05/02/2019

In 2019 OCTANORM celebrates its 50th anniversary. Always one step ahead of its time, the Filderstadt based exhibition construction manufacturer is proudly looking back on five successful decades.

While the students were taking to the streets in 1969, Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon. In these times of change, Hans Staeger founded the OCTANORM-Vertriebs-GmbH. Born in Berlin he shaped the company with Swabian diligence and visionary ideas. The key to success was the octagonal exhibition construction system that gave OCTANORM its name and immediately set new standards. At the end of the sixties, sustainability was not yet an issue, not even in the trade fair world. Back then, it was actually more common to discard exhibition stands after a one-off use. Although environmental considerations did not yet play a major role in business decisions, the economic advantages of a reusable system quickly convinced the exhibitors – not only in Germany but all over the world. The Filderstadt pioneers were thinking and acting internationally long before globalization became a buzzword. As early as 1971, a first licensee could be recruited in Australia, followed by the foundation of a subsidiary in Brazil four years later. Today, OCTANORM systems are used in more than 80 countries worldwide. In Shanghai, Las Vegas, Sydney, Johannesburg or Moscow – wherever companies present themselves, OCTANORM is on their side. In the 1980s, the world’s largest exhibition construction network OSPI was founded and now has partners in 40 countries. Production takes place worldwide with a total of about 300 employees. Yet as one of the very few companies in the industry, OCTANORM maintains a consistent quality standard "Made in Germany" even at a global level. Over the years, the original system has of course evolved and the portfolio now includes a large number of trend-setting systems. These are no longer only used in exhibition construction, but also, for example, in individual projects and in retail. What has remained unchanged, however, is the material they are made of: fully recyclable aluminium. With regard to developments, the company is a technology driver moving into new dimensions and is currently busy working on future topics like Virtual and Augmented Reality or Artificial Intelligence. There really is not much time to celebrate. CEO Thomas Gräter reveals: "One of the reasons for our success is that OCTANORM has always been looking ahead, not back." For all who wish to learn more about the history of OCTANORM, an anniversary issue of the OCTANEWS magazine is currently being prepared and will be available in spring.

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Image data: OCTANORM_Euroshop 2017: @soenne
                     OCTANORM_Hans Bruder_Thomas Graeter: Michael Krasser

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Press contact:
Thomas Gräter, Tel. 0711 77003-25, t-graeter@octanorm.de
Jasmin Meissinger, Tel. 0711 77003-23, j-meissinger@octanorm.de
 

OCTANORM

Download Press release OCTANORM 50 Years