What Gibaud does

Gibaud is a French medical device manufacturer founded in 1890 in Saint-Étienne by Maurice Pichon, a textile weaver, and Doctor Gibaud. Operating as a subsidiary of Laboratoires Innothera, the company designs, manufactures, and distributes orthopedic supports, therapeutic footwear, and medical compression textiles for patients with musculoskeletal, circulatory, and age-related stability conditions. Its portfolio spans three categories: Compression Médicale (Smartleg®, Legger®, Actys®), Orthopédie (Genugib® knee braces, Manugib® hand/wrist supports, Malléogib® ankle supports, Walker® walking boots, and supports for shoulder, elbow, back, and clavicle), and Podologie/CHUT (therapeutic footwear including the patented OTONOM® anti-chute line). The underlying technology is proprietary 2D and 3D knitted medical textile construction developed by an integrated R&D team, with 37 patents filed since 2001 and a patented OTONOM sole clinically validated to improve balance in elderly patients (Healthcare journal, 2021).

All products are 100% Made in France at the company's workshops in Saint-Étienne and Trévoux (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region), with hand-finishing for quality assurance. Distribution is primarily B2B2C through the French pharmacy channel, supplemented by direct-to-consumer sales via the company's website and own points of sale; healthcare professionals (physicians, orthoprothetists, rheumatologists, pharmacists) drive prescription demand and are supported by the Innothera Academy training platform. Products carry CE marking under European medical device regulation and many qualify for French social security reimbursement.

The business model is one-time sale of regulated medical devices, with revenue driven by pharmacy sell-through of compression garments, orthopedic orthoses, and therapeutic footwear. Marketing combines professional education (Innothera Academy), consumer campaigns (YouTube, social media, pharmacy digital displays), and content marketing via the company blog. Customers are end patients and the HCPs who prescribe Gibaud devices; named enterprise customers are not disclosed, and revenue concentration risk sits at the channel and France-jurisdiction level rather than at the individual buyer level.

Name

Gibaud

Legal name

Gibaud

Website

https://gibaud.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gibaud is a French medical device manufacturer, founded in 1890 and part of Laboratoires Innothera, producing orthopedic supports, therapeutic footwear, and compression textiles distributed through French pharmacies to patients with musculoskeletal, circulatory, and stability needs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthopedic Medical Devices

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Orthotics & Bracing (AFO/KAFO, Spinal, Soft Goods Supports) (HLAHAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Orthopedic Footwear Manufacturing (Medical/Diabetic/Custom) (IMAOAIAI), Foot Care & Orthotics OTC (Corn/Callus Care, Insoles, Athlete’s Foot Treatments) (CRADAMAL)

Keywords

• Orthopedic medical devices
• Medical compression garments
• Therapeutic footwear
• Orthopedic orthoses
• Podology products

Headquarters

HQ city

Trévoux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medical Devices and Orthopedic Products Sales: Gibaud generates revenue through the sale of medical devices including compression stockings, orthopedic orthoses (knee, wrist, ankle, back, shoulder supports), and therapeutic footwear (CHUT/OTONOM). Products are sold through pharmacies and the company's own distribution points. Revenue is primarily B2B2C via pharmacy channel, with a B2C component through direct sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gibaud manufactures and sells medical textile devices — compression stockings and garments, orthopedic orthoses (knee, hand, wrist, ankle, shoulder, back, elbow), and therapeutic footwear (CHUT) — knitted in 2D or 3D textiles and finished by hand in France. Products are sold primarily through French pharmacies following prescription or recommendation by physicians, orthoprothetists, rheumatologists, and pharmacists, with a secondary direct-to-consumer channel. The portfolio includes branded lines such as Smartleg®, Legger®, Actys®, Genugib®, Manugib®, Malléogib®, Walker®, Caméléa HV, and the OTONOM® sub-brand for anti-fall elderly footwear.

Product overview

Gibaud is a French manufacturer of medical devices specializing in orthopedics and podology. The product portfolio is organized into three main categories: (1) Compression Médicale - compression garments including Smartleg®, Legger®, and Actys® product lines for venous disorders and circulatory conditions; (2) Orthopédie - orthopedic supports including the Genugib® knee brace family (3D, Articulée, Ligamentaire, Arthrose, Patella, Open, Stab, Poly-C, Post-Op), Manugib® hand/wrist supports (3D, Canal Carpien, Rhizarthrose, Tendinite), Malléogib® ankle supports, Walker® walking boots, and various supports for shoulder, elbow, and back; (3) Podologie/CHUT - therapeutic shoes (Chaussures à Usage Temporaire) including the OTONOM® sub-brand line (Toronto, Paris, Rio, Oslo models) with patented sole innovation for fall prevention in elderly. Products are knitted in 2D or 3D textiles, manufactured in France (Saint-Étienne and Trévoux), with 37 patents developed since 2001. Gibaud operates as part of Laboratoires Innothera group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OTONOM®: Therapeutic shoes for elderly stability and anti-chute (anti-fall) solutions
• Smartleg®
• Legger®
• Actys®
• Genugib®
• Manugib®
• Caméléa HV
• CHUT OTONOM®
• Malléogib®

Products and services

• Smartleg® Medical Compression Line Medical compression garment line for patients with venous disorders, varicose veins, lymphedema, and chronic circulatory conditions. Sold via pharmacies on prescription or recommendation, with French social security reimbursement eligibility.
• Legger® Medical Compression Line Medical compression line for the treatment of venous and lymphatic leg conditions, distributed through French pharmacies as part of the Laboratoires Innothera compression portfolio.
• Actys® Medical Compression Line Medical compression product line addressing circulatory conditions of the lower limbs, part of Gibaud's compression garments portfolio and the broader Laboratoires Innothera catalog.
• CHUT OTONOM® Therapeutic Anti-Fall Footwear Chaussures à Usage Temporaire (CHUT) therapeutic shoes with a patented sole technology clinically validated for improving balance and postural stability in elderly patients. Indicated for fall prevention, Hallux Valgus, edema, post-operative care, and lymphedema. Available in Toronto, Paris, Rio, and Oslo models.
• Genugib® 3D Knitted Knee Orthoses 3D knitted knee braces providing precision compression and support through studied compression, support, and temperature. Family includes Articulée, Ligamentaire, Patella, Open, Stab, Poly-C, Rotulienne, Arthrose, and Post-Op variants for trauma, ligament injuries, osteoarthritis, and post-operative recovery.
• Manugib® Hand and Wrist Orthoses 3D knitted and conventional hand and wrist orthoses covering tendinitis, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, rhizarthrosis (thumb base arthritis), wrist trauma, and wrist-thumb combined injuries. Includes Manugib 3D, Canal Carpien, Tendinite, Rhizactive, Rhizarthrose Fonction, Rhizarthrose Immobilisation, De Quervain, Trauma Poignet Pouce, Poignet de Maintien, and Poignet de Force.
• Malléogib® Ankle Orthoses Ankle braces including the articulated Malléogib for malleolus support and trauma care. Provides ankle stabilization and support for sprains and post-injury recovery.
• Walker® Walking Boots Walking boots for ankle immobilization and trauma care. Range includes Walker®, Walker® Short, Walker® Air, Walker® Air Short, Walker® Defend Air, and Walker® Defend Air Short for post-trauma and post-operative immobilization.
• Caméléa HV Therapeutic Shoes for Hallux Valgus Therapeutic shoes designed for women with Hallux Valgus, combining orthopedic care and style. Available in summer collections and additional seasonal models for senior women.
• Manugib® Canal Carpien (Carpal Tunnel Wrist Support) Carpal tunnel wrist support in blue with integrated digital gauge for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Part of the Manugib® hand and wrist orthosis family.
• Arthrose et Traumatologie Knee Orthoses (7 Products) Range of seven new knee orthoses addressing arthritic (osteoarthritis) and traumatic conditions, part of the Genugib® knee brace family.
• Arthrose du Pouce (3 Thumb Care Solutions) Three new thumb care solutions addressing the needs of women suffering from thumb base arthritis (rhizarthrosis), part of the Manugib® hand orthosis family.
• Shoulder and Elbow Orthoses (Orthèse Gilet de Série, Tennis Elbow, Blocage Claviculaire) Orthopedic supports for the shoulder and elbow, including the series vest orthosis for shoulder immobilization, tennis elbow support for elbow tendinopathy, and clavicle brace for clavicle fracture immobilization.
• CHUT Post-Operative Discharge Shoes Therapeutic post-operative shoes (Chaussures à Usage Temporaire) for heel unloading and forefoot discharge, including long and short forefoot variants with padded textile uppers and breathable loop closure systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• OTONOM stability footwear shown to improve balance and postural stability in elderly patients (Healthcare journal, 2021)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• InnotheracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGibaud is a brand of Laboratoires Innothera. Innothera is the parent group that encompasses Gibaud and its sister compression brands (Smartleg, Legger, Actys). Gibaud represents the orthopedics and podology expertise within the Innothera group. The group operates Innothera Academy, a professional training platform that benefits Gibaud's healthcare professional relationships. All products including Gibaud devices are cataloged together in the annual Innothera interactive catalog.
• OrfitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrfit is listed as a partnership of Gibaud, likely in the context of complementary medical device distribution or co-promotion within the orthopedic/medical devices ecosystem. Specific details of the partnership arrangement are not publicly disclosed.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Medi (medi GmbH): German medical device manufacturer specializing in compression stockings, orthopedic braces, and medical textiles. Direct peer in compression, orthopedics, and podology with extensive product overlap and similar European pharmacy distribution model.
• Bauerfeind: German manufacturer of orthopedic supports, compression stockings, and medical aids. Closely comparable in 3D-knit braces, compression therapy, and German-engineered heritage positioning against Gibaud's French heritage.
• Sigvaris Group: Swiss global leader in medical compression therapy with branded compression stockings and orthopedics. Direct competitor in the same compression and orthopedic category with similar GTM through pharmacies and medical channels.
• Thuasne: French-based manufacturer of orthopedic devices, compression garments, and medical textiles. Closest direct peer as a similarly sized French specialist with overlapping compression, orthopedics, and podology product lines sold through pharmacies.

Broad incumbents

• Össur: Icelandic global leader in non-invasive orthopedics (bracing and supports, prosthetics). Overlaps with Gibaud's orthopedic supports category but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• DJO (Enovis): Global medical device company offering orthopedic braces, supports, and recovery products through brands like DonJoy. Competitor in the orthopedic bracing category with broader international distribution and hospital-system relationships.
• BSN medical (Essity): Global medical device brand portfolio within Essity covering compression therapy, orthopedic braces, and wound care. Larger incumbent with overlapping compression and orthopedic products but broader portfolio spanning multiple categories.

Emerging players

• Mueller Sports Medicine: US-based manufacturer of sports medicine and orthopedic supports including knee, ankle, and wrist braces. Comparable in product type (knitted and rigid orthoses) but with different end-user focus (sports vs. medical/therapeutic).

Others

• Orfit: Belgian company specializing in thermoplastic immobilization materials and orthopedic devices. Listed as a partnership of Gibaud with overlapping orthopedic and immobilization product portfolios, representing both an ally and an adjacent competitor.
• Laboratoires Innothera (parent/sister brands): Gibaud's parent group encompassing its sister compression brands (Smartleg, Legger, Actys). Not a competitor but a structural entity relevant to understanding Gibaud's market positioning and capital allocation within the Innothera portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=xNDRBMhYcko
• Xx.com/GibaudOfficiel
• Facebookfacebook.com/567492570060559

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gibaud