Marabu has been a synonym for high-quality specialist paints with the quality seal “Made in Germany” for over 150 years. Marabu is a leading global manufacturer of screen, digital, and pad printing inks. The company is headquartered near Stuttgart, Southern Germany – a region renowned for its pioneering technology and engineering prowess. In addition, there is the traditional division of creative colours for hobbies, art, and school. Whether inks for special printing processes or paints for hobby and crafts – Marabu is the number 1 in both worlds.
Histroy
The founder of Marabu, Albert Martz, originated from the small town of Balingen at the foot of the Swabian hills where he was born on August 31st, 1830. After his “wandering” years, he brought in April 1859 a retail shop for “Artist paint and Materials” in Stuttgart to life and thus founded the primary company. Besides producing artist paints, Martz began to manufacture drafting utensils in the 1870’s.
Albert Martz Jr. continued the life’s work of his father. In 1888 after years of studying and travelling in Paris and London, he became Managing Director of the company. Production increased remarkably under the aegis of Albert Martz Jr., and led to a significant expansion of the premises. After the early death of Albert Martz Jr., his stepmother Mathilde Martz continued the company as a joint stock company. When responsibility was passed over to her son Eberhard Martz, the course was set for the metamorphosis from “Martz” to “Marabu”. The trade mark “Marabu” was registered at the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin in 1909.
1918, after the end of the first world war, production was moved to the new location in Tamm near Ludwigsburg. The separation of the Martz’ retail business in Stuttgart and Marabu in Tamm took place in the year 1920. The second youngest son of Albert Martz Sr., the chemist Dr. Eduard Martz, joined the company. His profound knowledge about the chemistry of colours, attained during his many years of employment at Bayer in Leverkusen, was very valuable for Marabu and soon was introduced graphical colours „Plakattempera“ – the first specially developed paint for designers and graphic artists. In their 100th anniversary year, in 1959, Marabu introduces the flexible mounting glue “Fixogum” – an innovation, which became a classic.
1968 the new trade-mark was introduced into the market – the M stands for the brand name, the circle and the sqaure for drawing instruments and the red dot for colours. The 1970’s were a dynamic decade – administration was modernized, and production was streamlined and year after that, 1971, the first steps into the hobby and leisure sector were made – one of the first products was the fabric painting and printing colour “Hobbytex”.
Over the years many hobby products where added to the portfolio, offering now wide range of products that exceed the highest quality standards from the very beginning.
Quality
Marabu contributes to innovation and modernity both in its product development and production process, while maintaining high and stable quality.
Before a can of paint leaves the Marabu factory, it undergoes a 5-step production process. The basis for production is the laboratory where the recipe for each colour is prepared, best ingredients are selected and colour properties are tested. Correctly and carefully chosen components (pigments, binders, etc.) ensure the high-quality result. The raw material is weighed and mixed according to the recipe. To achieve a uniform composition the paint is passed through 3 rolls. A sample is taken from every batch of ready-mixed paint, which is sent back to the laboratory to be tested. If the paint meets the requirements, it will be sent to the packaging line. Packaging includes three stages – filling the can, labelling and packing into boxes, followed by the transportation on the production line of ready packages directly to the warehouse where the electronic robot finds a place for each product.