165 and market conditions, while our entrepreneurial spirit means we’re willing to experiment with different materials and production methods, or branch into new markets, if we feel it will benefit our clients,” he explains. Marahrens Group’s employees are equally dedicated to providing highquality products and continuous support to clients. “Our people are our biggest reason for success,” says Hashagen, adding that the team is intentionally diverse. “Many of them have worked with us for decades, so they’re highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced, which means they can help our clients with all of their signage needs.” To empower employees to work productively and deliver projects efficiently, Marahrens Group continually invests in improving its infrastructure and upgrading its processes. For example, it has digitised multiple processes and now creates 3D virtual models of its signs for clients to review. “We’re also installing new digital printing machines in our Florida factory and will make ongoing upgrades to our other facilities and processes over time,” says Hashagen. He also aims to make Marahrens Group’s products, manufacturing methods and installation processes greener. “We decreased our energy consumption by 30 per cent in 2023 by making incremental changes, such as minimising paper use and using recycled or natural materials for our signage and packaging where possible,” he says. The firm has already printed signs on fully recycled acrylic and experimented with signage made of a bioplastic derived from fermented plant starch. It is now making signs out of recycled fishnets salvaged from the oceans. “We want to protect our planet and offer our clients more sustainable options,” says Hashagens. “We’re already working with a couple of major cruise operators to trial fishnet signage, and we’ll continue to explore how we can use other sustainable materials in future. Of course, we’ll always be forced to make a trade-off between sustainability and both durability and regulatory compliance.” Testament to its 75-year history of delivering high-quality signage and services exceeding customer expectations, Marahrens Group has an increasingly full order book for 2024 and beyond. “We’ve secured contracts for multiple revitalisation projects and we’re expecting more to come,” says Hashagen. “We’ll invest to enhance our processes to better support clients throughout the lifecycle of their ships and expand our operational network to increase our capacity to cater for customers worldwide. This will ensure we remain a reliable and trusted partner for all our customers, employees and their families, and other stakeholders.” Heinrich Marahrens (top) opened his first shop in Bremen-Walle and completed his first maritime signage project on passenger ship Bremen in 1955
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