It is unreal to me that it has been 5 years since KMM Group, Ltd was born. With just a hint of a smirk on my face and tongue only half in-cheek, I can say that Eric and I have realized why people don’t often do what we did without some significant investment behind them! The road, especially over the last couple of years, has certainly been a bit more difficult than either of us has bargained for.
That being said, we are extremely proud of what we have accomplished. We completed the physical transformation of KMM last year by launching our headquarters at 2200 Byberry Rd in PA. After a year of working on integrating three companies into one, we are positioned well to generate the growth associated with attaining the “Platform CMO” vision that has been steadily, and relentlessly, pursued since the merger on Jan 1, 2020.
More Than a Partnership
I can’t say that I would advise a colleague for, or against, an initiative that would take them down a similar pathway to what we have traveled. Some experiences I would not trade for the world. Some, I am certain, have shaved more than a few hours from the time I have left on this planet. What I can say with complete conviction is that Eric and I have both become better leaders through our learnings over the last 5 years together. More importantly, we are both very, very glad that we have had each other to lean on through it all. In this way, we got more than we bargained for – we are more than partners, we are halves of a whole.
A Clear Vision Through Struggle
The past 5 years saw some setbacks. COVID and construction delays associated with the building renovations significantly impacted the timeline of our original plans. We strained under our own inexperience in leading the company through the integration. Advisors worried that we would struggle with having enough cash to execute on the physical transformation and grow the company through it all – and they were right!
However, we have stayed true to much of what we set out to accomplish by merging the companies. With a clear vision for the company in mind, we acted boldly and with conviction and now find KMM situated in a world-class space that can support growth up to 4X our current size. We have focused intently on shifting our client base to be MedTech-centric and continue to drive growth in this sector toward a goal of 80% of total revenue. We’ve added new value streams like Assembly and a Class 8 cleanroom, which, in turn, accelerate opportunities with A-List clients in MedTech and Pharmaceuticals.
Evolving as a MedTech Platform CMO
I venture to say that the changes that are occurring currently are completing the evolution to a true “Platform CMO”. Projects for 2025 are speeding the transformation of the company workload to repeatable, predictable production for Medtech. This leverages the company’s unique technical skills in Grinding and Machining. The “flywheel” is turning, and the momentum will continue to grow as Centers of Excellence in Guidewire Grinding, Swiss Screw and Complex Machining, Grinding, and Engineering generate a clear advantage for the company in highly-valued niches in the MedTech industry.
The Path Forward
Yes, the last 5 years were definitely a tougher road than we had imagined, but as with any good plan, we needed some course corrections and some pivots. Along the way we found a path to take us toward the vision that we had when we started. We’re not complete yet. Not by a long shot. But, I imagine that the next 5-year look-back will tell a story of opportunity and growth – for the company and our people. I look forward to telling that one.
