public static function GetActiveManufacturer()
    {
        static $oActiveManufacturer = 'x';
        if ('x' === $oActiveManufacturer) {
            $oActiveManufacturer = null;
            $oGlobal = TGlobal::instance();
            $iManufacturerId = $oGlobal->GetUserData(MTShopManufacturerArticleCatalogCore::URL_MANUFACTURER_ID);
            if (empty($iManufacturerId)) {
                $oItem = self::getShopService()->getActiveProduct();
                if (null !== $oItem) {
                    $oActiveManufacturer = $oItem->GetFieldShopManufacturer();
                }
            } else {
                $oActiveManufacturer = TdbShopManufacturer::GetNewInstance();
                if (!$oActiveManufacturer->Load($iManufacturerId)) {
                    $oActiveManufacturer = null;
                }
            }
        }

        return $oActiveManufacturer;
    }