Questions? Find answers here
FAQ to browse, an AI assistant for everything in between – and always a direct line to support.
The most common questions on armour steel, succession, consulting, acquisitions and online products are collected here. If yours is not among them, ask the assistant below or write to us directly.
45 of 45 questions
How do I know if my business is ready for the defense supply chain?
The Defense-Readiness-Check is the best way to find out: two days on site, covering DIN 2303, armour steel suitability, personnel, quality assurance, legal requirements and market access. You get a written roadmap at the end.
What is the difference between DIN 2303 and EN 1090?
DIN 2303 is the dedicated standard for welded structures in the military sector – with its own welding supervisor including a deputy, and its own material requirements under TL (technical delivery conditions). An EN 1090 certification alone is not enough.
Which materials count as armour steel?
Mainly high-strength and ballistic steels such as Armox, Ramor, Secure, S690QL and S960QL – used for prototypes and series production of wheeled and tracked vehicles.
We have already welded Hardox – is that the same as armour steel?
No. Hardox is a wear-resistant structural steel, armour steel is designed for ballistic protection – different alloy, different welding parameters, different testing requirements.
Do we need our own welding supervisor for DIN 2303?
Yes, including a deputy. This is one of the most common reasons businesses are not allowed to deliver despite having the manufacturing skills.
Who is the Defense-Readiness-Check for?
For contract manufacturers, steel and metal construction companies, machinists and forming companies that receive enquiries from the defense sector or want to enter it deliberately.
What happens after the Defense-Readiness-Check?
Those who want to continue move into qualification support: two days a month, at least six months. If commissioned within four weeks, 25 percent of the check fee is credited.
What does the Defense-Readiness-Check cost?
The check has a fixed price for the two days on site, plus travel costs. We name the exact amount in the free initial call.
How do I know if my business is ready to be handed over?
With the Nachfolge-Check (succession check): two days on site, seven areas – owner dependency, leadership, customers, production, figures, real estate, succession path. You get a traffic-light rating, a valuation range and a written roadmap.
What if I'm away for three months – would the business still run?
That is exactly what the owner-dependency area checks. Many businesses run well as long as the owner is there every day – for a handover, that is often the biggest risk, not the figures.
We've known our customers for 20 years – why is that a risk?
Because the relationship often depends on the owner, not the business. A successor has to build the same customer trust from scratch – the check assesses this concretely.
Will I get a fixed sale price?
No, but a valuation range as a realistic estimate. As a rule of thumb for metalworking businesses, that is roughly 2 to 2.5 times sustainable annual profit; real estate is considered separately.
Which succession path fits us – family, sale, staged entry?
That is one of the seven areas covered. The roadmap from the check shows which path fits your business, not just what is theoretically possible.
Could Invictix itself be the buyer?
Yes. Where no successor is in sight, Invictix can step in itself – as a stake or acquisition, often via a getting-to-know-you phase. The business, the team and the name stay.
Who is the Nachfolge-Check for?
For owner-managed metalworking businesses with 9 to 50 employees and 1 to 10 million euros in revenue.
What does the Nachfolge-Check cost?
A fixed price for the two days on site, plus travel costs, and a free 45-minute initial call beforehand, held remotely. We name the exact amount in the initial call.
How does the consulting process generally work?
People first, then the shop floor, then the office: conversations across all levels first, then processes and workflows, and only then production and the figures.
Is this the same as the Technische Partnerschaft (technical partnership)?
No. Entry is via the Defense-Readiness-Check or the Nachfolge-Check. The Technische Partnerschaft is the ongoing support afterwards: a few days a month, at least six months.
What does Invictix actually do in the Technische Partnerschaft?
Assess quotes and cost calculations, build up second sourcing, support the ramp-up of new production, and a monthly review with management.
Why people first, not straight to the figures?
Whoever knows where things are stuck rarely sits in the office. Without those conversations on the shop floor, process and figure analyses stay superficial.
Do we get a ready-made solution handed to us?
No. The Technische Partnerschaft supports your decisions but does not replace management – Invictix assesses, flags risks, and proposes.
What if we already did a Defense-Readiness-Check or Nachfolge-Check?
If commissioned within four weeks, 25 percent of the check fee is credited towards the Technische Partnerschaft.
What business size is the Technische Partnerschaft for?
For metalworking companies with 9 to 250 employees, and for dealers. Contacts are the owner, management and plant management.
What is the minimum term of the Technische Partnerschaft?
Six months fixed, then a four-week notice period to the end of the month. We name the price only in an individual quote.
When does a stake by Invictix make sense?
Mainly where a successor is missing: owners without succession, or businesses in a difficult situation that still have a future.
How is Invictix different from a classic financial investor?
No exit deadline, no break-up, no restructuring at the expense of the team. The business stays, the team stays, the name stays.
Is a stake possible instead of a full acquisition?
Yes, often via a getting-to-know-you phase – as a stake or a full acquisition, depending on what fits the situation.
What kind of businesses is Invictix looking for?
Metalworking – machining, forming, steel construction – ideally connected to the defense supply chain, 9 to 50 employees, 1 to 10 million euros revenue, North Rhine-Westphalia and neighbouring regions.
How is a purchase price determined?
That depends on the individual business and cannot be answered in general terms. Real estate is considered separately, a sale-and-leaseback is possible.
What happens to employees after an acquisition?
They stay. Invictix treats acquisitions as an opportunity in succession situations, not as a turnaround case at the expense of the workforce.
What is the first step if we want to explore this?
A confidential, no-obligation conversation. Best via the contact form or directly by email to info@invictix.de.
What are online products, and how are they different from the on-site checks?
Online checks and online training you work through yourself in the browser – no appointment, no preliminary call. For cases where a structured self-assessment is enough.
Do I need a user account?
No. Access is tied to a link you receive after signing.
When do I pay, and when am I unlocked?
The invoice arrives with the signature, payment due in 14 days. You are unlocked immediately, regardless of payment status.
What do I get at the end – a report or a certificate?
For checks, a report as a PDF with a traffic-light rating per field. For training, a certificate of completion after the final test.
How much time does an online product take?
That is stated on each product page under effort – usually between 90 minutes and a few hours, across as many sessions as you like.
Can I switch to an on-site product later?
Yes, at any time. The online product and a later on-site product are billed separately.
Where do I find all online products and their prices?
On the Online Products overview page, with search and a filter for checks or training. This is the only place where we publish prices.
What is the fastest way to contact Invictix?
By email to info@invictix.de or via the contact form. For checks and consulting, the path usually starts with a free 45-minute initial call, held remotely.
Why are there no prices on the website, except for online products?
Because fixed prices and terms have to fit each business. Online products are a deliberate exception, since they can be booked immediately without individual coordination.
Does Invictix also work with businesses outside the defense sector?
Yes. The consulting offer is aimed at owner-managed metalworking businesses in general – machining, forming, steel construction. The defense supply chain is a focus, not a requirement.
Who is behind Invictix Systems?
Felix Urban, around 20 years in metalworking: trained as a machining technician, then production control, plant management, COO and managing partner.
What does the support assistant on this page do, and what happens to my question?
It answers questions on armour steel, succession, consulting, acquisitions and online products based on this FAQ. Questions are evaluated anonymously to improve the FAQ and our offering – see the privacy policy for details.
What if the assistant can't answer my question?
Then it says so openly and refers you to info@invictix.de or the initial call. The assistant does not invent answers.
Which languages is the website available in?
German and English. You can switch language in the menu, top right.
Your question isn't here? Ask directly.
The assistant answers based on the FAQ on armour steel, succession, consulting, acquisitions and online products. For everything else: info@invictix.de or the initial call.
Prefer to talk to us directly?
For anything beyond the FAQ: info@invictix.de, or arrange a free initial call right away.