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German Furniture Maker Interlübke Files for Insolvency After Cost Spike

A sudden jump in heating-oil costs tied to the Iran war pushed the company into court protection.

Overview

  • Interlübke, which filed Monday at the Bielefeld district court, entered preliminary insolvency to stabilize operations under court oversight.
  • Provisional administrator Yorck Streitbörger said monthly costs rose by about €50,000 because the large Rheda‑Wiedenbrück plant still runs on oil and supplier prices jumped.
  • He said management sought protection early to avoid missed payments, and production will continue while options are reviewed.
  • Employees will receive insolvency pay for April through June, covering 104 staff including two apprentices, as talks with potential investors begin and a July start for formal proceedings is expected.
  • The move caps years of weak furniture demand in Germany and follows an earlier 2012 insolvency despite a 2022 takeover by Domovari aimed at a turnaround.