RUD is still working closely with 1. FC Heidenheim, and fully committed to the partnership

The new 2nd Bundesliga season began on 7 August with a match between Bochum and Hertha BSC. 1. FC Heidenheim are back in the competition for the first time since 2023. After three seasons in the top division, East Württemberg’s flagship football club was relegated from the top flight of German football. Although the club sensationally qualified for the Conference League in 2024, two years on, it has had to get used to the harsh realities of the second tier once again. Its opponents are no longer Chelsea or Copenhagen, but Cottbus, Fürth and Osnabrück. On the pitch, more robust techniques will often take precedence over finesse. And the club will also have to adapt financially to the circumstances in the lower division.

Standing by the partnership in difficult times

In such a situation, it is crucial that players, officials, supporters, and sponsors unite and remain loyal to their club, with the goal of overcoming this setback together and returning to the path of success. For RUD, who has sponsored the Heidenheim football project since 2023, it was clear from the outset that the partnership with 1. FC Heidenheim would continue unchanged following the club’s relegation. After all, the specialist in lifting and lashing equipment firmly believes that the true value of partnerships is revealed not in moments of success, but when difficult challenges are overcome together. In any case, people in Aalen feel a close connection to Heidenheim because the club embodies values with which the company RUD also identifies: a down-to-earth attitude, commitment to excellence, team spirit, and a long-term outlook. Furthermore, with a total of 12 seasons in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, FCH remains the most successful football club in East Württemberg by far, despite its relegation from the top flight. It is therefore a shining sporting ambassador for the whole region and promoting it must be a priority for the local economy.

Better visibility with the new sponsor status

RUD will therefore continue to wholeheartedly support 1. FC Heidenheim in the 2026/27 season, cheering them on live at the Voith Arena – many RUD staff members are regulars there. With the start of the new season, RUD has been promoted to Gold Plus Sponsor, which gives the partnership greater visibility and underlines the importance of this commitment. “Our partnership with 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 demonstrates our strong connection to the region and our commitment to supporting elite regional sports,” explains Hermann Kolb, Head of the Lifting and Lashing Equipment Division at RUD. “We are delighted to continue this journey together in the 2nd Bundesliga, expanding our commitment as Gold Plus sponsors. FCH has made impressive progress in recent years, and we would like to continue supporting the club during this new phase of its sporting journey”.

High regard for the commitment to partnership

In Heidenheim, this commitment to a long-standing partnership is greatly appreciated. “We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with RUD in the 2nd Bundesliga,” says Thomas Schreitt, Head of Commerce at 1. FC Heidenheim. “The fact that RUD is not only continuing to support us but also stepping up its commitment by becoming a Gold Plus sponsor, is a special sign of solidarity. In a new sporting landscape, it is important to know that we have strong and reliable partners by our side. We are very grateful for the trust placed in us and for their loyalty to FCH”.

Athletic inspiration possible

So even in the 2. Bundesliga, RUD remains firmly by FCH’s side – with a sense of regional connection, a passion for the game and a shared vision for the future. And even though 1. FC Heidenheim cannot be actively supported on the pitch, the bond between the two partners remains ever-present. After all, reliability, stability and team spirit are just as crucial in football as they are in the world of lashing and securing technology. And who knows – perhaps Heidenheim’s defence will take inspiration from RUD’s high-quality lifting and lashing chains: strong as a unit, resilient in every situation and there exactly when it matters most.