Elba

As one of Europe’s most recognised and popular brands on the archiving products market, ELBA continuously develops innovative solutions to turn filing into an inspiring new way of getting organised.

By constantly observing our end-users at work, during their studies or at home, since 1917 ELBA has invented some of the most popular products and features on the market.
Some examples? The famous RADO eyelets that allow lever arch files to close firmly and remain in an upright position. And did you know that ELBA invented the concept of hanging files?
Today, ELBA continues its mission to design solutions that really help people ensure their peace of mind.

ELBA. FREE YOURSELF, GET ORGANISED.

The first brand in Europe to be awarded the European Ecolabel for converted paper products in 2016

More than 2 000 Elba products can be customised using the ELBA print website

9 production facilities, the majority of which are located in Europe.

More than 100 years at the forefront of filing solutions.

Our values

At ELBA, our vision is simple – getting organised leads to peace of mind.

We believe that people should stop thinking “filing” and start getting organised.

To achieve this paradigm shift, i.e. to help people see filing as something other than a painful experience, we are committed to designing solutions that make it easier to cope with the overwhelming number of documents people face nowadays.

Our time saving solutions deliver modularity, personalisation, clarity and intuitiveness. We always stay focused on consumers insights with a deep sense of empathy.

ELBA develops organisation solutions designed for everyday use, while also taking environmental issues into account. Its products are manufactured in factories certified ISO 14001 for their environmental management.

Our products

Our history

1917

Erich Kraut open a small workshop in Germany where he made lever arch files.

1930

The production is now industrially organised in a new factory located between the villages of Elberfeld and Barmen, now districts of the city of Wuppertal.

1933

The company invents the concept of files hanging on a single rail: Pendelregistratur.

1953

Development of the Elba RADO system. Two slots placed on the front of a lever arch file allow it to remain closed and more stable when stood on a shelf. RADO : Richtiges Aufstellen des Ordners.

1958

Invention of Le Lutin, the first ever display book.

1967

Erich Kraut was awarded the Diesel Medal. This prestigious prize is awarded annually by the German Institute for Inventions to promote the culture of innovation.

1989

Elba is one of the first companies to manufacture office supplies from recycled material and was awarded the Federal ecolabel “Blaue Engel” (Blue Angel).

1999

Elba joins Groupe Hamelin and is ready for new European perspectives.

2001

Invention of Magic Cover, the really perfect book covering solution that makes it possible to cover a text book in less than 90 seconds!

2005

Elba becomes Hamelin’s strategic international brand for filing products.

2006

Launch of Elbaprint, Elba’s unique online service for customising products.

2011

Elba has now won strong or significant positions in major European markets like France, Germany, UK, Benelux and Spain.

2012

Launch of Eaz’in, Elba’s patented punched pockets for easy document insertion.

2013

Elba wins the prestigious red dot award for its Self-Adjustable Sorter.

2016

Elba receives triple certification — ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 — for all of its European sites.

2017

Unprecedented concept, detachable punched pockets for binders in a notepad format.