bartussek, Sergio Donà, drizzd, Dmitry Ersler, eyewave, Zoltán Futó, Eric Gevaert, Fotolia XXV, Friedberg, goodluz, Dirk Hoffmann, imageteam, Christian Jung, Abdelhamid Kalai, Sergej Khakimullin, Vladimir Kolobov, krizz7, Kzenon, lumen-digital, marog-pixcells, Mindwalker, Miredi, mirpic, Nebuto, Tino Neitz, Christian Pedant, Franz Pfluegl, prognone, Gina Sanders, Henry Schmitt, spree berlin, SVLuma, Kheng Guan Toh, tom, Torbz, typomaniac, VRD, Joachim Wendler, Sreedhar Yedlapati.

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Lars Obendorfer in front of the first

Expansion during the crisis

Thanks to the long-standing tradition of offering takeaway food, the branches of the Frankfurt-based snack bar chain “Best Worscht in Town” were able to stay open during the coronavirus crisis. And thanks to a KfW loan, the company will be able to tackle the challenges of the crisis even if things get worse.

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The founders of the company Bookingkit Christoph Kruse (right) and Lukas Hempel (left)

So long slips and tickets

Canoe trips, museum visits, parachuting: if you book an experience online, Bookingkit is often behind the process. A fast-growing business – until the pandemic arrived, that is. To survive the coronavirus crisis, the Berlin-based start-up needed strong partners, had to rethink its strategy and came of age practically overnight.

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To the article on coronavirus aid for European shipyards
Two cruise ships from the Meyer Werft

An industry under pressure

To make sure German shipyard Meyer Werft and other European builders of cruise liners weather the coronavirus crisis, KfW IPEX-Bank has deferred the repayment of their loans. The initiative by the German Federal Government gives them breathing room for a year and saves jobs.

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Henry's Eismanufaktur

An ice cream always works

Dominik Heil made his childhood dream come true and today runs a café in a prime location in Saarbrücken, Germany. The restrictions to contain the coronavirus epidemic hit the small company owned by the passionate ice cream maker hard at the beginning of the season. But he didn’t let this discourage him.

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Dirk Evers in his carpentry

Emerging stronger from the crisis

The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic have made their mark in the order books of skilled crafts and trades businesses. But the Evers carpentry company in Braunschweig is an example that demonstrates how the lockdown also brought in unexpected business. The drive many homeowners felt to renovate contributed to the phenomenon.

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Wachtel bakery ovens

“Getting back on track”

Even systemically relevant retailers like bakeries have suffered during the coronavirus crisis – which means their suppliers have, too. Wachtel, the German market leader for bakery ovens and cooling systems for artisan bakers, therefore applied for financial aid at short notice. However, they have only drawn down a small portion of it.

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Canidos

Trust is everything

Care services for pets are in demand more than ever. But the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the industry badly. Canidos dog centre in Gelsenkirchen is also facing hard times. Thanks to a KfW loan, operator Ralph Brandt hopes to bridge the difficult period.

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Günter Stecher

“You bite, you fight, you get angry”

Family business Stecher manufactures metal components for the automotive industry. It was inevitable, therefore, that the coronavirus crash would affect the Baden-Württemberg-based business. The rescue programme includes new products, a KfW loan and a large dose of pragmatism.

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leather Heinen

“The market has been turned upside down”

The leather manufacturer Heinen, which has been operating for almost 130 years, has survived many crises. Now, the factory in Heinsberg district is facing the coronavirus pandemic. It is not directly affected, but the indirect impact is very real: the shoe industry, which was experiencing difficulty anyway, has seen heavy losses.

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Breakdance at dance studio Flying Steps

Brutally affected

The Berlin dance company Flying Steps runs the largest urban dance school in Germany and is at home on the stages of the world with its many shows. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, performances had to be cancelled and studios closed. A new enterpreneurial choreography is needed.

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drones are equipped with additional technology

Inventory drone on test

The Hesse-based start-up doks. innovation aims to future-proof corporate goods logistics with the help of drones. The coronavirus crisis hit the new company as it was preparing for its market launch.

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Christoph Führer, Reise Leitner

The hour of the crisis manager

Christoph Führer, a travel agent, was forced to slam the brakes on his business during the coronavirus pandemic. But before he could think about rescuing his company, Leitner Touristik, he had to get holidaymakers in Israel and Italy back to safety. Visit with an unshakable optimist.

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Ali Nejat Nouei

Long live curryurst!

The Imbiss bei Schorsch takeaway in Hamburg’s Schanzenviertel district is an institution; many believe that its currywurst is the best in the city. Now the coronavirus pandemic has more than halved its customers. Its rescue plan includes a KfW loan to let the legend continue.

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Go to article about the company UniCaps
Employees do not meet when changing shifts

Action taken at the right time

With carbon-neutral coffee capsules, UniCaps makes an important contribution to preventing packaging waste. A total of 35 employees make sure that production runs smoothly even during the coronavirus crisis thanks to early restructuring and appropriate financing.

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Mr and Mrs Schulz in front of the hotel Seerose

Confidence is back

The Usedom hotelier Gerd Schulz was approved very fast for one of KfW’s coronavirus loans. But this loan is not the only element that helped the energetic manager save his life’s work for the time being. Creative entrepreneurship was also involved.

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Foundress of Gourmandise Radhia Kamoun Megdiche

The sweet dream of Gourmandise

AfricInvest is an investment company from Tunis that provides help to small and medium-sized enterprises. The example of Radhia Kamoun Megdiche shows how important this support is. Thanks to the financing, she was able to make her mother’s dream come true.

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Women in management

More women in top management

The share of female executives in small and medium-sized enterprises has risen for the first time in four years, but it remains on a low level. A current KfW study provides updated figures. KfW economist Dr Jennifer Abel-Koch explains the reasons for the increase.

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Dr Jutta Richter from Weilburger Graphics

Production via touchscreen

Varnish manufacturer Weilburger Graphics in Bavaria relies on a digital production system, thus increasing sales. Up to 22,000 tonnes of varnish can currently be produced per year instead of 14,000 tonnes.

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Antje von Dewitz, managing director of Vaude

”There's still a long way to go to reach the top“

Vaude, a company that produces mountain sports equipment, was named Germany's most sustainable brand in 2015. For managing director Antje von Dewitz, this distinction is an important milestone – but nowhere near the end of the road.

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