edding continues success story in innovation ecosystem Maschinenraum

Ahrensburg / Berlin

Owner-managed edding AG, an internationally renowned branded goods manufacturer, becomes a member of Maschinenraum. The innovation ecosystem from Mittelstand for Mittelstand is intended to provide the company, as well as the other almost 60 family-owned and Mittelstand companies, with a place to find joint solutions to current challenges. At the heart of this is edding's ambition to continue its transformation from "pen manufacturer" to innovation driver for color applications and new work, thus continuing its decades-long success story.

Cross-industry exchange as a transformation boost

The two-man operation founded in 1960 with a starting capital of 500 deutschmarks has grown into a global company with over 700 employees and Group sales of around 149 million euros (2021). Because the world is turning ever faster, the demands and expectations placed on companies like edding are becoming ever more diverse. edding recognized this years ago and laid the foundations for successful transformation with its "Strategy 2025+". It is particularly important to remain true to the values and brand essence, but at the same time to focus on consumers and their changing needs. As a purpose-driven company, edding takes a clear stance on relevant social issues, allowing itself to be measured against its corporate purpose apart from its quality products.

"Customer centricity is the be-all and end-all for us, which is why we expanded our portfolio at an early stage to include a wide range of solutions that are increasingly also digital. In addition, the topic of sustainability is already strongly interwoven in our DNA - here, too, we want to make an even stronger contribution as a company in the future to make life and work as pleasant and as resource-conserving as possible for future generations, too. From now on, we will be facing up to this responsibility by joining forces in Maschinenraum: in addition to edding's association activities, which are already underway, exchanges with like-minded but cross-industry companies will be an essential part of our efforts to bring about positive change in the way people work together," says Andreas Hase, VP Business Unit Collaboration @ Work at edding.

"Hardly any workplace - whether on the production floor, in the office or in the home office - can do without products from edding. The family-owned company is playing a key role in shaping the new world of work, too. The fact that edding, as one of the most innovative medium-sized companies, is now becoming part of our innovation ecosystem underlines the ambitions of Maschinenraum. Together with other companies, edding will also work from here to ensure that 'Made in Germany' remains a seal of quality," says Tobias Rappers, Managing Director of Maschinenraum.

About Maschinenraum:

Maschinenraum, a shared innovation ecosystem from SMEs for SMEs, unites German Mittelstand and family businesses to boldly shape the future. Already, around 60 family-owned companies - including SSI Schäfer, STIHL, MANN+HUMMEL, uvex, Viessmann and Mast-Jägermeister - have joined Maschinenraum to jointly drive the digital and sustainable transformation of Mittelstand.

About edding:

The family-owned company edding was founded in Hamburg in 1960 and has over six decades of expertise in the development, production and sale of reliable, high-quality branded products. The company's fundamental values include responsibility towards society and the environment. Fair and sustainable action is a top priority. But that's not all - wherever edding operates as a company, it aims to encourage people to express their personalities, ideas, thoughts and feelings and make them visible. With its edding, Legamaster and Playroom brands, the company offers high-quality products and solutions for private and commercial use. Best known for its permanent markers, the product brand edding's range includes markers and writing instruments for home, office and industrial use, as well as products for implementing creative ideas through to tattoo ink and nail varnish. Innovative digital applications round off the portfolio. Legamaster develops and sells products in the field of visual communication that enable new forms of collaboration, leading to greater interaction, creativity and productivity. The range includes classic products such as flipcharts and whiteboards, but also electronic solutions such as interactive e-screens. The Playroom brand, which has been part of the edding Group since 2021, offers innovative concepts and services to promote a culture of innovation for companies and organizations. As an internationally oriented company, headquartered in Ahrensburg near Hamburg, edding has branches and sales partners all over the world. In 2021, consolidated sales of EUR 148.6 million were generated with an annual average of 702 employees.