About biberna: Four generations, our own weaving mill, since 1932
Most bedding brands outsource their weaving. We do our own.
biberna is the brand of H.u.W. Schmänk GmbH & Co. KG in Hamminkeln-Dingden on the Lower Rhine. What began in 1932 as Josef Schmänk's small contract weaving business is today a company with a weaving mill, weaving, finishing, garment manufacturing, logistics, and administration at two locations in Dingden (Zum Tollberg and Loikumer Straße), run by the third and fourth generations of Ludwig Schmänk and his son Maximilian, with around 80 employees.
Facts at a glance
| Founded | 1932 by Josef Schmänk |
|---|---|
| Legal form | H.u.W. Schmänk GmbH & Co. KG, District Court Duisburg HRA 7677 |
| Headquarters | Zum Tollberg 11, 46499 Hamminkeln; second location Loikumer Straße, Hamminkeln-Dingden |
| Management | Ludwig Schmänk, Maximilian Schmänk |
| Employees | around 80 |
| In-house production | Weaving mill, weaving, finishing, garment manufacturing, logistics |
| From our own weaving mill | Melange flannel bedding, Flannel bed sheets and fitted sheets, Sleep & Protect molton mattress pads |
| Brands | biberna, Castell, biberna Sleep & Protect; licensed brands Daniel Hechter and Hechter Paris |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 for all items (main certificate A95-00484, individual qualities with their own test number) |
| Milestones | 1932 founded · 1968 invention of Flannel bedding · 2012 Melange flannel (Flannel 2.0) |
We invented Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel)
In 1968, we developed a quality in Dingden that had never existed before: densely woven, two-sided brushed cotton that retains body heat without becoming heavy. We named it after our brand: Flannel.
The name has stuck, even with others. If you read "Flannel bedding" somewhere today, it refers to a quality that originated in our weaving mill.
In 2012, we further developed it: Melange flannel, with a finer weave and a mottled color effect created from differently colored yarns instead of a printed surface. Flannel 2.0.
What happens in our own facility, and what doesn't
Honesty is part of quality. That is why we state exactly what "from our own weaving mill" applies to.
At our facility in Hamminkeln-Dingden, our core qualities are fully produced: from the yarn in the weaving mill through weaving and finishing to garment manufacturing. These are Melange flannel, our Flannel bed sheets and fitted sheets, as well as the molton mattress pads from Sleep & Protect. These items are marked in the shop.
In addition, we carry qualities that we have manufactured according to our specifications because we cannot produce them ourselves, such as microfiber or certain summer fabrics. The same testing standards apply there, but it would be wrong to claim that they come from our weaving mill.
We consider this to be a more honest approach than writing "Made in Germany" over everything.
How you can measure our quality
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100. All our items are certified, most under test number A95-00484, individual qualities under their own number, which you can find on the label. You can enter any number yourself in the label check at oeko-tex.com. It confirms that the textiles have been tested for harmful substances, anew every year.
Branded zippers. Since 2013, we have been fully automating the manufacturing of pillows and bedding with branded zippers. The most common reason bedding is discarded prematurely is not the fabric, but the zipper.
SANFOR finishing. In 2011, we invested in a SANFOR plant, a process that pre-shrinks the fabric so that your bedding still fits after washing.
In-house raw material inspection. Short distances also mean that whoever finds the error can fix it. Without a supplier conversation across three time zones.
The chronology
- 1932 Josef Schmänk founds a small contract weaving business in Hamminkeln-Dingden.
- 1938 Production of brushed bedding begins; the weaving mill has 20 employees.
- 1945 Heinz and Walter Schmänk, the sons, join the management.
- 1950 Construction of a new production facility.
- 1958 The weaving mill is completely equipped with new looms.
- 1960 Registration of the brand names biberna, Frauenlob, and Flanessa.
- 1968 Development of Flannel bedding.
- 1974 Further expansion of operations.
- 1983 Hans-Jürgen Schmänk, Heinz's son, joins.
- 1986 Ludwig Schmänk, Walter's son, joins.
- 1992 Expansion of the warehouse.
- 1997 Reconstruction and expansion of the office space.
- 2000 Participation in EXPO 2000 in Hannover.
- 2001 Acquisition of the TOM TAILOR "Bed" license.
- 2005 Expansion of the product range to include microfiber qualities.
- 2009 Tobias Schmänk joins; acquisition of the TOM TAILOR "Bath" terry cloth license.
- 2010 Photovoltaic system on the company grounds.
- 2011 Investment in a SANFOR plant and a room-width machine, each with a working width of 3.2 m.
- 2012 Development of Melange flannel.
- 2013 Fully automated garment manufacturing with branded zippers.
- 2017 New generation of looms; 85th anniversary.
- 2019 Expansion of the high-bay warehouse.
- 2021 Maximilian Schmänk joins the company.
- Today Around 80 employees, third and fourth generations, two locations in Hamminkeln-Dingden.
Our brands
- biberna: the main brand: Flannel, Melange flannel, Mako satin, Tencel, Seersucker, Linon, Muslin.
- Castell: the accessible line: Renforcé, Jersey, Microfiber, Fine Flannel.
- biberna Sleep & Protect: Mattress protection and pads.
- Daniel Hechter and Hechter Paris: licensed collections.
Historically, Frauenlob and Flanessa were added, registered together with biberna in 1960.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel)?
H.u.W. Schmänk GmbH & Co. KG (biberna brand) from Hamminkeln-Dingden developed Flannel bedding in 1968. In 2012, Melange flannel followed as a further development.
Which biberna products come from our own weaving mill?
Melange flannel bedding, Flannel bed sheets and fitted sheets, as well as the molton mattress pads from biberna Sleep & Protect, are produced in Hamminkeln-Dingden, from the yarn in the weaving mill through weaving and finishing to garment manufacturing. All other qualities are manufactured according to biberna specifications.
How long has biberna been around?
The family business H.u.W. Schmänk was founded in 1932 by Josef Schmänk in Hamminkeln-Dingden and is today run by the third and fourth generations of Ludwig and Maximilian Schmänk. The biberna brand has been registered since 1960.
Visit us
You can visit our factory outlet in Hamminkeln without an appointment. The same goods you find here in the shop are available there, plus items that no longer fit into any collection.
If you are buying in larger quantities
For trade, hotels, and property furnishing, we operate our own dealer area with volume pricing and product range advice. Still don't have access? Write to us at shop@biberna.de.
More on our history on the History page.