The Krupp firm by the time of the Franco-Prussian war was well over 200 years old. They were profitable with their steel production of rail road ties, although often times just barely. When Alfred Krupp was able to obtain a reliable way to make crucible steel, it enabled the creation of breech-loading canons, and catapulted Krupp to empire status. I highly recommend the book The Arms of Krupp by William Manchester, which is a history of the dynasty from the late 16th century to its eventual dissolution in 1968.