Freckenhorster Werkstätten GmbH

What Freckenhorster Werkstätten GmbH does

Freckenhorster Werkstätten GmbH (legally Freckenhorster Werkstätten gGmbH) is a non-profit recognized workshop for people with disabilities (anerkannte Werkstatt für Menschen mit Behinderungen) under §225 SGB IX, founded in 1974 in Warendorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, and operated under the sponsorship of Caritasverband im Kreisdekanat Warendorf e.V. The organization cares for approximately 1,500 people with intellectual, multiple, and psychological disabilities across more than 10 locations in the Kreis Warendorf district, supported by 15+ production and service departments spanning CNC metalworking, wood processing, electrical assembly, CNC cutting, warehousing and logistics, textile processing, digital archiving, candle manufacturing, organic farming, large-scale catering, garden maintenance, and grave care. Certified to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 (TÜV Nord) and AZAV for vocational education, with additional Naturland organic certification at Hof Lohmann and DIN/ISO archival certifications for archive folder products.

The business model is hybrid and multi-streamed. B2B revenue comes from contract manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and service contracts with industry and trade partners, with a structural pricing advantage under §223 SGB IX (customers can offset 50% of invoice value against their statutory inclusion levy). Vocational rehabilitation funding flows from Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Agentur für Arbeit, Berufsgenossenschaften, and the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe for entry procedures and Berufsbildungsbereich training. Direct-to-consumer revenue comes through own retail shops (Olfe-Lädchen, FREDS HEIMAT, Hofladen at Hof Lohmann), e-commerce (kerzen-manufaktur.de), and trade-fair presence. The Kerzen-Manufaktur division is positioned as one of Europe's leading hand-kneaded beeswax candle manufacturers (candles up to 120–130 cm in length), distributed via five regional sales representative territories in Germany plus Austria and through wholesale to specialist retailers worldwide. Catering operations produce approximately 1,600 meals/day under the Cook and Chill method for canteens, kindergartens, and schools. Hof Lohmann organic farm produces Naturland-certified potatoes (peeling capacity ~2,100 kg/day), oils (linseed, false flax, hemp via on-site Ölmühle), jams, juices, and liqueurs. The FreDi GmbH inclusion enterprise subsidiary extends the model into regular social-insurance-covered employment.

Name

Freckenhorster Werkstätten GmbH

Legal name

Freckenhorster Werkstätten gGmbH

Website

https://freckenhorster-werkstaetten.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freckenhorster Werkstätten is a non-profit workshop for people with disabilities in Warendorf, Germany, providing vocational rehabilitation and contract manufacturing across 15+ departments. It serves B2B industry, social-security funders, retail consumers, archives, and catering clients, and operates the Kerzen-Manufaktur beeswax candle division and Hof Lohmann organic farm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Rehabilitation and Manufacturing Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

akta.pro primary industry

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Support Services & Case Management (Coaching, Wraparound) (EDAAAOAK), Disability & Chronic Condition Care Coordination (EDALAFAI), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), AT Implementation, Coaching & Professional Development (Teachers/Staff) (EDAKAIAI)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Contract manufacturing services
• Beeswax candle production
• Digital archiving services
• Disability employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Warendorf / Freckenhorst

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Manufacturing and Service Contracts: Revenue from industrial and commercial contracts for metalworking, assembly, packaging, logistics, gardening, metal processing, electrical assembly, CNC cutting, digital archiving, textile products, candle manufacturing, and more. Customers are companies in industry and trade.
2. Vocational Rehabilitation Funding: Funding from social security providers (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Agentur für Arbeit, Berufsgenossenschaften) for vocational rehabilitation measures including entry procedures and vocational training area (Berufsbildungsbereich). Cost coverage negotiated with responsible cost bearers.
3. Candle and Craft Product Sales: Revenue from sale of hand-kneaded beeswax candles (Stumpenkerzen, Stabkerzen, Teelichter, ornament candles, gift sets), MetalArt rust décor, FRED LIEBT IRMA design products, embossing cards, felt products, and pet accessories through own retail shops, factory outlets, e-commerce, and trade customers.
4. Catering / Meals Provision: Daily preparation of approximately 1,600 meals in Cook and Chill procedure for canteens, bistros, kindergartens, and schools, including special diets (vegetarian, diabetic). Revenue from meal contracts.
5. Organic Farm Products (Hof Lohmann): Sales of Naturland-certified organic products including peeled potatoes for gastronomy, bio jams, juices, liqueurs, oils, dried herbs and mushrooms, and farm café/restaurant operations at Hof Lohmann.
6. Archive Products: Sale of archival collection folders and archival box lids to state archives, municipal archives, church archives, museum archives, library archives, and company archives, certified to DIN 6738, ISO 9706, ISO 16245.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Freckenhorster Werkstätten is a recognized non-profit workshop for people with disabilities that combines vocational rehabilitation and care services with industrial contract manufacturing. Its commercial offering spans CNC metalworking, wood processing, electronics and cable assembly, packaging, warehousing and logistics, CNC cutting, textile production, digital archiving, certified archive folders, a hand-kneaded beeswax candle manufactory, organic farm products and catering, garden and grave care. Operations are carried out by people with disabilities across more than 10 locations in the Kreis Warendorf district, supported by AZAV-certified vocational training and inclusion consulting.

Product overview

Freckenhorster Werkstätten GmbH is a recognized workshop for people with disabilities offering a diverse portfolio of handcrafted products and industrial services. The core product line is the Kerzen-Manufaktur (Candle Manufactory), producing hand-kneaded beeswax candles including Stumpenkerzen, Stabkerzen, Teelichte, Saisonkerzen, Ornamentkerzen, Geschenksets, Würfelwachsschalen, Karten & Kerzensessel, and MetallArt. Complementary products include FRED LIEBT IRMA (sandstone-look designer pieces), Filz & Co. (wool felt products), Hundezubehör (dog accessories), and Archivmappen (archive folders). The service portfolio spans Montage & Verpackung, Metallverarbeitung, Holzverarbeitung, Elektromontage & Kabelkonfektion, Lager & Logistik, CNC-Cutter, Digitale Archivierung, textile processing, agriculture (Hof Lohmann), large-scale kitchen operations, grave care, and garden maintenance. Vocational training services under AZAV certification support rehabilitation objectives. All products and services are produced by people with disabilities as part of the workshop's social mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kerzen-Manufaktur: Handmade beeswax candles manufacturing - one of Europe's leading manufacturers
• FREDS HEIMAT
• DESIGN INKLUSIV
• FRED LIEBT IRMA
• FreDi GmbH
• Sport INKLUSIV

Products and services

• Montage & Verpackung (Assembly & Packaging)
• Metallverarbeitung (Metal Processing)
• Holzverarbeitung (Wood Processing)
• Elektromontage & Kabelkonfektion (Electronics Assembly & Cable Assembly)
• Lager & Logistik (Warehouse & Logistics)
• CNC-Cutter Service
• Digitale Archivierung (Digital Archiving)

Quantifiable outcome

• ~1,500 people with disabilities receive employment, care, and rehabilitation support across 10+ locations.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Caritasverband im Kreisdekanat Warendorf e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization (Träger) of the Freckenhorster Werkstätten. The workshop is operated in the sponsorship/trusteeship of Caritas Warendorf, part of the Catholic charitable network active in Germany and internationally.
• TÜV NordcoreTechnology or IntegrationTÜV Nord provides ISO 9001:2015 and AZAV certification audits for the workshop, validating quality management and vocational education standards.
• FreDi GmbH (FreDi Integrationsbetrieb)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreDi GmbH is an inclusion enterprise (Inklusionsunternehmen) of the Freckenhorster Werkstätten, providing regular social insurance-covered jobs for people with and without disabilities, actively promoting participation in working life and equal employment.
• Integrationsfachdienst (IFD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegration specialist service supporting people with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment in the primary labor market.
• DESIGN INKLUSIV (Bundesweite Interessengemeinschaft der Werkstätten)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Freckenhorster Werkstätten is a founding and active member of DESIGN INKLUSIV, a national interest group of workshops for people with disabilities that promotes the products and capabilities of workshops across Germany.
• Nina Eckes (Designer, Münster)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner collaborating with the workshop on embossing card designs and creative products (Kreativ-Werkstatt).
• MalteserminorOthersListed as a partner organization alongside Caritas, Deutsche Rentenversicherung, LWL, Agentur für Arbeit, and others in the workshop's partner network.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Diakonie Werkstätten (Verbund): Protestant parallel to the Caritas Werkstatt network, providing vocational rehabilitation and sheltered employment across many German locations under Diakonie sponsorship. Comparable scope and mission.
• Caritas Wertarbeit: Sister Caritas organization operating Werkstätten and vocational rehabilitation services across multiple German locations with similar sheltered employment and B2B production departments. Comparable non-profit social enterprise model under Caritas umbrella.
• Antonius Werkstätten: Caritas-affiliated Werkstätten in Fulda operating sheltered employment across manufacturing, services, and craft departments with similar non-profit mission and multi-site structure. Directly comparable German Werkstatt model.
• Bodelschwingh-Werkstätten Bethel: Large Diakonie-affiliated Werkstätten network in Bielefeld offering sheltered employment, vocational rehabilitation, and inclusion enterprises across diverse production and service departments. Comparable scale and structure.
• Hephata Werkstätten: Diakonie-affiliated Werkstätten in Mönchengladbach (NRW) offering multi-department production, vocational training, and inclusion services for people with disabilities. Direct comparable in geographic region and operational model.
• Josefs-Gesellschaft Köln (JG-Gruppe): Catholic welfare organization in Cologne operating Werkstätten and vocational services for people with disabilities. Comparable non-profit model under Catholic Trägerschaft with production and integration departments.
• Lebenshilfe Werkstätten (various): Lebenshilfe operates a nationwide network of Werkstätten providing vocational rehabilitation and sheltered employment for people with intellectual disabilities. Directly comparable parent-cooperative structure and service portfolio.
• GWZ St. Franziskus: Catholic-affiliated Werkstätten offering sheltered employment across multiple production and service departments with similar §225 SGB IX recognized workshop status. Directly comparable German Werkstatt.

Regional players

• Stiftung ICP München Werkstätten: ICP München operates Werkstätten and integration enterprises in the Munich region offering sheltered employment and vocational rehabilitation. Comparable model in a different German region.

Broad incumbents

• Bolsius (Candle Manufacturing): Major European industrial candle manufacturer producing a wide range of candles including beeswax lines. Comparable only to the Kerzen-Manufaktur division as a broad incumbent in the same product category, not the workshop/vocational rehab business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@freckenhorsterwerkstatteng336
• Instagraminstagram.com/freckenhorster_werkstaetten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freckenhorster-werkst%C3%A4tten-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Freckenhorster Werkstätten GmbH