Insolvency chaos: traditional metal construction company Early ends in the abyss!

Insolvency chaos: traditional metal construction company Early ends in the abyss!

In a shocking turning point for the construction industry, theMetallbau Früh GmbHfrom Umkirch insolvent on August 1, 2025. The Freiburg district court opened the insolvency proceedings, which are a direct result of the bankruptcy of the Signa Group. This insolvency has far-reaching consequences, not only for the company concerned, but also for numerous creditors, as the Signa insolvency affects over 3,000 creditors with claims totaling a whopping 40 billion euros. Mercury reports that Metallbau Früh GmbH is facing a mountain of challenges due to outstanding claims of 6.7 million euros.

A major order for the luxurious Lamarr department store in Vienna, which was estimated at 37 million euros, was supposed to be the saving anchor, but the reality is different. The company was forced to pre-finance over 11.7 million euros, of which only 5 million euros were offset. After construction stopped in October 2023, the remaining claims were not paid due to the Signa Group's insolvency. This raises questions: Where is the money and what happens next for the employees?

The effects of bankruptcy

Despite all the adversities, he is managing directorAnton Frühdecided to continue with its 120 employees. “It’s important to us that we don’t give up,” he emphasizes. The new owner of the Lamarr project plans to build 200 apartments in place of the department store. The facade parts that have already been manufactured are now on the company premises and could be disposed of before they could be used. T-online reported that the bankruptcy also brought the renovation of the facade of the Freiburg University Library to a standstill, which put Metallbau Früh under pressure.

The state of Baden-Württemberg had already given the company a final deadline, but the withdrawn order shows how tense the situation is. A legal dispute is pending because the insolvency administrator is demanding back payments made by the Signa Group because there was supposedly knowledge of the insolvency. Here the managing director vehemently denies having known about the financial situation.

A look into the future

With the insolvency, Metallbau Früh GmbH now faces major challenges. The insolvency administrator, lawyerUwe Rottler, has already taken the measure that there will probably be nothing left for the creditors. This is a bitter pill to swallow for everyone involved. The original business model is at risk due to bankruptcy and the plans to remain active in the construction industry could fizzle out.

The industry is now looking intently at the developments of the next few weeks. While the previous security is dwindling, it remains to be seen how those responsible at the company plan to overcome this crisis. As is well known, the signs point to a storm.

At a time when many companies are under great pressure, there is further evidence that economic circumstances can quickly change. Metallbau Früh GmbH, which was founded in 1905 by master blacksmith Anton Früh, specializes in building shells made of metal and glass and has been forced into an existential emergency by the developments of the past few months.

An outlook on the situation of insolvency administrators shows that in such difficult times, not only the companies themselves, but also the specialists responsible for them are placed under great strain. The Indat Barometer provides an overview of the current ranking of managers by turnover, which shows us how important a professional hand is in these challenging times.