Milestones

1968
Company founded by Rolf Östling during his studies in Stockholm. Development of a machine for electrolytic marking; first customer: the Sandvik Company

1978
Move from Sweden to Germany and founding of ÖSTLING Vertriebs GmbH for the sale of the marking system manufactured in Sweden

1988
Change of name to Östling Markiersysteme GmbH
 

1989 - 1993
Development of a pad printing machine for the marking of ceramic tools

Development of a needle embossing system

1998
Establishment of an internal research and development department for the construction of own industrial control systems, specially designed for marking requirements

2002
Integration of vision systems for automatic scanning of markings and labels, for example 2D codes (Data Matrix™)

2005
Development of a needle embossing system for the toughest industrial environments (protection class IP65) with integrated control system

2006
Development of a compact, transportable, stand-alone laser marking station
 
 

2008
Ostling Markiersysteme GmbH welcome Etch-Mark Ltd under their wing. Etch-Mark Ltd are a long established company in the UK having traded for 40 years specialising in the electrochemical marking field with an established loyal work force and many long standing customers in this sector
 

Where do we come from?

In the middle of the 18th century, steel experts of Walloon origin migrated from Belgium to northern Sweden. They were called Pierro. In the striving steel district of Sandviken they grew prosperous, purchased a manorial estate and changed their name: ÖSTLING.

Their interest in technology remained unchanged. They developed machines to rationally harvest turf, reshape steel or produce nails, for example.

This innovative thinking and the motivation of his ancestors shaped the company founder, Rolf Östling. He was born in the port city of Gävle in Sweden. Following his school leaving examinations and his industrial engineering studies, he had the idea of developing a marking system. In a tiny, dark basement, he began in 1968 to build a machine that was purchased by the Sandvik Company, the world's largest carbide producer.

At the same time Etch-Mark Ltd was founded in the UK, both companies shared development ideas and technology over a period of more than 40 years. Mr and Mrs Casey, the founders of Etch-Mark Ltd, retired in 2008 and their company was then incorporated into the Ostling group of companies.




thus it began

Innovations such as corrosion-free electrolytes and template material with very long durability promoted further expansion.

In 1978, he moved to Germany (Essen) and founded the company ÖSTLING Vertriebs GmbH. In 1979, the company headquarters was relocated to Solingen, where the cutlery industry  has an international reputation and market potential is conglomerated.

Due to the continuing expansion, primarily in export, a move was made again within Solingen in 1988, in order to satisfy the wish for development and space. The company was renamed to ÖSTLING Markiersysteme GmbH. The product portfolio in the field of electrolytics encompasses the manual marking stations and extends to semi and fully automatic marking systems. In 1989, the company developed its own pad printing machine and included it in the product portfolio. The needle embossing system followed in 1993, the inkjet and laser marking system in 1995, and the identification system in 1997. Parallel to this, the foreign sales locations in Switzerland, Singapore, France and the USA were established. At the German headquarters in Solingen, a modern development and production centre was set up to develop hardware and software, among other things.

The Östling Group now offers marking systems for almost any product.

Over the years our company has achieved something that money cannot buy: experience and expertise.


Today we are looking forward to a great future with you!
Rolf Ostling

 
President and Company founder