TroGroup GmbH

TroGroup GmbH is an Austrian industrial holding company headquartered in Wels, Upper Austria. Under its umbrella, it operates three globally leading business areas: Trodat for stamp production, Trotec for laser plotters used in engraving, cutting, and marking, and Luxinar for high-tech laser sources. The group generated revenue of 284 million euros in the 2025 financial year and employed around 1,900 people across more than 40 operating subsidiaries worldwide. It is present in over 150 countries, with an export ratio of nearly 98.5%. The company's origins date back to 1912, when Franz Just and his wife began cooking stamp inks in their Vienna kitchen and eventually opened a small stamp-making shop. The Trodat brand was registered in 1960 by son Walter Just, combining 'Tro' from Trolitul (a plastic used in stamp production) and 'dat' from Datumstempel (date stamp). Trodat became synonymous with high-quality stamps, and its Printy line is the world's best-selling stamp. In the 1990s, Trotec began its history and grew into the world market leader for laser plotters. TroGroup GmbH is 74.9% owned by the Müller-Just Family Foundations and 25.1% by the Lower Austrian IW Group. The company remains privately held and continues to operate as a global industrial group with a strong focus on innovation and international expansion.

The history of TroGroup begins in 1912 when Franz Just and his wife cooked stamp inks on their kitchen stove in Vienna and filled them into glass bottles. That year, they saved enough to open a small stamp-making shop in Vienna's 18th district. With one journeyman, one apprentice, and his wife, Franz Just started rubber stamp production. The business flourished and grew, requiring several relocations due to space constraints. In autumn 1944, the sole proprietorship Franz Just was converted into the open trading company Franz Just & Söhne (Franz Just & Sons) as sons Herbert and Walter joined the paternal business. In autumn 1945, founder Franz Just passed away, and his two sons took over the management. The economically difficult times—war years, post-war period, occupation zones, currency reform, and compensation deals—were mastered with skill, and the company continued to grow. In 1960, son Walter Just registered the product brand Trodat. The name Trodat is composed of the syllables 'Tro' and 'Dat'. 'Tro' stands for Trolitul, a plastic formerly used in stamp production, and 'dat' is an abbreviation for Datumstempel (date stamp). This laid the foundation for a global corporation, and the Trodat brand became synonymous with high-quality stamps. Its Printy stamp is the world's best-selling stamp to this day. In the 1990s, the history of Trotec began, which developed into the world market leader for laser plotters. Today, TroGroup GmbH operates under its umbrella with the Trodat brand in stamp production, the Trotec brand in laser plotters for engraving, cutting, and marking, and the Luxinar brand in high-tech laser sources. The group is headquartered in Wels, Upper Austria, where the most important production site for stamp production, including research and development, is located. In the 2025 financial year, TroGroup generated revenue of 284 million euros and employed around 1,900 people in over 40 operating subsidiaries worldwide. The group is present in more than 150 countries, with an export ratio of nearly 98.5%. TroGroup GmbH is 74.9% owned by the Müller-Just Family Foundations and 25.1% by the Lower Austrian IW Group.

• 2025

  TroGroup generates revenue of 284 million euros and employs around 1,900 people.

• 1990

  Trotec begins its history, later becoming world market leader for laser plotters.

• 1960

  Walter Just registers the Trodat product brand.

• 1945

  Founder Franz Just passes away; his sons Herbert and Walter take over management.

• 1944

  The sole proprietorship Franz Just is converted into the open trading company Franz Just & Söhne.

• 1912

  Franz Just opens a small stamp-making shop in Vienna's 18th district.

World market leader in stamp production, laser plotters, and high-tech laser sources.

• Trodat Printy stamp

  The world's best-selling stamp.

• Trotec laser plotters

  Laser plotters for engraving, cutting, and marking.

• Luxinar laser sources

  High-tech laser sources.

1. 1Startseite - TroGrouptrogroup.com
2. 2Geschichte - TroGrouptrogroup.com
3. 3TroGroup GmbH - Wikidatawikidata.org