German kitchen manufacturer Rational is set to make its return to the UK market next year, following its insolvency in 2022.
The company’s previous insolvency was triggered after a local power failure led to irreparable IT damage for the company, which meant that its normal production processes could no longer be carried out. It filed for insolvency in September 2022, with insolvency proceedings going ahead in December of that year.
However, following the launch of its successor company, “wf rational küchen GmbH” in 2023, the company says it is now able to start production again, with the first kitchens planned for delivery from Germany in January 2025.
According to Rational, it worked with KBB software company Cyncly to recover a portion of the data originally lost in the power failure – a solution it described as “practically impossible”. However, enough information was able to be salvaged for the company to be able to service retailers again.
Going forwards, Rational says it will be able to access data much more quickly, and be able to provide retailers with updated sales documents in the form of IDM data.
Wf rational kuchen GmbH is owned by International Building Products, based in Linden, which is the same company that owned Rational – originally known as rational einbauküchen solutions GmbH – before its insolvency.
The company’s new name, “wf rational kuchen”, is a tribute to the initials of Rational’s founder, Walter Fischer. The company says Fischer was a “visionary” in the kitchen industry, and that it plans to continue his tradition going forwards.
All of the original business rights, such as the trademark and image rights, and product rights, have been maintained by Rational. The business will also continue to be based from its previous address at Rationalstraße 4 in 49328, Melle.
To further solidify its return, Rational will be exhibiting at this year’s in-house exhibition from September 21 – 26. It will be showing “exciting new materials, the latest lighting technology and high-quality interior fittings”, according to the company.
Outside of the European market, Rational says it is exhibiting products in 15 Chinese cities already, with project orders “in the double-digit million range” have been signed in the last few months. The brand also said that it was preparing for exciting developments in the US market. In March 2024, Atlanta- based Chiarabella Gallery became the first retail showroom to host Rational kitchens on US soil.
At the time of its insolvency in 2022, Rational’s website confirmed it had more than 60 retailers across the UK. Retailers speaking to kbbreview at the time described being shocked at the sudden insolvency news.
