Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München

What Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München does

Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München GmbH is a German sheltered workshop (Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen, WfbM) founded in 1972 in Munich that operates as a dual-mission social enterprise combining vocational rehabilitation for people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities with commercial production and service delivery. The company is equally owned by Lebenshilfe München e.V. and Heidehof-Stiftung, a structure typical of German sheltered workshops, and is licensed under SGB IX with AZAV accreditation, granting access to public cost carriers (Agentur für Arbeit, Bezirk Oberbayern, Deutsche Rentenversicherung).

Its core operations span two divisions. The manufacturing and industrial services division provides B2B assembly, metal processing (forming, separating, joining), packaging, KTL cathodic electrocoating for corrosion protection, technical refurbishment of medical and IT devices, DIN 66399-compliant document destruction, and a commercial laundry with disinfecting wash processes. The consumer and accessibility services division operates the MOCCASOLA organic coffee roasting brand, candle manufacturing, a barrier-free mobile toilet rental (launched 2016 with Landkreis München), photo and document digitization, catering including Café Plinganser, and the text·sicher Easy Language translation service. Supporting programs include AZAV-certified vocational training (Berufliche Bildung BBB), adult education, orientation internships, the VARIabel transition-to-general-labor-market program, and Förderstätte day care facilities.

The company generates revenue through three streams: government-funded rehabilitation services, transaction-based B2B manufacturing and service contracts (notably as an IATF 16949-certified automotive supplier serving MedTech, IT, and healthcare customers), and direct consumer retail. It holds ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, HACCP, AZAV, RAL-GZ 992, and EU organic certifications across multiple production sites, supporting access to quality-sensitive enterprise customers. Geographic operations are concentrated in Munich and Putzbrunn (six locations) within the Oberbayern region, with go-to-market executed primarily through direct B2B sales and event-driven channels including orientation internships.

Name

Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München

Legal name

Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München GmbH

Website

https://lhw-muc.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München GmbH is a Munich-based German sheltered workshop founded in 1972 that combines vocational rehabilitation for people with disabilities with commercial manufacturing (assembly, KTL coating, metal processing), document destruction, laundry, catering, and consumer products, serving B2B enterprise customers, government cost carriers, and private consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Rehabilitation and Sheltered Workshop Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Uniform & Linen Cleaning, Sanitization & Processing (Service-Included) (HSAJAMAE)

Keywords

• Sheltered workshop services
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Contract manufacturing services
• Surface treatment services
• Document destruction services

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vocational Rehabilitation Funding: Government-funded programs for people with disabilities including vocational training, workplace integration, and support services. Funded by cost carriers such as Agentur für Arbeit, Bezirk Oberbayern, and Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
2. B2B Manufacturing and Services: Production and service contracts with businesses including assembly, metal processing, packaging, coating, technical refurbishment, laundry, document destruction, and catering. Revenue from industrial and commercial customers.
3. Retail and Consumer Products: Direct sales of consumer products including candles, coffee (Moccasola brand), and laundry services to private customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München operates a sheltered workshop (Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen / WfbM) providing vocational rehabilitation, training, and employment support for people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities. Alongside its social mission, it runs a diversified manufacturing and services business including assembly, metal processing, packaging, KTL cathodic electrocoating, technical refurbishment of medical and IT devices, commercial laundry, secure document destruction (DIN 66399), catering, accessible toilet rental, digitization, candle making, coffee roasting (Moccasola), and Easy Language translation services (text·sicher).

Product overview

Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München is a sheltered workshop and social enterprise offering a diverse portfolio of manufacturing, service, and educational products for people with disabilities. The core offering comprises two main divisions: (1) Manufacturing and Industrial Services including Assembly, Metal Processing, Packaging, KTL Coating, Technical Preparation/Refurbishment, Document Shredding, and Laundry; and (2) Consumer Products and Services including the Moccasola Coffee Roasting brand, Handmade Candles, Mobile Accessible Toilet Rental, Digitization Services, Catering, and textsicher Easy Language Services. Supporting services include vocational training (BBB), adult education programs, orientation internships, VARIabel inclusive employment placement, and Förderstätte day care facilities. The company operates as both a rehabilitation institution under SGB IX and a qualified production/service provider, particularly serving the automotive industry as a supplier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MOCCASOLA: Coffee roasting brand - Kaffee aus eigener Rösterei
• text·sicher
• VARIabel
• Kerzenmanufaktur
• Mobile Toilette für alle
• Förderstätten
• Café Plinganser

Products and services

• Montage (Assembly) Contract assembly services for automotive and other industrial customers, including hose assemblies, cable harnesses, battery fastenings, and press-in threaded inserts, supported by in-house toolmaking and custom fixture solutions.
• Metallbearbeitung (Metal Processing) Metal forming, separating, and joining of semi-finished products including sheet metal cutting, bending, stamping, drawing, fastening, welding, and machining for prototype to large-series production.
• Verpackung (Packaging) Packaging and labeling services for truck spare parts and other industries with just-in-time delivery, manual and machine packaging technologies including skin and blister packaging, plus mail fulfillment solutions.
• KTL-Beschichtung (Cathodic Electrocoating) Cathodic dip painting providing corrosion protection, chemical resistance, and uniform coating for automotive and industrial parts including complex geometries and interior surfaces of hollow bodies.
• Technische Aufbereitung (Technical Preparation and Refurbishment) Technical device preparation for medical technology, electrical/mechanical engineering, automotive, and IT industries including disassembly/assembly, functional testing, software updates, calibration, and maintenance.
• Aktenvernichtung (Document Shredding) Professional document destruction compliant with BDSG and DIN 66399 at security level P4 / protection class 2, with secure containers, pickup service, weight recording, destruction protocol, and paper recycling.
• Wäscherei (Commercial Laundry) Commercial laundry services with strict clean/contaminated area separation and disinfecting wash processes for healthcare facilities, care homes, work clothing, and protective gear.
• Moccasola Kaffeerösterei (Coffee Roasting) In-house coffee roasting under the Moccasola brand with EG-Öko-Verordnung Bio organic certification, sold to private customers and businesses.
• Kerzenmanufaktur (Candle Manufacturing) Handmade drawn and cast candles from high-quality paraffin and stearin at the Putzbrunn workshop, available in various colors and designs with extended burn time.
• Mobiltoilette (Barrier-Free Mobile Toilet Rental) Rental of barrier-free mobile toilet units for events and public use, enabling accessibility for people with mobility limitations.
• text·sicher (Easy Language Office) Translation, text verification, and creation services for Easy Language and Simple Language, including training and accessible communication materials developed with involvement of people with disabilities.
• Digitalisierung (Digitization Services) Conversion of physical photos and documents into digital formats.
• Catering (Café Plinganser and Canteens) On-site catering including operation of Café Plinganser, large kitchens, and canteens with complete catering solutions for events, supported by HACCP certification and EU approval under Regulation 853/2004.
• VARIabel (Inclusive Employment Programs) Expert team supporting people with disabilities in transitioning from sheltered workshop to general labor market via external internships, external work placements, and regular employment opportunities.
• Förderstätte (Day Care Facility) Day care facilities in Munich and Putzbrunn for adults requiring special support due to nature and severity of disability, focusing on independence, workshop-related tasks, and community participation.
• Orientierungspraktikum (Orientation Internship) Internship program for individuals to explore vocational options and gain experience in various occupational fields at the workshop, available as individual or group/class internships.
• Berufliche Bildung BBB (Vocational Training) AZAV-certified vocational training program with eight learning field trials across three-month modules, including entry procedure and individual development plans with personal education mentors.
• Erwachsenenbildung (Adult Education) Lifelong learning program offering courses in language, cultural techniques, job market preparation, theater, painting, and drawing, with a digital course catalog for workshop participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Workplace integration support through VARIabel program for transition to general labor market

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Landkreis MünchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation project with Landkreis München to operate a barrier-free mobile toilet for events, enabling accessibility for people with mobility limitations.
• Lebenshilfe München e.V.coreOthersEqual partner shareholder (50%) in Lebenshilfe Werkstatt GmbH. City and district association supporting people with disabilities.
• Heidehof-StiftungcoreOthersEqual partner shareholder (50%) in Lebenshilfe Werkstatt GmbH. Foundation based in Stuttgart supporting disability services.
• Inclusion EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdheres to Inclusion Europe guidelines for Easy Language. Uses easy-to-read logo following European standards.
• Netzwerk Leichte SpracheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember since 2012, participating in network for Easy Language standards and best practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• REMONDIS GmbH: Germany's largest private waste and document destruction company. Competes directly with LHW's Aktenvernichtung offering but at a far larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• Elis SA: European leader in industrial laundry, cleanroom, and workplace services. Comparable as a large-scale commercial laundry operator; LHW's laundry serves a similar healthcare and facility customer base.
• CWS Workwear (CWS International): Pan-European industrial laundry and uniform rental incumbent. Directly comparable to LHW's commercial laundry operations, with broader geographic reach and B2B customer base.

Direct peers

• AWO Werkstätten: WfbM network operated by Arbeiterwohlfahrt across Germany, providing vocational training, manufacturing, and services. Comparable sheltered workshop model with similar funding mix and B2B service offerings.
• Caritas Wertarbeit: Caritas-run WfbM operating assembly, packaging, laundry, and catering services across multiple German sites. Comparable business model with the same combination of sheltered employment and B2B contracts.
• Wuppertaler Werkstätten (WWS): Mid-sized WfbM in North Rhine-Westphalia offering metal processing, assembly, packaging, and commercial services. Comparable scale, customer mix, and dual social/commercial operational model.
• Lebenshilfe Werkstatt Berlin: Sister Lebenshilfe WfbM in Berlin with comparable vocational rehabilitation and manufacturing programs. Operates the same sheltered workshop model (WfbM) targeting people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities.
• MainArbeit GmbH (Offenbach): WfbM operator in the Rhine-Main region with manufacturing, packaging, and services for people with disabilities. Comparable scale, customer mix (B2B manufacturing + government funding), and rehabilitation offerings.
• Hephata Werkstätten: Diakonie-affiliated WfbM in Mönchengladbach offering industrial assembly, woodworking, and services under the same SGB IX regime. Operates a comparable dual-mission model with vocational rehabilitation embedded in commercial production.
• Bayerische Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen (BWH): One of the largest WfbM networks in Bavaria, offering manufacturing, assembly, and services across multiple sites. Directly comparable as a fellow sheltered workshop operating automotive and industrial services with a similar dual social/commercial mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Lebenshilfe.Werkstatt.Muenchen

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 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 Lebenshilfe Werkstatt München