Uhlsport
Uhlsport GmbH is a German sporting goods manufacturer. Originally established in 1948 as "Haase & Uhl OHG" and later renamed "Karl Uhl GmbH", the company became "uhlsport GmbH" in 1994. It is an international company which has its permanent headquarters in Balingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
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Type | Private |
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Industry | Sport, Textile |
Founded | 1948 |
Founder | Karl Uhl[1] |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dominik Solleder, Melanie Steinhilber (Managing Directors) |
Products | |
Brands | List
|
Revenue | ca. 67 million euros (2017) |
Number of employees | 200 (2021) |
Website | uhlsportcompany.com |
The company manufactures and distributes its products through the brands Uhlsport and Kempa.
History

The company was founded in 1948 by Karl Uhl. Early production focussed on the manufacture of leather studs for football boots, and in 1953 uhlsport also began to produce football boot soles for sports shoe manufacturers.[1] In the years which followed more products were added, including shin guards, sports bandages, footballs and goalkeeper gloves, until finally uhlsport GmbH had developed a full range of football equipment. Since 2002, the company has been operating a multi-brand strategy for football and handball.
Brands and products
The brand "uhlsport" specialises in football, especially goalkeeper equipment.[3] Since 2002, handball equipment has been marketed through the company's own "Kempa" brand.
The German company operates an indirect distribution strategy with subsidiaries in France, Spain, and Sweden and with country managers in UK, Benelux, and Switzerland. Uhlsport has a further 80 distribution partners across the world. In 1998, the company was sold by the Uhl family to the Daiss family.
Sponsorship

Uhlsport is the official equipment supplier to 1. FC Köln and 1. FC Magdeburg,[4] As official ball sponsor uhlsport supports the French Ligue 1 and the French Ligue 2.[5] The goalkeepers Alphonso Areola, Oliver Baumann, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Lukas Hradecky, Ron-Robert Zieler and others play with uhlsport gloves.[6]
Kampa ist the official sponsor to HBW Balingen-Weilstetten, TVB 1898 Stuttgart, Bergischer HC, Buxtehuder SV (women) and HSG Bensheim/Auerbach (women).
Asia
Africa
America
Deportivo Laferrere (From 2022 season).
San Carlos
Europe
Dinamo Tirana
Kastrioti
Laçi
Skënderbeu Korçë
Tirana
Austria Lustenau
Blau-Weiß Linz
Mouscron
Waasland-Beveren
Beroe Stara Zagora
Botev Plovdiv
Cherno More Varna
Maritsa Plovdiv
Septemvri Sofia
Slavia Sofia
Hvidovre
Silkeborg
Chippenham Town
Tallinna JK Legion
FC Magdeburg
Bonner SC
SSV Reutlingen
SSV Ulm
Stuttgarter Kickers
TSG Balingen
VfR Garching
1. FC Köln
Ballkani (from 2021-2022 season)
Ballymena United
Dungannon Swifts
Warrenpoint Town
Erzurumspor
Alanyaspor
Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor
Associations
Uhlsport is the official supplier for the following leagues and associations:
Club teams
HBW Balingen-Weilstetten
Bergischer HC
Buxtehuder SV
TVB Stuttgart
CSM București (women's)
Gloria Bistrița (women's)
Dunărea Brăila (women's)
Gloria Buzău (women's)
CSM București
Alingsås HK
English: "The uhlsport football brand. Brand positioning in Germany"). 1998
References
- Uhlsport history
- Ulhsport products
- Maarten Arts: The Soccer Goalkeeper Coach. Reedswain Inc., 2004, p. 213
- uhlsport GmbH: Sponsoring 1. FC Magdeburg. 2013
- uhlsport GmbH: Official Matchball Ligue 2 Archived 2013-11-11 at the Wayback Machine. 2013
- uhlsport GmbH Sponsoring goalkeepers. 2018