German manufacturer of clothes hangers, trouser clamps and skirt clamps made of steel, wood and biobased materials
MAWA GmbH
Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm (headquarters, production and sales)New on Amplifa
About MAWA
Since 1948, MAWA GmbH has manufactured clothes hangers as well as trouser clamps and skirt clamps at its site in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. The product range includes metal hangers made of German steel, wooden hangers made of FSC-certified European wood and upcycling hangers (MAWA Green Hanger) made from an eco-material consisting of 99% plant-based residual materials. Plastic components are free of plasticisers (phthalate-free per DIN EN ISO 18856, RoHS per DIN EN 62321-3-1). Since 1985, production has been fully automated on specially custom-built machines; every hanger undergoes individual quality control. The manufacturing processes include hanger production, the non-slip coating and assembly. With over 20 million clothes hangers per year, MAWA supplies customers in retail, fashion stores, hotels, workwear and online commerce in 86 countries; the export share is over 80%. The company has been awarded the Bavarian Export Prize and aims to achieve CO₂-neutral production by 2035.
- Site
- Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm
- Processes
- Clothes hanger production (metal hangers, fully automated since 1985), Non-slip coating of clothes hangers, Production of trouser clamps and skirt clamps, Wooden hanger production, Upcycling clothes hangers (MAWA Green Hanger), Individual quality control for every hanger, Individual consulting on hanger concepts, Support for online/offline integration
- Materials
- German steel, FSC-certified wood from Europe, Biobased eco-material (MAWA Green Hanger, 99% plant-based residual materials), Plastic (free of plasticisers, phthalate-free per DIN EN ISO 18856, RoHS per DIN EN 62321-3-1), Biobased eco-material (MAWA Green Hanger), Plasticiser-free plastic, Non-slip coating
- Certificates
- FSC (wood)
- Founded
- 1948
- Industries
- Retail, Fashion stores / shop fitting, Hotels, Workwear, Online shops
- 01
Fully automated hanger production (since 1985, specially custom-built machines)
- 02
Non-slip coating
- 03
Individual quality control for every hanger
- 04
Assembly
- 05
Sales and international logistics (including customs clearance)
Materials and Processes
German steel
Guarantees stability and durability of the metal hangers; service life of at least ten years.
FSC-certified wood from Europe
Used exclusively for wooden hangers and combines elegance with a renewable raw material.
Biobased eco-material (MAWA Green Hanger)
Consists of 99% plant-based residual materials and is used for upcycling hangers with a closed CO₂ cycle.
Plasticiser-free plastic
Phthalate-free per DIN EN ISO 18856 and RoHS-compliant per DIN EN 62321-3-1, without hazardous plasticisers.
Non-slip coating
In use since 1960, protects delicate fabrics and ensures clothes are held securely.
Sites
Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm
DEProduction and sales (headquarters)
- Lot size
- Large-scale series (over 20 million hangers/year)
- Materials
- German steel, FSC-certified wood, biobased eco-material, plasticiser-free plastic
- Specially custom-built production machines for hanger manufacturing
- Fully automated production (since 1985)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes hanger production (metal hangers, fully automated since 1985)Assembly | – | – | – | – | German steel |
| Non-slip coating of clothes hangersSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Production of trouser clamps and skirt clampsAssembly | – | – | – | – | German steel |
| Wooden hanger productionAssembly | – | – | – | – | FSC-certified wood from Europe |
| Upcycling clothes hangers (MAWA Green Hanger)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Eco-material made of 99% plant-based residual materials |
| Individual quality control for every hangerTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specially custom-built production machines for hanger manufacturing (fully automated production | – | – | – | 1985 | Pfaffenhofen/Ilm |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Every single clothes hanger undergoes an individual and strict quality control. Specially custom-built machines enable fast, precise production and consistently high quality.
| Evidence | Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm |
|---|---|
| FSC (wood) |
Tradition and History
- 1948
Martin Wagner founds the metal goods factory MAWA in the Pfaffenbräu brewery.
- 1955
Patent application and production of the first trouser clamp; later developed into the skirt clamp.
- 1960
The first metal hangers with non-slip coating come onto the market.
- 1985
Full automation of production in close coordination with the employees.
- 2005
Insolvency of MAWA GmbH as a result of product counterfeits and an unsatisfactory succession plan.
- 2007
Michaela Schenk takes over MAWA GmbH; restart and opening of new markets from Eastern Europe across Asia to the USA.
- 2008
Focus on environmental and consumer protection; establishment of a recycling loop for all materials.
- 2015
ECO friendly and SKIN friendly initiatives founded; exclusive use of FSC-certified wood from Europe.
- 2020
Digitalisation and growth despite Covid-19, focus on online business and new sales channels.
- 2021
Market launch of the MAWA Green Hanger made of 99% plant-based residual materials.
- 2024
First sustainability report; CO₂ emissions per hanger reduced by around 8% compared to the base year 2023.