SCHÄFER

What SCHÄFER does

Schäfer Bädertechnik GmbH is a privately held German specialty manufacturer of bathroom and pool equipment for public facilities, headquartered and producing exclusively in Essen in the Ruhr area. Its portfolio spans roughly fifteen product divisions, centered on swimming-pool infrastructure (cover grates for overflow channels, suction grates and pass-through grates for water inlets) and sanitary fittings (door hinges, locking technology, door handles, door stops, partition supports and holders, cloakrooms, bath hangers, shelves, footrests, floor grates, protective covers, and fasteners), built primarily from stainless steel grades 1.4539 and 1.4571, aluminum, polypropylene, and PVC. The company's technical differentiation rests on corrosion resistance in chlorine/salt-water environments, anti-slip surfaces certified at the highest Class C under DIN 51097 by the Säurefliesner-Vereinigung, and suction grates certified as non-hair-catching under DIN 13451-3 to mitigate drowning risk. It sells directly to German public-facility operators — municipalities, schools, kindergartens, sports halls, and clinics — via phone, fax, email, and an inquiry contact form, with quote-based per-unit/project pricing, custom sizing (e.g., shelves up to 2.8m) and RAL color supplements, on-site measurement and installation services for cover grates, and a 5-year warranty. The business model is one-time hardware sales with no recurring or subscription component, the company is privately held by a traditional SME ownership structure led by Managing Director Thomas Geppert (HRB 33797, Amtsgericht Essen), there are no external investors or subsidiaries, and the operating geography is exclusively Germany.

Name

SCHÄFER

Legal name

Schäfer Bädertechnik GmbH

Website

https://baedertechnik.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schäfer Bädertechnik GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of stainless-steel, aluminum, and plastic bathroom and pool equipment — cover grates, suction grates, door hardware, and partition supports — produced in Essen and sold directly to German public-facility operators such as municipal pools, schools, and sports halls.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Bathroom and Swimming Pool Equipment

NAICS

Plumbing Fixture Fitting and Trim Manufacturing (332913), Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332919)

SIC

Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430), Partitions, Shelvg, Lockers, & Office & Store Fixtures (2540)

akta.pro primary industry

Plumbing Fixtures (Faucets, Sinks & Bath Fixtures) (IMADALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Heating Accessories & Plumbing Connection Kits (Connectors, Hoses, Traps) (IMADALAG), Plumbing Fixtures & Faucets Showrooms (CRAIAFAC)

Keywords

• Public bathroom equipment
• Swimming pool grates
• Door hardware fittings
• Partition wall supports
• Cloakroom accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Direct B2B sales of bathroom equipment hardware to public facility operators. Products include cover grates, door hardware, partition supports, and accessories. Revenue generated through one-time purchase orders with no recurring component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SCHÄFER Bädertechnik GmbH manufactures more than 15 product lines of bathroom and pool equipment for public facilities, including cover grates for overflow channels, suction grates, pass-through grates, door hardware (hinges, handles, locking systems, buffers), partition wall supports, cloakroom fittings, bath hangers, shelves, footrests, floor grates, protective covers, and fasteners. All products are fabricated in Essen, Germany from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, aluminum, and high-quality plastic for wet environments.

Product overview

SCHÄFER Bädertechnik GmbH is a German manufacturer of bathroom and pool equipment for public facilities, producing over 15 product lines entirely in Germany. The core portfolio centers on swimming pool infrastructure (Abdeckroste for overflow channels, Ansauggitter and Durchlassgitter for water inlets) and sanitary fittings (Türbänder, Schließtechnik, Türgriffe, Türstopper for doors; Trennwandstützen and Trennwandhalter for partitions; Garderoben and Badkleiderbügel for cloakrooms; Ablagen, Fußstützen, Befestigungsmittel, Schutzhaube for accessories). Products are manufactured from stainless steel, aluminum, and high-quality plastics, with a focus on slip resistance, corrosion resistance, and accident prevention in public wet areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abdeckroste (Cover Grates) Cover grates for swimming pool overflow channels, available as solid elements for straight channels and composed individual bars for curved channels. Feature highest slip-resistance rating per DIN 51097, tested by Säurefliesner-Vereinigung. Supplied to public pool operators with on-site measurement support.
• Ansauggitter (Suction Grates) Stainless steel suction grates for swimming pools, hair-trap certified per DIN 13451-3. Models include 70.92, 70.95 (non-hair-catching), and 70.97, with options in stainless steel 1.4571 and 1.4539 for seawater and brine pools.
• Durchlassgitter (Pass-Through Grates) Stainless steel and plastic grates for covering openings in swimming pool walls and floors. Available in flat and curved versions with various water flow specifications.
• Türbänder (Door Hinges) Rust-free door hinges for all closing directions, available in aluminum, stainless steel, and plastic. Options include models with and without torsion springs, rising hinges, and heavy-duty variants.
• Schließtechnik (Locking Technology) Locking solutions including Verschlusshebel (locking levers), Zentralverriegelungen (central locking systems), and Riegelschlösser (bolt locks) for changing rooms, lockers, and sanitary facilities, with red-white indicators and emergency opening mechanisms.
• Türgriffe (Door Handles) Rust-free door knobs, shell handles, and locking levers for public facilities. Six combinations available including red-white indicators for toilet areas.
• Türpuffer und Türstopper (Door Buffers and Stops) Wall-mounted door buffers and door opening limiters in aluminum and stainless steel. Three model variants available, featuring rounded edges for accident protection.
• Trennwandstützen (Partition Supports) Wall-mounted and screw-in partition supports made of aluminum and stainless steel for changing rooms and sanitary facilities. Include cover rosettes and adjustable height options.
• Trennwandhalter (Partition Holders) Connection angles and modesty wall holders for partitions in sanitary areas and cloakrooms, with plastic-coated aluminum and stainless steel options.
• Garderoben (Cloakrooms) Wall-mounted coat rails, hooks, and accessories in 17 different models with rounded forms to minimize accident risk, available in custom lengths.
• Badkleiderbügel (Bath Hangers) Break-proof plastic bath hangers with space for clothes, scarves, and shoes. Include hook holes and trouser hangers, available with or without mesh pockets.
• Ablagen (Shelves) Shelving solutions including console shelves up to 2.8m, soap dishes, glasses holders, shoe and bag shelves, towel hooks, and glasses shelves with three or five compartments. Selected products pass 240-hour salt spray testing per DIN EN ISO 9227.
• Fußstützen (Footrests) Non-slip footrests for showers and changing rooms with wedge-shaped design to support standing posture. Feature slip-resistant surfaces and rounded edges for accident protection.
• Bodenroste (Floor Grates) PVC floor grates for wet areas and convection shaft covers. Feature non-slip surfaces and foot-fungus-resistant profiles, available in various colors and widths up to 600mm.
• Schutzhaube (Protective Covers) Protective covers for fittings, valves, and water faucets. Made of aluminum with plastic coating, designed with flat sides to prevent injury from protruding sharp edges.
• Befestigungsmittel (Fasteners) Screws, nuts, dowels, washers, and theft-prevention caps including Disikap D0011 for cylinder head screws and rondel sleeve nuts for partition wall construction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-year warranty on all products after delivery
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 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

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Geberit AG: European leader in sanitary technology (installation systems, piping, bathroom fixtures). Overlaps with SCHÄFER in plumbing-related fittings and serves the same public/commercial facility market, but at significantly larger scale and scope.
• HOPPE AG: Large European manufacturer of door and window hardware with a public/commercial product line including bathroom door hardware — broader scale and broader portfolio than SCHÄFER, but overlapping in public-facility door hardware.
• BWT (Best Water Technology) AG: European leader in water treatment and pool technology — competes with SCHÄFER in the public pool equipment space at a much larger scale and broader scope (filtration, dosing, plus pool hardware).
• Duravit AG: German manufacturer of bathroom ceramics, furniture, and wellness systems. Broad incumbent in the German sanitary market — overlaps with SCHÄFER in public/commercial bathroom fit-outs but at a much larger and more diversified scale.

Direct peers

• HEWI (Wilhelm Heile GmbH & Co. KG): German manufacturer of bathroom hardware, accessibility fittings, locking systems, and partition hardware for public and sanitary facilities — the closest direct overlap with SCHÄFER's bathroom-hardware catalog and public-facility customer base.
• Behncke GmbH: German specialist in swimming pool technology, including water inlets, suction fittings, and pool equipment. Direct overlap with SCHÄFER's Ansauggitter and Durchlassgitter product lines serving public and commercial pools.
• Berndorf Bäderbau: Austrian manufacturer of stainless-steel pool components, overflow channels, and grates for public swimming pools. Closely comparable product range (pool grates and overflow systems) and shared DACH public-facility customer base.
• KWS Kunststoff-Werk Sanitär GmbH: German manufacturer of plastic and stainless-steel sanitary accessories for public and commercial bathrooms, including hooks, shelves, and grab rails — direct overlap with SCHÄFER's Ablagen, Garderoben, and Fußstützen lines.
• Normbau (Pfleiderer group): German manufacturer of bathroom hardware, partition systems, and accessibility fittings for public, healthcare, and educational facilities — overlapping directly with SCHÄFER's partition supports, door hardware, and cloakroom offerings.
• FSB (Franz Schneider Brakel GmbH & Co KG): German manufacturer of door and bathroom hardware, including levers, hinges, and locking systems for public and commercial buildings — comparable product lines to SCHÄFER's Schließtechnik, Türbänder, and Türgriffe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 SCHÄFER