GMUND, Austria—Maximilian Baumann and his cousin Christiane have launched Saba Weavers as a new company specializing in the contract and hospitality fabrics business.

They were previously part of the management of Bruder Baumann and Baumann Dekor, their Gmund, Austria based family business for many years. Maximilian and Christiane are no longer associated in any way with their old firm Baumann Dekor. In fact, Christine Seidl, MD of Baumann Dekor, sent out a notice to all suppliers to this effect in April to end any possible confusion over the Baumann’s relationship with Baumann Dekor. Maximillian Baumann

Trade sources questioned the departure of the Baumann’s from the original family business since Max and Christiane accounted for a significant part in sales themselves within the hospitality trade.

Max and Christiane will continue to specialize in supplying hotel owners and designers as a specialist contract/hospitality fabric business, as well as serve the international wholesale business as well as the aircraft interiors, the caravan and the upholstered furniture industry. Max showed his new contract fabric collections at the Grand Hotel in Como, during the recent Proposte  exhibition. Baumann Dekor participated once again in Proposte this year and their new management was present on its stand in the Villa Erba.

Baumann Dekor declared bankruptcy on June 28, 2011 according to Christine Seidl, managing director of the company since January, 2011. Baumann Dekor was bought from the bankruptcy court by three investors.