In 1949 and 1950, business was good. Demand was lively for products that had previously become unavailable. But it was not only the goods that were in short supply: money, too, was tight. It was a fruitful time for the speculators. During the Korean crisis, raw material prices rose by as much as 50% and leather became an object of speculative investment. LOWA bought whatever was going, happy to get the material into the factory and to be able to continue working. Suddenly, prices fell, yet the high invoices still had to be paid and LOWA was still feeling the financial strain of rebuilding the factory. Overnight, the company became insolvent. The bank closed off the line of credit. Lorenz Wagner, who had sacrificed all his energies and even his health for his life’s work, was badly hit. He died on Easter Sunday 1953, at the age of sixty.

Meanwhile, Sepp Lederer had taken over the running of the business. During the struggle to survive these difficult times, he and Lorenz Wagner´s daughter Berti grew closer. They managed to bring the bank and the trustees round to their way of thinking. And in 1952 they celebrated their marriage. After the death of LOWA´s founding father they were now responsible for the company. Sepp Lederer recalls, "I saw at the funeral – and I will never forget this picture – the whole team assembled, carrying wreaths two by two and I thought to myself with people like these you simply have to go on". There was so much strength to be seen in these people, and they expected me to carry on, too. From 1955 on, the situation had stabilised. In particular, the development of mountaineering and ski boots was pushed. Equipment used on numerous expeditions gave the company valuable knowledge. Important feedback came from people like Dr. Karl Herrligkoffer, who became famous through his Himalayan expeditions and in particular his trips to Nanga Parbat, and from famous mountaineer Walter Kellermann.

Imitation – the sincerest form of flattery…

Meanwhile, the ski boot market began to experience something of a revolution. At LOWA, it was above all the famous ski instructors Gattermann, Martin Puchtler, Walter Kuchler and Rudi Mayer who set the pace for new developments. The world’s first "vulca" sole (a rubber sole directly attached to the shoe bottom without glueing) was developed at Jetzendorf. Unfortunately, the company had the idea but not the money to invest in the expensive machinery needed for their production. The makers of the machine, with whom LOWA had developed the idea, wanted money. LOWA was forced to stand by and watch as a large company in Wurttemberg introduced the most up-to-date production methods – just one of the many disappointments the true pioneer is obliged to deal with. There was some small consolation, though – imitation, after all, is the sincerest form of flattery.

Probably the most difficult decision the ski boot production team had to make came in 1967. To continue to produce in leather, or change to plastic? At LOWA, there was a divergence of opinion. The risks seemed too great, particularly since LOWA would again be breaking new ground. But Sepp Lederer had faith, and became the first Bavarian manufacturer to embrace the new plastic technology. Its success proved him right. It was a daring move, because of the finances and the personnel. At the time, the economic regeneration in Germany was so powerful that it was a difficult enough job to get any people at all. In Bavaria there was no one who was prepared to take the risk. I had negotiations with Metzeler about the production of this footwear; and also with Romika, since they already had a machine for injection moulding. And such a machine was extremely expensive. It was for this reason that Kastinger approached me and said, "Neither of us has enough money – so let’s buy one of these machines together!" But I had already developed so many new ideas, with patent applications pending, which I would have had to share. So I said to myself, "You´d be better off buying one on your own!"

The growth of LOWA brought with it the need for larger premises. In 1959, a further story was added to the existing works building. The family house had to give way to a new wing. A short while later a new unit was built to house the vulcanisation equipment. It was here that, in 1970, the first injection moulding machinery was installed. The raw materials storeroom was accommodated in the old cow shed in the castle grounds, while the now-defunct brewery provided space for the plastic injection moulding production. The cutting and shaping process was relocated to an unused factory building and a supply depot was built. Yet still there was not enough room. An offer of additional factory space in Nuremberg arrived with perfect timing and LOWA acquired the once renowned Medicus footwear factory 50 km away after it filed for bankruptcy. With 850 sq. metres of floor space, it was the ideal location for the important supply depot for uppers and inner boots.