en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 1, 2026, Montanhydraulik GmbH acquired KMF Kemptener Maschinenfabrik (KMF Kempten Machinery Factory) through an asset deal. Many of the 185 employees will transfer to the acquirer, and the Kempten plant will be retained.
KMF filed an application for self-administration proceedings with the Kempten Local Court in mid-January 2026. Approximately six and a half months later, the continued operation of this hydraulic cylinder manufacturer has been secured. KMF, headquartered in Kempten, specializes in hydraulic cylinders for agricultural technology and has supplied well-known customers in the industry for years. Falkensteg provided advisory services during the self-administration proceedings and the investor process, creating the conditions for a strategic acquirer to take over.
Expanded hydraulic cylinder portfolio
Montanhydraulik, headquartered in Holzwickede, employs more than 1,100 people and generated sales of approximately €260 million in the most recent fiscal year. The company produces hydraulic cylinders and complete hydraulic systems used in mobile cranes, construction machinery manufacturing, and industrial applications. KMF and Montanhydraulik have complementary hydraulic cylinder portfolios, targeting different size and application segments. For Montanhydraulik, this acquisition helps expand its sales markets. "The acquisition of KMF is an important step in the group's further development. We are strategically expanding our portfolio, combining the strengths of both companies, and creating the best conditions to continue serving our customers with innovative hydraulic solutions," said Jens Ennen, CEO of the Montanhydraulik Group. The group plans to maintain KMF's existing business operations, leverage sales channels in both directions, and give customers of both companies access to a broader product range in the future, covering Kempten's series hydraulic cylinders and the Montanhydraulik Group's large hydraulic cylinders.
Restructuring during operations
Falkensteg Restructuring accompanied the business operations during the self-administration proceedings. "The key was to align the business operations with the acquirer's requirements through restructuring measures and to achieve a viable investor solution," explained Maximilian Schneider, the restructuring managing director responsible for operational implementation. The team adjusted the organizational structure, logistics concept, and procurement strategy, increasing production flexibility. A total of 30 jobs were cut during the proceedings, for which the company reached a balance of interests and a social plan with the works council. Business operations continued without interruption throughout the entire proceedings. Administrator Henrik Brandenburg stated: "Special thanks go to the customers and suppliers who accompanied KMF constructively along the restructuring path of the self-administration proceedings. Their trust is an essential cornerstone of the successful restructuring and the company's long-term continuation."
The investor process was led by Falkensteg Corporate Finance. Of the 150 potential acquirers approached, eight investors submitted offers. Nicolas Haan, responsible for the M&A process, stated that the solution now implemented provides the best foundation for maintaining business operations in the long term.
The main reasons for KMF's difficulties were weak demand in the agricultural industry, its primary sales market, with declining orders and reduced customer pickups, while limited flexibility in adjusting fixed costs, production delays, and rising raw material and energy prices also added pressure. In fiscal year 2025, the company still employed approximately 185 people and generated sales of around €35 million.
