Sanitätshaus Förster GmbH & Co. KG

What Sanitätshaus Förster GmbH & Co. KG does

Sanitätshaus Förster GmbH & Co. KG is a third-generation, family-owned medical supply (Sanitätshaus) and orthopaedic technology retailer headquartered in Frankfurt Bergen-Enkheim, operating four physical locations across the Rhine-Main metropolitan area (Frankfurt Bergen-Enkheim, Frankfurt Sachsenhausen, Neu-Isenburg, and Hanau). Founded in 1956, the company combines Sanitätshaus retail, orthopaedic shoemaking, custom orthotic manufacturing, rehabilitation technology, and homecare supply under a single operator, supported by a Bergen-Enkheim workshop and a Sensomotorikzentrum Frankfurt gait analysis centre (with a second Lauflabor opening in Hanau). Core product lines include compression therapy (circular- and flat-knit stockings), Mainsole-branded custom orthopaedic insoles, custom orthoses, wheelchairs and rollators, patient lifters, care beds and therapy mattresses (anti-decubitus, Parkinson's, dementia), incontinence and wound care supplies, and emerging categories such as electric wheelchairs and bionic hand orthoses.

The business operates a hybrid GTM: B2C walk-in retail and homecare delivery, B2B referral flows from doctors, therapists, and clinics with direct billing to German statutory health insurance (GKV) and pension insurers, event-driven corporate health promotion (Gesundheitstage with up to 7 modules, tax-deductible up to €500/employee/year) in cooperation with Sensomotorikzentrum Frankfurt, and sports-marketing partnerships with Eintracht Frankfurt and other Rhine-Main clubs using Sebastian Rode (ex-Eintracht Frankfurt) as Mainsole brand ambassador. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of medical aids and rehab equipment, custom orthotic hardware (insoles/orthoses), and professional services (corporate Gesundheitstage, homecare), with pricing generally not publicly disclosed and most products covered or subsidised by GKV with a patient co-payment.

Name

Sanitätshaus Förster GmbH & Co. KG

Legal name

Sanitätshaus Förster GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://sanitaetshaus-foerster.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sanitätshaus Förster is a family-owned, third-generation German medical supply and orthopaedic technology retailer operating four Rhine-Main locations (Frankfurt Bergen-Enkheim, Sachsenhausen, Neu-Isenburg, Hanau) serving elderly and mobility-impaired consumers, B2B referral patients, and corporate clients via GKV-billed aids, custom insoles, rehab equipment, and corporate health promotion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Supply Retail (Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Equipment)

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Home Health Equipment Rental (532283)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Orthotics & Bracing (Spinal/Lower/Upper Extremity Orthoses) (HLAHAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Incontinence & Urological Supplies (Catheters, Briefs, Ostomy Supplies) (HSABAKAH)

Keywords

• Medical supply retail
• Orthopedic equipment
• Compression therapy
• Rehabilitation technology
• Homecare medical aids

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt Bergen-Enkheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail sale of medical aids and rehabilitation equipment: Sale of medical aids and rehabilitation equipment directly to consumers at 4 retail locations. Products include compression stockings, bandages, orthopaedic insoles, orthoses, wheelchairs, rollators, patient lifters, care beds, therapy mattresses, bath aids, and homecare supplies. Most products are covered by statutory health insurance (GKV) with a patient co-payment.
2. Corporate health promotion services (Betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung): Health days for corporate clients with up to 7 modules (gait analysis, posture analysis, fitness training, vein measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, nutritional counselling, workplace ergonomics) offered in cooperation with Sensomotorikzentrum Frankfurt. Services are tax-deductible for employers up to €500 per employee per year.
3. Homecare supply (Hilfsmittelversorgung zu Hause): In-home delivery and supply of medical aids and dressing materials for patients in their homes and in care or nursing homes. Homecare supply is linked to product-specific services and exclusively covers services covered by statutory health insurance.
4. Custom orthopaedic insoles and orthoses: Custom-made orthopaedic insoles and orthoses produced in-house at the Bergen-Enkheim workshop. Includes 3D custom insoles, diabetic shoes, and custom orthoses. Sebastian Rode, ex-Eintracht Frankfurt player, serves as Mainsole brand ambassador.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sanitätshaus Förster is a family-owned medical supply retailer operating four brick-and-mortar locations in the Rhine-Main area, offering compression stockings, orthopedic insoles, custom orthoses, wheelchairs, rollators, patient lifters, care beds, and homecare supplies. The company manufactures custom orthotic devices in its in-house workshop, provides contactless digital body measuring for precision fitting, and delivers homecare products and services directly to patients and nursing homes. Most products are billed through statutory health insurance.

Product overview

Sanitätshaus Förster is a multi-location medical supply and orthopedic equipment retailer operating since 1955 (nearly 70 years) with locations in Frankfurt Bergen-Enkheim (headquarters), Frankfurt Sachsenhausen, Neu-Isenburg, and Hanau. The company operates under a unified product and service model combining Sanitätshaus (medical supplies), Orthopädietechnik (orthopedic technology), Rehatechnik (rehabilitation technology), and Homecare services. Core products include compression therapy (Kompressionstechnik), orthopedic insoles under the Mainsole brand, custom orthoses, wheelchairs, rollators, patient lifters, care beds, and therapy mattresses (anti-decubitus, dementia, Parkinson's). Services include gait analysis (Laufanalyse) via Sensomotorikzentrum Frankfurt, corporate health promotion (betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung), and rehabilitation training. The company serves as health partner to sports organizations including Eintracht Frankfurt, Fraport Skyliners, and Galaxy Frankfurt, with Sebastian Rode (ex-Eintracht Frankfurt) as Mainsole brand ambassador.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kompressionstechnik (Compression Therapy) Compression stockings and garments for venous conditions, lymphedema, and lipedema treatment, including round-knit (Rundstrick) and flat-knit (Flachstrick) options in various compression classes, colors, and fashion patterns. Available to patients with statutory health insurance prescriptions.
• Bandagen (Orthopedic Braces and Supports) Orthopedic braces and supports for joints including cervical supports, wrist bandages, knee bandages, and foot bandages for joint stabilization and injury prevention.
• Mainsole Orthopedic Insoles (Einlagen) Custom orthopedic insoles under the Mainsole brand, including options for leisure, business, sport, diabetes, work safety, and 3D-printed variants. Manufactured in-house at the Bergen-Enkheim workshop with contactless digital measuring. Brand ambassador: Sebastian Rode (ex-Eintracht Frankfurt).
• Custom Orthoses (Orthesen nach Maß) Custom-made orthoses manufactured to individual patient specifications for various body parts and conditions, produced in-house at the Bergen-Enkheim workshop.
• Wheelchairs (Rollstühle) Wide range of wheelchairs including manual, lightweight folding, electric, standard steel, and specialized models from brands like TOMTAR, Invacare, Dietz, and Jazzy.
• Loopwheel Wheelchair Wheels with Shock Absorption Spring-loaded wheelchair wheels with integrated shock absorption from Tetra Equipment, featuring three carbon springs on a specially developed hub. Available in Classic (24/25 inch) and Extreme (24 inch, offroad) models to absorb vibrations and protect wheelchair users' spine, discs, organs, and joints.
• Rollators (Walking Aids) Walking aids including standard, lightweight, and carbon rollators from brands like RUSSKA, Saljol, REHASENSE, and TOMTAR, for indoor and outdoor use.
• Patient Lifters (Patientenlifter) Electric patient lifters including AKS Foldy (max 150 kg) and SLK Carry 185 (max 185 kg) models for home care and nursing facility use.
• Care Beds and Therapy Mattresses (Pflegebetten & Pflegematratzen) Care beds and specialized therapy mattresses including anti-decubitus systems (Nocubi), dementia mattresses (ThevoVital), and Parkinson's mattresses (ThevoCalm with MiS Micro-Stimulation).
• Rise Recliners (Aufstehsessel) Motorized lift chairs with dual motors for backrest/leg rest adjustment and rise function, featuring zero-gravity position, waterproof Crypton fabric options, and remote control.
• Rehabilitation Technology (Rehatechnik) Comprehensive rehabilitation equipment including wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, care beds, bath lifts, shower chairs, toilet chairs, patient lifters, and senior mobility scooters.
• Homecare Supply (Homecare-Versorgung) Home medical equipment supply including incontinence products, wound care supplies, patient lifting aids, and eating/drinking assistance devices for home and nursing care settings, with in-home delivery and service.
• Corporate Health Promotion Services (Betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung) Workplace health promotion services including gait analysis, posture analysis, fitness training, vein function testing, bioelectrical impedance analysis, nutrition counseling, work shoe consultation, and workplace ergonomics assessments. Conducted in cooperation with Sensomotorikzentrum Frankfurt, with up to 7 modules per health day.
• Gait and Running Analysis (Laufanalyse) Motion and gait analysis services via the Sensomotorikzentrum Frankfurt providing foot pressure measurement, video analysis, and professional biomechanical assessment for movement disorders, informing orthotic and insole prescriptions. A new gait analysis laboratory is planned at the Hanau location in early 2025.
• CPM Motion Splints (CPM Bewegungsschienen) Continuous Passive Motion devices for shoulder and knee rehabilitation, maintaining joint mobility during recovery.
• Breast Prostheses (Brustprothesen) Breast prostheses for post-mastectomy patients, provided as part of orthopedic technology services.
• Allergy Bedding and Encasing Allergy-proof bedding and encasings to protect against dust mites and allergens.
• Kinesiotapes Kinesiology tapes for sports injury support and muscle activation, sold as part of the health and wellness product line.
• Chung Shi Ergonomic Shoes Ergonomic shoes promoted for health and wellness, available through the health and fitness product line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 149 sick days per 100 employees caused by musculoskeletal disorders (average 20 lost workdays per employee)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Eintracht Frankfurt (Men's team, Women's team, NLZ)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSanitätshaus Förster is the official health partner of Eintracht Frankfurt, providing the men's team, women's team, and the Nachwuchsleistungszentrum (NLZ/youth academy) with customised emergency medical bags. The partnership aims to holistically support Eintracht teams in all areas of health provision. Moritz Förster (CEO) personally handed over the bags to Eintracht's medical staff.
• Fraport Skyliners, FSV Frankfurt, Galaxy Frankfurt, SC 1880 FrankfurtcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of multiple sports clubs in the Rhine-Main region. Provides orthopaedic health support and supplies for these clubs.
• Sanitätshaus Marx (Hanau)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn April 2025, Sanitätshaus Förster (led by Max Förster and Moritz Förster) took over the operations of Sanitätshaus Marx in Hanau. Gerhard Marx handed over the business. All existing services and patient supplies continued without interruption. The two family businesses Marx & Förster merged, creating a stronger Sanitätshaus for the Hanau area.
• Sensomotorikzentrum FrankfurtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner offering corporate health promotion services (Gesundheitstage) with up to 7 modules including gait analysis, posture analysis, fitness training, vein measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, nutritional counselling, and workplace ergonomics. Located at Sanitätshaus Förster headquarters at Victor-Slotosch-Str. 19, 60388 Frankfurt. Contact: 06109 507041.
• Tetra Equipment (Unterroth, near Ulm)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSanitätshaus Förster is a reseller of Loopwheel wheelchair wheels produced by Tetra Equipment. Loopwheels feature three carbon springs on a specially developed hub absorbing vibrations and shocks for wheelchair users.
• Nocubi GmbH (Metzingen, Schwäbische Alb)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSanitätshaus Förster distributes the Nocubi anti-decubitus mattress system from Nocubi GmbH. Nocubi is a pressure-redistribution bed system with peristaltic pressure changes and an ultra-quiet motor for optimal anti-decubitus effect.
• Thomashilfen (Bremervörde)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSanitätshaus Förster distributes the ThevoCalm therapy mattress for Parkinson's patients manufactured by Thomashilfen. The mattress uses integrated wing springs with MiS Micro-Stimulation to reduce muscle tension and improve sleep quality.
• Thomashilfen (Bremervörde)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSanitätshaus Förster distributes the ThevoVital therapy mattress for dementia patients from Thomashilfen. Wing springs in the mattress generate micro-stimulations to improve body perception and reduce nighttime wandering.
• Adidas (Herzogenaurach)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitätshaus Förster was invited by Adidas to the Herzo-Base facility in Herzogenaurach for professional exchange on sports medicine and athlete care. The visit provided insights into current developments in sports medicine and athlete provision.
• Elten, Steitz Secura, Atlas (occupational safety shoes)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSanitätshaus Förster supplies approved insoles for safety/work shoes from Elten, Steitz Secura, and Atlas as part of its corporate health promotion offerings. These insoles are compliant with occupational safety regulations. The company assists with pension insurance subsidy applications.
• Lymphnetz FrankfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitätshaus Förster co-developed and promotes the Lymphnetz Frankfurt website (www.lymphnetz-frankfurt.de) providing information on lipoedema and lymphoedema diseases and treatment options.
• Verein zur Förderung der Lymphoedemtherapie e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitätshaus Förster co-hosted the 3rd German Lymph Tag (Deutscher Lymphtag) in 2018 together with this association, hospitals, compression therapy manufacturers, and other Sanitätshäuser to educate the public and medical professionals about chronic lymphoedema, lipoedema, and treatment options.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sanitätshaus Aktuell: One of Germany's largest Sanitätshaus networks with hundreds of branches nationwide. Direct comparability to Förster on core product categories (compression, orthotics, rehabilitation equipment, homecare) and on GKV insurance billing, but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Mediq Deutschland: Major European provider of medical devices, homecare, and wound/incontinence care with German branch network. Comparable to Förster in homecare supply and incontinence/wound care product lines, but with significantly broader portfolio and corporate infrastructure.
• Reha-Team: German Sanitätshaus and rehabilitation technology group operating multiple branches across multiple federal states. Overlaps directly with Förster on rehabilitation equipment, mobility aids, and homecare supply, with shared GKV reimbursement model.

Direct peers

• Stolle Sanitätshaus: Multi-location Sanitätshaus retailer with integrated online shop, offering compression therapy, orthotics, rehabilitation equipment, and homecare. Closely comparable operating model to Förster including a mix of brick-and-mortar retail and digital channel, with similar product breadth and insurance billing approach.
• Sanitätshaus Bständig: German family-run Sanitätshaus chain offering orthopaedic, rehabilitation, and homecare products across multiple branches. Directly comparable to Förster in family-owned Mittelstand positioning, multi-location retail, and core product/service mix.
• WingMed (Wingen GmbH): German Sanitätshaus and orthopaedic technology provider with multi-location presence. Comparable to Förster in custom orthotic manufacturing, compression therapy, and rehabilitation equipment focus, with similar Mittelstand structure.

Regional players

• Orthopädie-Technik Scharpenberg: Mid-sized German orthopaedic technology and Sanitätshaus provider with a workshop-led model. Comparable to Förster in custom orthotics, orthoses, and in-house manufacturing capability, though serving a different regional catchment.
• Riedel + Stümper Sanitätshaus: Independent German Sanitätshaus offering orthopaedic technology, rehabilitation equipment, and homecare. Comparable to Förster on product mix and insurance-based revenue, but operating in a different German region.

Others

• Oped (Oped GmbH): German orthopaedic device manufacturer specializing in braces, orthoses, and rehabilitation products. Comparable to Förster in the orthotic and bandaging product categories it distributes, and relevant as both a supplier and a benchmark for specialty orthotic capabilities.
• Bauerfeind AG: German manufacturer of medical compression stockings, orthoses, bandages, and insoles. Comparable to Förster as a key upstream supplier of many of the same product categories Förster retails, and as a reference point for product technology and pricing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SanitaetshausFoerster
• Instagraminstagram.com/foerster_frankfurt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/f%C3%B6rster-ohg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Sanitätshaus Förster GmbH & Co. KG