Rotenburger Werke

What Rotenburger Werke does

Rotenburger Werke der Inneren Mission gGmbH is a charitable German diakonische (diaconal) provider of disability, youth, and social welfare services headquartered in Rotenburg (Wümme), Lower Saxony. Founded in 1877 (also reported as 1880) and operating across 20+ locations in the Elbe-Weser region, it serves people with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, and children/youth in special life situations through an integrated platform spanning residential housing, day services, sheltered workshops (WfbM), vocational training (including AZAV-certified 'tobbi' and Heilerziehungspflege/Pflegeassistenz programs), therapy, and pastoral care. The organization also operates dedicated competence centers including 'Phönix' for acquired brain damage and a children's/youth home at Lutherstift Falkenburg.

The commercial operations portfolio includes nine revenue-generating businesses: lecker (catering and Hof-Cafè), Garten und Floristik (garden/floristry at Kalandshof), Kunstgalerie (art gallery with 10,000+ works from Bildnerische Werkstatt), Die Tischlerei (carpentry), RadKontor (e-bike/bicycle sales and repair), Geschenkartikel und Textilarbeiten (gift items and textile workshop), Gesundheit/Bildung (physiotherapy, psychology, continuing education), Die Wäscherei (industrial laundry with 317 kW rooftop solar serving care homes and gastronomy), and Industrieaufträge (industrial assembly/packaging up to 500,000-unit batches plus 80 tonnes/year certified electrical recycling with CO2 laser cutting). These sheltered workshop operations allow business customers to offset contracts against the disability employment quota (Ausgleichsabgabe) and benefit from reduced 7% VAT.

The organization employs 2,200+ staff from 51 nations, funded primarily through German public disability services (Eingliederungshilfe), social insurance reimbursements, government contracts under framework agreements, commercial sales, and donations via Stiftung mittendabei (founded 2002). It is owned by the Förderverein Rotenburger Werke e.V. following a 2018 legal-form conversion from registered association to gGmbH, led by co-CEOs Sabine Ulrich and Thorsten Tillner. Recent strategic moves include a 2025-2027 BMWK-funded climate protection program, an ESF+/Aktion Mensch-funded 4-day work week pilot, the 2024 Charter of Diversity signing, and ongoing regional housing expansion in partnership with parents' associations.

Name

Rotenburger Werke

Legal name

Rotenburger Werke der Inneren Mission gGmbH

Website

https://rotenburger-werke.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1877

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Rotenburger Werke is a German charitable (gGmbH) diakonische provider of disability, youth, and social welfare services across 20+ Lower Saxony locations, employing 2,200+ staff to deliver housing, sheltered workshops, vocational training, and therapy, alongside commercial operations in catering, laundry, carpentry, and industrial assembly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Services & Disability Care Funding: Primary revenue from public disability services funding (Eingliederungshilfe), social insurance reimbursements, and government contracts for housing, care, and vocational services for people with disabilities. Operates under framework agreements with German social security systems.
2. Commercial Products & Services: Revenue from selling products and services to private and business customers: catering, laundry, industrial assembly/packaging, gardening/floristry, carpentry, bicycle sales/repair, textile work, art gallery, and health services. Some WfbM services qualify for reduced VAT (7%).
3. Publications Sales: Sale of historical publications and books about the organization's history, priced at €5-€26 each plus shipping.
4. Donations & Foundation Income: Donations to Stiftung mittendabei (founded 2002) support individual assistance and special projects. Bank account: IBAN DE70 2415 1235 0075 0611 50, BIC BRLADE21ROB.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rotenburger Werke is a charitable diaconal organization that provides integrated disability and youth welfare services across Lower Saxony, Germany. Its offerings include residential housing, day care, sheltered workshop (WfbM) employment, vocational training, therapeutic services, and pastoral care for people with intellectual, physical, and psychological disabilities. The organization also operates nine commercial service lines — catering, gardening, art gallery, carpentry, bicycle sales/repair, gift items, physiotherapy, industrial laundry, and industrial assembly/packaging — sold to private and business customers.

Product overview

Rotenburger Werke operates a diversified portfolio of social welfare and commercial service businesses organized under its sheltered workshop (WfbM) and economic operations divisions. The portfolio spans residential care, vocational training, day care facilities, and nine commercial products and services — lecker (catering), Garten und Floristik (garden and floristry), Kunstgalerie (art gallery through the Bildnerische Werkstatt), Die Tischlerei (carpentry), RadKontor (bicycle sales and repair), Geschenkartikel und Textilarbeiten (gift items and textile work), Gesundheit/Bildung (physiotherapy, psychology, and continuing education), Die Wäscherei (commercial laundry), and Industrieaufträge (industrial assembly, packaging, and electrical recycling). These economic operations serve both the internal needs of residents and external private and commercial customers, with some WfbM services eligible for reduced 7% VAT and offset against the compensation levy. The overall offering functions as a platform of integrated care, vocational, and commercial services unified under a single charitable mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stiftung mittendabei: A foundation established in 2002 by the Rotenburger Werke to support people with disabilities and those in economic hardship
• lecker
• RadKontor
• tobbi
• Phönix

Products and services

• Residential Housing for Adults with Disabilities Supported living and residential housing across multiple locations (Rotenburg, Visselhövede, Harsefeld, Zeven, Scheeßel, Bothel, Unterstedt, Ganderkesee) for adults with intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, and complex support needs. Includes special housing, assisted living, and regular apartments.
• Children and Youth Welfare Services

Quantifiable outcome

• ~80 tonnes of electrical equipment recycled per year by certified facility
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agaplesion Diakonieklinikum RotenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect neighbor and key healthcare partner. Kooperationsvertrag (cooperation agreement) for neurological and psychiatric care. Ensures haus- and specialist doctor coverage for residents with seamless coordination.
• Textile Service Allianz (TSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in TSA - association of 14 mid-sized laundries offering nationwide textile services in elderly and nursing home sector. Provides quality assurance and network benefits.
• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature conservation partnership at Hartmannshof. NABU operates Mitmach- und Erlebnisgarten (MEGa) on site. Joint events like Scheunenkonzert fundraise for garden maintenance.
• Diakonissen Mutterhaus RotenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent church institution. Joint 'Diakoniegemeinde Zum Guten Hirten' congregation. Historical connection since establishment. Shared history documentation at diako-geschichte.de.
• Elternverein WoGee (Wohnprojekt Geest e.V.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParents' association founded by engaged parents for inclusive housing project in Harsefeld. Parents were involved from planning stages.
• Libertas-Zeven-Gemeinsames und selbstständiges Wohnen E.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-planned and developed inclusive housing project in Zeven together with Rotenburger Werke. 16 special housing places, 7 assisted living, 9 regular apartments.
• Berufsbildende Schule der Diakonie Rotenburg gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational school for nursing and care education. Rotenburger Werke provides practical training placements for Heilerziehungspflege, Pflegeassistenz, and Pflegefachkraft programs.
• HKS Ottersberg (Hochschule für Künste)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusive theater project collaboration. People with and without disabilities perform together on stage. Long-running partnership for performing arts integration.
• Palliativstützpunkt RotenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement for palliative care services. Improves medical and nursing care for severely ill and dying residents.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hephata: Mönchengladbach-based diakonische non-profit offering housing, sheltered workshops, and social psychiatry services. Similar integrated care-plus-commercial model with vocational training and sheltered employment.
• Josefsheim Bigge: Sauerland-based Catholic non-profit serving people with intellectual and multiple disabilities through housing, workshops, and vocational training. Directly comparable in mission and residential care footprint.
• CJD (Christliches Jugenddorfwerk Deutschlands): National Christian non-profit providing youth welfare, vocational training, and disability inclusion services across Germany. Comparable faith-based, multi-site model with vocational education emphasis.
• Stiftung ICP München: Munich-based foundation serving people with cerebral palsy and physical disabilities through housing, therapy, education, and sheltered employment. Comparable integrated residential-plus-WfbM care model in Bavaria.
• Evangelische Stiftung Alsterdorf: Hamburg-based diakonische non-profit providing residential, workshop, and therapeutic services for people with disabilities. Closest structural peer to Rotenburger Werke in mission, legal form, and integrated service model, with comparable WfbM operations.
• Stiftung Liebenau: Meckenbeuren-based Catholic-affiliated care foundation operating housing, workshops, and education for people with disabilities in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Comparable gGmbH-equivalent structure and WfbM-accredited commercial operations.

Broad incumbents

• Diakonie Deutschland: National umbrella organization of Protestant welfare services coordinating 600,000+ employees across member institutions including Rotenburger Werke. Relevant for benchmarking, framework agreements, and collective bargaining context.
• Lebenshilfe: National federation representing over 500 local member organizations advocating for and providing services to people with intellectual disabilities. Sets sector standards and operates parallel WfbM and housing services nationwide.
• Caritas: Catholic counterpart to Diakonie, operating one of Germany's largest networks of disability, youth, and elder care facilities. Comparable scale and service mix with a parallel regional association structure.
• Von Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel: Germany's largest diakonische disability provider headquartered in Bielefeld, operating across multiple federal states with tens of thousands of employees and an extensive WfbM network. Provides the benchmark scale Rotenburger Werke operates against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@rotenburgerwerke
• Facebookfacebook.com/RotenburgerWerke
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rotenburger-werke-der-inneren-mission-e-v-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Rotenburger Werke