In short: The story of biberna begins in 1932 with the founding of a contract weaving mill by Josef Schmänk in Hamminkeln. In 1968, the company invented Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel) and derived its brand name from it. Today, Ludwig and Maximilian Schmänk lead the family business in its third and fourth generation, with around 80 employees and its own weaving mill in Hamminkeln.
Today, when you pull a Flannel bedding set from biberna onto your bed, you are holding a piece of family history in your hands. The biberna story begins long before the invention of the famous Flannel and spans almost a century, from a small contract weaving mill to today's textile company in Hamminkeln. We take you on a journey through four generations of the Schmänk family – and show why this heritage still shapes the quality of every piece of bedding from our house today.
From a small contract weaver to a textile company (1932–1945)
The company was founded in 1932 as a small contract weaving mill – the initiative came from the great-grandmother of today's management, and it was carried out by her husband Josef Schmänk. In the early years, the business grew steadily: by 1938, the weaving mill already employed around 20 people. However, with the start of the war, this early growth phase initially came to a standstill.
Reconstruction and growth under Walter and Heinz Schmänk
After the war, it was the next generation – Walter and Heinz Schmänk – who rebuilt the business with great entrepreneurial courage and significantly expanded it. New production facilities were built in 1950, followed by a completely new weaving mill in 1958. During this time, the early brand names of the house also emerged: alongside the still lowercase brand "biberna", collections were sold under the names "Frauenlob" and "Flanessa". These names tell of a time when the company still had to earn its market position as a bedding manufacturer.
1968: The invention that became the brand name
The decisive moment in the biberna story came in 1968: The invention of Flannel bedding finally gave the brand its name, known to this day – written biberna, named after the Flannel fabric, which has been the core product of the house ever since. With a weight of around 160 g/m² and its high fluffiness and loft, this Flannel has been a permanent part of the range since 1968 and has accompanied generations of customers through cold nights. You can read the full story of this invention in the post The invention of Flannel bedding.
biberna today: family business in its fourth generation
Today, the company is led in its third and fourth generation by Ludwig and Maximilian Schmänk – around 80 employees work at the headquarters at Zum Tollberg 11 in Hamminkeln. What has not changed since the early days as a small contract weaving mill is the standard for production: to this day, biberna operates its own weaving mill in Hamminkeln-Dingden, where, for example, melange flannel is woven, dyed, and finished, supported by a fully automated high-bay warehouse. You can find out exactly what this depth of production looks like in the post Bedding Made in Germany: What full-stage production really means.
Furthermore, the historical expertise in technical fabrics gave rise to a second market niche: biberna is also considered a specialist in stage molton today. And from the one brand of yesteryear, two have emerged – biberna as a premium brand and Castell as an entry-level brand have since jointly stood for the quality standards of the family business.
If you would like to experience for yourself what almost a century of experience feels like, you will find the core product of the company's history in our Flannel bedding collection – and the full range of the house in the overview Bedding. Shipping is always free for all products in Germany, with no minimum order value.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was biberna founded?
The company was founded in 1932 as a small contract weaving mill, initiated by the great-grandmother of today's management and carried out by Josef Schmänk.
Where does the name biberna come from?
The brand name dates back to the invention of Flannel bedding in 1968 – not to the founding year of 1932, which is often confused.
Who leads biberna today?
The family business is today led in its third and fourth generation by Ludwig and Maximilian Schmänk, with around 80 employees at the Hamminkeln location.
Which brand names did the company use before the biberna brand?
Alongside the still lowercase brand "biberna", collections were sold under the names "Frauenlob" and "Flanessa" in the years after the war. These names date from a time when the company still had to earn its market position as a bedding manufacturer – i.e., before the invention of Flannel in 1968.
What does full-stage production mean at biberna?
Full-stage production means that for qualities such as melange flannel, biberna carries out all production steps itself in its own weaving mill in Hamminkeln: from weaving to finishing and then to garment production, supported by a fully automated high-bay warehouse. This standard has existed since the early days as a contract weaving mill in 1932 and still shapes the quality of every piece of biberna bedding today.
The most important things in brief
- The company was founded in 1932 as a small contract weaving mill – the initiative came from the great-grandmother of today's management, and it was carried out by Josef Schmänk.
- By 1938, the weaving mill employed around 20 people; after the war, Walter and Heinz Schmänk rebuilt the business.
- New production facilities were built in 1950, followed by a completely new weaving mill in 1958.
- In 1968, the company invented Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel) with around 160 g/m² and thus gave the brand its name.
- Today, Ludwig and Maximilian Schmänk lead the family business with around 80 employees at the Hamminkeln location.
