Business in Offenbach: Soul OF Hessen
What unites global corporations, traditional companies, start-ups and individual businesses in Offenbach? They all know and appreciate the advantages of the city or can hardly wait to learn to love Offenbach. The campaign for the business location shows a diverse selection of entrepreneurs who have already decided in favor of Offenbach.
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Andreas Widl // Samson AG
Andreas Widl is full of ideas, good humor and zest for action. With sparkling eyes, the CEO of SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT talks on the company's roof terrace about cyber-physical systems, smart valves, organization modelled on nature and the biggest project at the moment, the "Main Change". The company has reached its limits in Frankfurt, where profitable growth is no longer possible.
The opportunity to build a new site on the Innovation Campus - the former Clariant site - in Offenbach came at just the right time. A "factory in the city" is now being built there on around 143,000 square meters.
The idea is based on three pillars: an optimal value stream along the production line, the ideal meeting place for employees and customers and CO2-neutral, energy self-sufficient production. Widl wants to create sustainable jobs and offer his team security.
SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT was founded in 1907 and has been headquartered in Frankfurt am Main since 1916. SAMSON's core business is smart valves - for chemical plants, power stations, food production and district heating distribution.
Maziar Rastegar // Offenbach New
Not only the S-Bahn stop at the town hall bears Mazi's signature, but also his label "Offenbach Neue" and the typography of the same name, which he designed. Mazi - Maziar Rastegar - has known his hood since he was a child. He grew up in Offenbach in the 1980s and has been committed to his city ever since. He likes to see different cultures living together peacefully, open-minded and tolerant. Anyone who wants to can quickly make friends in Offenbach. His font "Offenbach Neue" combines exactly that: it is a Fraktur font mixed with oriental elements. It is a statement for everything that Offenbach is: a multicultural society that lives together in this city, that integrates the foreign into the existing and creates a home for everyone.
Mazi studied at the Hochschule für Gestaltung, today he designs interiors, works as a graphic designer and is also deputy chairman of the board of "VAIR e.V." - an association of people who work together to build bridges for disadvantaged people, collect donations for schools, promote integration, prevention and empowerment. He is a well-known face in Offenbach. He calls himself "Conscious Kanacke" - he is someone who triggers stereotypes and at the same time proves how bad they are for our society.
Luise, Marlene and Filip // PIZZycle
Around 490 million disposable pizza boxes are used in Germany every year and - because they cannot be recycled - are then thrown away. Students and friends Filip, Marlene and Luise no longer wanted to stand by and watch this happen. During the coronavirus pandemic, the three friends came up with a solution to reduce the amount of disposable cardboard waste: PIZZycle was born - a start-up for sustainable and reusable pizza boxes, the colorful alternative to conventional boxes.
Luise and Marlene are both studying design at the Hochschule für Gestaltung, while Filip recently completed his studies in law and sustainability sciences. The product of the young company from Offenbach am Main is now being used throughout Europe, including in a pilot phase at the world's largest pizza chain Dominos.
Roberto Careddu and Pablo Gonzalez // ANTEC
Letting go of the old, daring to try something new: this applies to everything at ANTEC, except for the love of the location. Managing Directors Roberto Careddu and Pablo Gonzalez can hardly imagine a better place to live and work. "Everything is quick and uncomplicated here. The central location in the Rhine-Main region is perfect for us as a company, while at the same time we are surrounded by greenery. The cultural openness and diversity make the city so liveable."
Perhaps this is why the specialists for broadband communication win one innovation prize after another. In any case, specialists find this mix of perspectives extremely attractive. More than 120 employees now work at the specialist company for antenna technology, home and cable network structures, communication networks and electrical engineering - and remain loyal to ANTEC.
Does leather craftsmanship still exist in Offenbach? Yes, for example in the cozy workshop of Marlon Navarro: Marlon is a familiar face in Offenbach's Nordend district. Born in Cuba, he and his wife first moved to Frankfurt in 2008, then life brought them both to Offenbach - to the old leather town. He learned the saddler's trade in his home country, Camagüey in Cuba. His own label, MARLON NAVARRO LEATHER GOODS, is made in Offenbach. In his workshop, he processes the finest leather into one-off pieces, custom-made products and new collections. Sharing his knowledge makes him happy. He regularly opens his workshop to interested parties for workshops.
Mario Blanke // LAO Line information
Mario Blanke makes the invisible visible: LAO Leitungsauskunft offers quick and easy solutions, especially for underground construction work, to ensure that all underground pipes, cables and, above all, construction workers remain intact during shafts and trenches. The surveying engineer founded his company in Offenbach in 2017 with financial support from the construction group AUGUST FICHTER GmbH & Co. In no time at all, it has developed into the full-service market leader in the field of obtaining pipeline information: Formerly launched at the ostpol start-up campus, the digitalized processes of LAO Leitungsauskunft from Offenbach are now available throughout Germany.
And what's next? When Mario Blanke looks to the future, he sees a city that is undergoing major change. A city full of new ideas - also brought to Offenbach by highly trained employees from the surrounding university locations.
Britta // OF_unpacked
Café guests sit in the window, Britta Zubrod-Nikisch herself stands behind the counter and prepares one of her delicious, home-baked cakes. In the background, pasta, nuts, dried fruit, oils, washing and cleaning products and more are available for self-packing. In spring 2022, the Offenbach native opened her unpackaged store, the first in the city. Everything in the store and café bears her signature. It is clear, cozy and uncomplicated.
Britta Zubrod-Nikisch was born and raised in the city. She worked here as a physiotherapist and started a family. At the age of 64, she rediscovered new potential in herself. She decided to start her own business again and give the city added value with her shop-café: less food waste and less packaging waste for a future worth living.
Are you interested in locating your company in Offenbach?
The city offers a wide range of opportunities to obtain support when setting up a new business. You can find out more about business start-ups, business development and finding a location here:
