German-Origin Furniture Brand Rescued by French Manufacturer: Name Preserved
In a significant development for the bathroom furniture industry, Heibad, a medium-sized manufacturer based in Heideck, Germany, has been successfully acquired by the Config I/O Brands Group. This takeover, which took place in early July 2025, comes as a relief for the company that had been grappling with economic difficulties.
The acquisition secures the continued operation of Heibad’s production site in Heideck, preserving over 100 jobs at the facility. The company's Managing Director, Andreas Schmidpeter, has stepped down as part of the handover, with Martin Uhlig continuing in his role. Sales Manager Thomas Kerling has joined the management team to support the company’s new phase of growth.
The Config I/O Brands Group, headquartered in Cologne and employing around 250 people, has committed to maintaining Heibad’s brand identity, management structure, and three-tier retail system. They plan to enhance Heibad’s competitiveness by emphasizing digitalization across the production process.
Heibad continues to operate from its 10,000 square meter facility near Nuremberg with a robust order book and a motivated team. The business operations of Heibad will be continued in the district of Fürth. This strategic move ensures stability and continuity for Heibad’s partners and employees, allowing the company to uphold its values of quality and local German production while entering a new chapter under Config I/O’s ownership.
The takeover is part of a transfer insolvency, with Peter Roeger, a lawyer from the insolvency law firm Pluta, appointed as the provisional insolvency administrator. Roeger considers this acquisition good news for Heibad’s creditors, stating that the company ran stably during insolvency proceedings.
Heibad was founded in the year 2000 and has transitioned from a trading company to an industrial company with its own production. The company, which prides itself on its "made in Germany" quality claim, has been a stalwart of the Franconian Lake District. Despite the challenges faced, Heibad's business partners supported the continuation of operations, ensuring a bright future for this renowned bathroom furniture manufacturer.
[1] Heibad Badmöbel Vertriebs GmbH is being taken over by the Config I/O Brands Group. [2] The takeover is part of a transfer insolvency. [3] Martin Uhlig will continue as Managing Director, with Andreas Schmidpeter stepping down.
- The acquisition of Heibad Badmöbel Vertriebs GmbH by the Config I/O Brands Group is significant, as it not only secures the continued operation of Heibad’s manufacturing facility in Heideck, but also ensures the preservation of over 100 jobs within the industry.
- As part of this transfer insolvency, Martin Uhlig continues in his role as Managing Director, with sales manager Thomas Kerling joining the management team to support the company’s new phase of growth, emphasizing digitalization and local German production.
