The well-known German bicycle seat brand SQLab, known for its ergonomics, was sold to the German Boards & More Group. Both companies are located near Munich. The acquisition took effect in March, and neither party disclosed the transaction price.
Boards&More is a well-known supplier of water sports products, its products include kite surfing, windsurfing, windsurfing and vertical paddling, etc. It also operates mountain bike clothing brand Ion. SQLab mainly produces and sells seat cushions, insoles, grip covers, handlebars, professional car trouser pads, etc.
SQLab founder Tobias Hild will continue to serve as general manager, while his wife, co-founder and chief financial officer Annette Hild, will gradually withdraw from the company. The location and team of SQLab will remain unchanged. The two companies hope to jointly further develop the bicycle market and distribute more innovative products.
With the support of Boards & More Group, SQLab hopes to move towards internationalization in the next step and will establish a new logistics system. Since 2013, the German investment company Emeram Capital Partners (headquartered in Munich) has taken over the management of the Boards& More Group. The Oberhaching-based company operates three brands: Duotone, Fanatic (both water sports) and Ion.
The Ion brand was established in 2004, initially focusing on the supply of wetsuits and other neoprene products, and expanded to the bicycle field in 2012. Today, the company deals in mountain bike apparel, protective gear, gloves, shoes and backpacks.
Boards & More hopes to use the brand to transform the "fun of surfing into cycling". In terms of ergonomic bicycle products, SQLab is regarded as a pioneer. For example, the brand claims to be the first company to adopt the concept of ischial measurement and use this data to customize the width of the seat cushion. Tobias Hild's latest plan is to start custom production of seat cushions in Germany. The company is currently accelerating its expansion in order to supply the market with high-quality German-made products.