The furniture manufacturer Interlübke from Rheda-Wiedenbrück filed for insolvency at the end of April 2026 after the Iran-Iraq War significantly increased costs. The Bielefeld District Court appointed attorney Dr. Yorck Tilman Streitbörger as the provisional insolvency administrator. The situation became particularly precarious because the factory still uses oil heating and, at the same time, freight forwarders, timber suppliers, and paint suppliers raised their prices. (t-online: 28.04.26)
Interlübke Suffers from Oil Price Shock
The war in Iran is driving up oil prices, which is why the crisis is hitting energy-intensive companies particularly hard. Co-owner Ralf Oehmke cited the conflict as the immediate trigger for the insolvency. Furthermore, other operating costs are rising weekly.
Customers are also reacting more cautiously because high fuel prices are straining budgets. Furniture purchases are easier to postpone than necessary expenses. As a result, the manufacturer suffered a further loss of demand.
Old problems exacerbate the crisis
However, the insolvency is not solely due to short-term factors. The company had been struggling with increasing competition for some time. Furthermore, intense price pressure was impacting business.
Interlübke is one of Germany’s long-established furniture brands. Brothers Leo and Hans Lübke founded the company in Wiedenbrück in the 1930s. During World War II, the company temporarily produced military furniture.
Changes in ownership couldn’t stop the risks
The manufacturer filed for insolvency back in 2012. The founding family then withdrew from the business. At the same time, several changes in ownership followed.
Schramm took over the company in 2018, while Ralf and Frank Oehmke joined in August 2022. Now, the insolvency administrator must determine which parts of the business can be continued. This marks the beginning of an uncertain period for employees, customers, and dealers.