INNOVATIVE WITH SAFETY

Manuela Engel-Dahan, founder and managing director of Lock Your World in Bad Orb, discovered the forerunner of this extraordinary lock 13 years ago by chance in Israel. She had already founded and successfully sold several companies at that time. In the innovative locking system, she sensed the next business idea and took over rights for the German and Austrian markets. Engel-Dahan quickly won Deutsche Bahn for a major pilot project, but even during the roll-out phase her service technicians had to cover countless kilometers to replace the batteries of the locks at their own expense. In 2010 the contract with the Israeli manufacturer ended due to technical problems.

Comprehending failure as an opportunity: This motto, repeatedly propagated by innovation experts, is the basis of Engel-Dahan's business activities. With her own engineers, she implemented her vision of a locking system and in 2011 she kicked off Lock Your World.

Digital without any risk
The new high-tech lock under the name pylocx has now achieved a turnover of more than 15 million euros. The power supply is no longer a problem, because a battery is now in the electronic key and can be changed without long distances and great effort. The new system protects doors, safes, alarm systems, transport boxes with sensitive contents and much more in the most diverse industries - in banks and authorities as well as in industrial companies.
Pylocx is activated with a mobile keyboard, into which the user types a personal PIN code or a centrally generated one-time code. The activated keyboard docks to the lock by means of magnetic force and not only supplies data into the system via the contact point, but it also provides the required electricity. The lock itself is therefore maintenance-free. In addition, it avoids the risks of other digitalized high-security locks, which are usually permanently connected to the Internet and can therefore be hacked. Another advantage of the system: A single keyboard serves as an electronic key for any number of locks.

Next goal: world market leader
Lock Your World has patented the system not only for Europe, but for example also for China. “By 2022, we want to be the global market leader in electronic access control with one-time code control," says Engel-Dahan. Her entrepreneurial spirit has already earned her several awards: In 2014, the Federal Ministry of Economics appointed her as a role model entrepreneur and last year, Lock Your World succeeded in jumping onto the list of the top 100 innovators of German SMEs. The company currently has 25 employees. Engel-Dahan emphasizes that growth benefits from the innovation-friendly atmosphere in the State of Hesse: “There are numerous funding programmes here, for example for research and development, as well as support with applications." These are the best prerequisites for opening up the world market from Bad Orb.

Author: Julian Rudolf (STERN GmbH – Agentur für Kommunikation)
 
“A start-up is like a marathon" Manuela Engel-Dahan, managing director of Lock Your World GmbH, gives tips on company start-ups and innovations.

How do you develop innovations?
I have found that it is easier to be inspired than to look for an innovation in concrete terms. I developed pylocx, for example, from a security system that I happened to encounter on a trip to Israel.
What skills do founders need to be successful?
Endurance and perseverance are crucial. A start-up is like a marathon. For me, compassion for oneself is also very important. This means accepting one's own decisions, even if they turn out to be unfavorable in retrospect. You can learn from any experience. This requires the ability to reflect and an open attitude.

What do you advise company founders to do?
Enjoying one's work is very important to accept entrepreneurial challenges and to stay motivated. And: Listen to your customers! In this way you can find out what they really need and adapt your own offers in a meaningful way.