The Original Since 1978
True to the original core values
The interesting fact is that Maxibit was right on the spot and totally revolutionary from the beginning, and has never changed. In the 70s, Erik Ahlberg started the company on the idea to liberate the exhibition industry and provide a set of innovative marketing tools to make it easier for leading premium brand companies to look good and get out and meet with people anywhere, anytime. At the core of the idea was to pack the advertising billboard into a lightweight, portable and totally reusable invention, more environmentally friendly and better for marketing communication than the booths built by craftsmen.
With some great inventions Maxibit created a new world standard – a standard now taken for granted everywhere.
Our Vision for you
Our Vision
Maxibit’s vision is to be the number one brand building and sales generating tool for leading premium brand companies.
Our Core Values
- Optimize the customer experience
- Swedish designed portable premium brand stands
- User centric innovations
- Environmental sustainability
Said by the CEO
“A responsible and profitable business is based on financial factors as well as ethical considerations. If we want to create sutainable business we have to be on the forefront, thinking beyond profit, and strive for more social imperatives. The Environment is central to our strategy.”
Christian Ahlberg CEO, Maxibit
A short history of Maxibit
How it all started
In the 70s the exhibition floor was the only place for business to business companies to get the opportunity to meet their customers. Carpenters and decorators were hired to build showcases and when the exhibition was over they rolled in the containers and it all became trash. There were no portable and reusable marketing technologies.
Then the oil crisis arrived together with a newborn environmental thinking. Erik Ahlberg started the Maxibit company to provide quality marketing tools to leading premium brand companies. 1978 he introduced the world’s first patented portable display – Original 8, a lightweight, portable, and reusable portable display that was environmentally friendly and built for more powerful marketing. Suddenly, companies could use their marketing materials over and over. No longer restricted to the trade fair, they could now arrange presentations to the market anywhere, anytime – a true marketing revolution!
The first promotion campaign
Maxibit Timeline
- 1975
Conceptualizing Maxibit Outline/Original8, the revolutionary first portable display stand in the world. Thirteen square meters of impressive billboard presentation, a one piece brand stand that folds down to fit into a handy lightweight bag. The concept pioneers on the future technology, introducing large Composite Colour Photos mounted on light foam core panels. - 1977
The patented innovation goes into production. - 1978
Erik Ahlberg opens the first Maxibit office in Stockholm July. The first sales had already taken place in April. - 1979
Original8 is becoming an international success. The international network of Maxibit Partners is growing. - 1981
The first International Maxibit Partner Meeting is held in Düsseldorf. We are now represented in Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA and Canada. - 1980's
In the early eighties we continue to launch a whole range of revolutionary new portable display inventions, such as Network, Arcade, Max and Demo. We start working with graphic technology: laminated photo and become pioneers in magnet mounting. - 1984
Opening a second office in Sweden, and soon after follows one more. - 1986
Maxibit becomes partner with Italian Zero furniture and display system. September 10th, at the first ceremonial digs for Globen, we build the largest foldable wall in the world. - 1990'sThe nineties keep us busy with new quality inventions. It is time for Zap, Solo, Icon and Satellite. Graphic technology: first in the world with hot laminated digital print, pioneers in digitally printed fabric.
- 1992
Maxibit abandon photomechanical production and introduce digital production as the first in the portable marketing industry. - 1996
Maxibit invent the revolutionary Network All In One Desk/Podium, forcing many competitors to mimic the patented breakthrough design. - 1998Maxibit 20 years old! A big costume party is held in Stockholm for employees, partners and customers. The theme is the seventies and the guests certainly went all the way with their great outfits.
- 2000's
The new millennium comes with more breakthrough innovations. We launch Gripper, Gallery, Eagle, Scene and Stage. We work hard as the pioneers in large format fabric solutions. - 2003
We add two new members to the Satellite family – the triangular and square column. - 2004
Two Zap designs are seeking to take the lead in the roll up category – Zap 2 & Zap 3. - 2006
Christian Ahlberg takes over as Maxibit’s CEO. He implements Maxibit’s new sales and business strategy with success. Stage is introduced at the Worldwide Partner Meeting. - 2007
Maxibit hires the global management consulting firm Accenture to build and implement improvements in the global strategy. - 2009
Maxibit launches LaunchPack, a multifunctional launch platform for Brand Pushers - 2010
After 10 years in the northern Suburban Djungle, Maxibit moves back to the inner city where we belong. The Maxibit showroom, office and logistics is located in a modern, comfortably located building with access to wide loading docks at the rear. The area is the new hotspot of the city, where some 50 billion SEK are invested in creating an exiting future. - 2011
The introduction of Scene FoldUp describes a full 360 turn from our start in 1978. Scene FoldUp is a seamless, foldable billboard of same size as the original portable billboard, but weights less than half and packs away 8 times smaller than its original ancestor.
A Portable Family
Portable pioneering has generated over 40 patents.
The portable genes in the Ahlberg blood can be traced back a whole century. Adolf Ahlberg started the trend in the beginning of the 20th century and his great grandson, Christian Ahlberg, continues the legacy today.
”Our strategy continues to focus on building the number 1 brand in quality portable solutions. Through pioneering R&D and a strong presence in the global market we will always do this. This is our path.”
Christian and Erik Ahlberg
Adolf Ahlberg – 1904
Before the Titanic disaster, Adolf Ahlberg invented this patented portable carrying case for passengers that converts into a life jacket, safely holding 150kg
Ernst Ahlberg – 1940
At the beginning of World War II, Adolf’s son Ernst proudly demon-strates a totally portable X-ray camera. The complete instru- ment is packed in two cases.
Erik Ahlberg – 1978
Erik starts the portable marketing revolution with Original 8. The idea liberates the exhibition industry. Companies all over the world now get access to a portable Billboard for effective marketing anywhere.
Christian Ahlberg – 2006
Christian takes over as CEO of Maxibit. He continues the work to take portability to an even higher level, introducing revolutionary new LaunchPack and more.
