S-UBG secures succession at KSA Kugelstrahlzentrum Aachen.

S-UBG AG secures succession at KSA Kugelstrahlzentrum Aachen GmbH – Focus on Aerospace

• S-UBG continues its long-standing commitment since 2005
• Second management buy-in together with ACT Holding

Aachen, May 26, 2026 – The regional investment company S-UBG AG acquired 80 percent of the shares in KSA Kugelstrahlzentrum Aachen GmbH in May 2026 together with Advanced Clean Technologies (ACT-Holding GmbH) as part of a management buy-in (MBI). S-UBG has already held a stake in KSA since 2005. “With this re-investment, we are consistently continuing our long-standing commitment to KSA and supporting the company as it enters a new phase of growth,” says Bernhard Kugel, Member of the Management Board of S-UBG AG.

Technology leader in the aerospace sector

KSA was founded in 1993 as a spin-off of RWTH Aachen University and is the globally recognized specialist and sole provider in Automated Peen Forming (APF) and Automated Peen Re-Shaping (APR) – highly precise manufacturing processes for the forming and processing of metallic structures for the aerospace industry.

The aerospace sector plays a crucial role in advancing science, business, and society. Space exploration and Earth observation through aerospace technologies make a significant scientific contribution. At the same time, it is a multi-billion-dollar market generating revenues through satellite communications, navigation, and Earth observation. Aerospace is an integral part of Germany’s high-tech agenda, strengthening innovation capacity and North Rhine-Westphalia as a research hub, creating prosperity and high-quality jobs, and enhancing security.

The company has firmly established itself as a technology and quality leader within its niche and is increasingly expanding into new customer segments. “The aerospace industry is clearly a future-oriented sector, particularly due to growing commercial demand. KSA is excellently positioned for this,” says Kugel.

Proven partners take over company management

While the MBI candidates Dr. Hans-Christian Früh and Christian Mertens, MBA, together with S-UBG, are acquiring the majority of shares in KSA, the current managing shareholder Dr. Frank Wüstefeld and Wolfgang Linnemann, Senior Engineer and Production Manager, will remain involved as minority shareholders and continue to support the company in an advisory capacity. The investment partners are part of S-UBG’s network.

MBI team with industrial and management expertise

Christian Mertens (45) has more than two decades of experience in senior industrial positions and as an entrepreneur. Hans-Christian Früh (40) studied aerospace engineering and earned his doctorate at RWTH Aachen in the field of CFRP and 3D preforming. He brings extensive experience as a researcher, developer, and entrepreneur.

Market forecasts show strong growth potential for the space industry

The global space economy market is expected to grow from USD 439 billion in 2025 to USD 632 billion by 2031. Key drivers include increasing government and defense spending as well as private investments in space technologies. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is estimated at 7 percent, driven by the expansion of satellite broadband services and the use of space-based services across various industries.

“The market is influenced by different segments such as backbone and reach. Backbone includes satellite service providers and rocket companies, while reach comprises applications enabled by space technology, such as Uber and many others,” emphasizes Dr. Früh. “In addition, technological advances such as miniaturization, 3D printing, robotics, and artificial intelligence are contributing to this growth. With its unique capabilities in manufacturing critical components, its innovative strength, and its strong corporate and academic network in Aachen, KSA is very well positioned to benefit from this growth.”

Mertens concludes: “Current developments and forecasts demonstrate that the aerospace industry is a competitive and growing field that will continue to gain importance due to increasing demand for innovative solutions and the strategic priorities of nations.”

Press Contact

S-UBG AG

Bernhard Kugel
Member of the Management Board
Markt 45-47
52062 Aachen, Germany
Phone: +49 241 47056-0
Email: schleicher@s-ubg.de
S-UBG AG

VOCATO public relations GmbH

Corinna Bause / Romy Schächtel
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50858 Cologne, Germany
Phone: +49 2234 60198-19 / -23
Email: cbause@vocato.com
Email: rschaechtel@vocato.com
VOCATO public relations GmbH

About the S-UBG Group

The S-UBG Gruppe has been the leading partner for providing equity capital to established SMEs (through S-UBG AG) and young technology-oriented startups (through the TechVision Fund) in the economic regions of Aachen, Krefeld, and Mönchengladbach for more than 35 years.

S-UBG AG invests in growth industries, with high-quality management being a key investment criterion. The investment company develops financing models for medium-sized businesses, both as direct and silent participations, and has many years of experience in expansion financing, shareholder transitions, and succession arrangements (MBO/MBI). S-UBG exclusively takes minority stakes. The S-UBG Group currently holds investments in nearly 40 companies in the region, making it one of the leading investment firms within Germany’s Sparkassen financial group.

Further information: S-UBG AG Website

Photo caption:
From left to right: Dr. Frank Wüstefeld, Dr. Hans-Christian Früh, Christian Mertens, Wolfgang Linnemann.