Close to liquidation: how Texbau placed its future in new hands

Texbau AG in Däniken (Canton of Solothurn) has stood for reliable, high-quality membrane construction and shading solutions since 1984 — pavilions, pergolas, carports, shade sails — and has realised more than 12'000 installations in that time. What founders Manfred Huber and Bruno von Arx built was less a company in balance-sheet terms than a reputation: quality and precision, earned the hard way over four decades. When no internal successor emerged, liquidation was on the table for a while.

A reputation cannot be transferred like a balance sheet. The real challenge was not handing over machines, inventory and a client base, but whether a successor could carry forward the trust Texbau had built over four decades — and whether a young entrepreneurial perspective could emerge instead of a quiet wind-down.

Joel Richner officially took over Texbau AG as the new owner on 1 March 2026 — already acting as managing director since January 2026 — successfully settling a succession where liquidation had been looming. Since then, Yannic Reber has supported the company as a personal advisor and member of the advisory board, focusing on market positioning, marketing and strategic development, so that the substance that was saved turns into entrepreneurial growth again.