Vaude Sports GmbH & Co. KG said its U.S. customers will not be affected by the April 27 fire that caused extensive damage to it primary pannier manufacturing site in Germany.
“As it turned out, our production machines are not damaged by the fire fighting water, because they were well protected,” Vaude Spokesperson Birgit Weber wrote in a May 6 email to SGB Outdoor. “Our “Made-in-Germany” production will continue to operate by the end of this month. Due to this positive development and due to the stock at our headquarters, we are able to immediately deliver the majority of the products manufactured in Germany, aside from individual delays for certain products, which may occur. Additionally, our U.S. distribution partner has stock on-site”
The fire resulted from lightening striking the roof of the company's production facilities in Tettnang, Germany during a severe thunderstorm in the area at that time. The fire was quickly noticed and reported immediately, and the fire department was on site within a matter of minutes. The fire, however, was still able to spread throughout the entire roof. With over 70 firefighters involved, the fire department did everything within its power to keep the fire under control.
On April 30, Vaude said that while it would still be able to meet all pre-orders on time, it was not clear whether it would be able to meet day-orders over the next few weeks for products made at the facility in Obereisenbach, which is largely responsible for the waterproof pannier lines.
“We are overwhelmed by the wave of assistance reaching us from all sides,” Vaude's CEO Antje von Dewitz said in a statement released by the company April 30: “The city of Tettnang, the Building Department, the Fire Department, the workers on site and the surrounding kindergartens are providing us with an enormous amount of support. We are especially grateful to all the firefighters who spent the entire night battling this blaze. Thank you all for all your efforts!”
