Success with the EEN: Entrepreneur from Stendal finds production partner in the Czech Republic
EEN: Mr Lenz, you are a physiotherapist in Stendal. How did you come to develop this product?
Lenz: One day, a patient came to my practice with complaints in her elbow muscles. She worked in an office and had to take a lot of heavy files off the shelf every day. Gripping the hole in the file was putting one-sided strain on the muscles and causing tendinitis. I thought to myself that it should actually be easier - and a handle on the folder would probably be best.
EEN: What did the development from idea to product look like?
Lenz: Based on my designs, a company from Leipzig produced a prototype on a 3D printer. We then used it to see how it handled and optimised many more details. This development took about six months. At the same time, I also looked into patent protection and had the handle protected as a utility model. The end product is now an ergonomically shaped and stable handle that can be used to pull files from the shelf and transport them - with considerably less effort, which relieves the muscles.
EEN: At what point did EEN come into play?
Lenz: When it came to implementation, I was looking for a manufacturer of injection moulded parts. I happened to come across the "From company to company" section of the IHK magazine "Der Markt" and thought that I might be able to place an advert there. The EEN staff worked with me to create a profile of the product and my requirements for a potential production partner. The profile was published and distributed by EEN in the international database. The EEN colleagues from the other countries forwarded it to their regional companies, so that in the end 24 companies from all over the world responded to the enquiry, from which I was able to make a selection.
EEN: Why did you ultimately decide in favour of the Czech manufacturer?
Lenz: In addition to a good price, it was also important to me that the conditions on site were right. So I travelled to the Czech Republic, where the employees showed me around the production facility. We had a discussion and I was given further advice on the material and mould. There was a lot of transparency, which would have been more difficult with companies from China or similar with my limited resources.
EEN: Who would you recommend working with the EEN?
Lenz: I would advise every company, especially small companies, to think outside the box. I did and I am completely satisfied. As a new entrepreneur, you have to grow into it first, of course. It was all new territory for me and EEN really helped me.
EEN: What happens now?
Lenz: In the meantime, 2000 units of the product have been produced and are being sold online. The GRIFF is now available at www.der-griff.de. I also already have two other product ideas, some of which are already being realised and for which I have already sought and found contacts via the EEN. So it remains exciting!
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