Heckhausen turned the old Ampelmännchen figures into lamps and fashion accessories. A campaign, called Save the Ampelmännchen, was launched by the public and Ampelmännchen enthusiasts, resulting in the preservation of Peglau's Ampelmännchen in 1997.
Ampelmännchen enthusiast Heckhausen transformed old figures into decorative items, sparking a community-driven movement to save Peglau's Ampelmännchen. The campaign, called Save the Ampelmännchen, culminated in its preservation in 1997.