Maped is an independent, family-owned French company best known for its school supplies, stationery, drawing and colouring products, office accessories, and children’s creative items. Founded in 1947 in Annecy, France, the business has evolved from a specialist manufacturer of precision drawing instruments into an international group focused broadly on children’s learning, creativity, and development.1

The name MAPED is derived from the French phrase Manufacture d’Articles de Précision et de Dessin, which translates to “Manufacture of Precision and Drawing Articles”.2

According to the latest corporate figures published by Maped, the company reported €177 million in revenue for 2025, with approximately 1,600 employees, over 3,500 product references, 18 international subsidiaries, and a presence in more than 120 countries.3

1947–1984: Precision instruments

Maped was founded in 1947 by Claude Lacroix in the Annecy region of France. The company originally specialised in precision drawing and geometry instruments, particularly metal compasses. For nearly four decades, its principal activity was producing geometry sets and precision instruments used by technical drawing offices, designers, and architects. Before computer-aided design became widespread, drafting tables, rulers, and precision compasses were essential professional equipment.4

1985: Diversification

A significant turning point occurred in 1985 when Maped expanded beyond technical drawing products and began producing scissors. In the same year, Jacques Lacroix took over the family business, marking the beginning of Maped’s transformation from a specialist precision-instrument manufacturer into a broader school-supplies company.5

1992–1993: Erasers and office products

In 1992, Maped acquired Mallat, a French manufacturer known for erasers, including the distinctive pink-and-blue eraser. This acquisition helped Maped enter the erasing and marking-products market. The following year, in 1993, Maped established a subsidiary in Suzhou, China, accelerating its internationalisation and allowing it to add staplers, punches, and office accessories to its portfolio.6

During the late 1990s and 2000s, Maped increasingly developed an international presence by establishing subsidiaries in countries including Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, the United States, Greece, Germany, Turkey, India, and Peru. This strategy allowed the company to sell and manufacture products closer to its major markets.7

Today, Maped describes itself as having a presence in more than 120 countries with 18 international subsidiaries.8

Maped’s identity changed significantly during the 2000s as it increasingly focused on children, education, creativity, and everyday school life.

Color’Peps

In 2005, Maped launched Color’Peps, a major range of colouring products. The range became one of the company’s most important product families, representing a significant share of group sales.9

Writing instruments

In 2008, Maped expanded into writing products and introduced writing instruments including its Twin Tip 4 four-colour ballpoint pen.10

Maped Creativ

Maped subsequently expanded into creative activities for children. Maped Creativ, launched in 2019, focuses on hands-on creative kits and activities intended to combine play, making, and learning.11

Maped has used acquisitions to expand beyond traditional stationery.

Helix (2012)

In 2012, Maped acquired and integrated Helix, a major British school-accessories brand. The acquisition strengthened Maped’s position particularly in English-speaking markets.12

Joustra (2016)

In 2016, Maped acquired Joustra, a French company specialising in creative products for children.13

Juratoys (2022)

One of the most significant recent developments was Maped’s acquisition of Juratoys in 2022. Juratoys brought several children’s brands into the wider Maped group, notably Janod, Kaloo, and Lilliputiens. This acquisition represented a major strategic shift: Maped was no longer simply a stationery company but increasingly a broader children’s learning, creativity, and play group. The combination was intended to create a more comprehensive offering around children’s academic and playful development.14

Maped’s product portfolio is extensive. Its traditional categories include:

Writing

• Ballpoint pens
• Pencils
• Mechanical pencils
• Writing accessories
• Felt-tip pens
• Highlighters

Colouring

• Coloured pencils
• Wax crayons
• Markers
• Brush pens
• Colouring accessories
• Children’s colouring products

Cutting

• School scissors
• Children’s scissors
• Multipurpose scissors
• Cutting accessories

Geometry and drawing

This is one of Maped’s oldest areas of expertise:
* Compasses
* Geometry sets
* Rulers
* Set squares
* Protractors
* Technical drawing instruments
* Drafting accessories

Erasing and sharpening

• Erasers
• Pencil sharpeners
• Combination sharpener/eraser products

Office supplies

• Staplers
• Punches
• Desk accessories
• Organisation products
• Office stationery

Creative activities

Through Maped Creativ and related businesses, the group also offers:
* Modelling products
* Creative kits
* Craft activities
* Educational activities
* Children’s DIY projects

Maped’s current product catalogue spans categories such as scissors, colouring products, sharpeners, erasers, compasses, rulers, writing instruments, highlighters, and creative activities.15

Maped operates more than just the core MAPED name. Notable brands and ranges associated with the group include:

• Maped: The core school and stationery brand.
• Helix: School accessories and stationery, particularly strong in the UK and English-speaking markets.
• Color’Peps: Colouring products.
• Maped Creativ: Creative and activity kits for children.
• Maped Picnik: Reusable food containers and drinkware designed for school and everyday use.
• Helit: Office and organisational products.

Following the Juratoys acquisition, the wider group also includes children’s brands such as Janod, Kaloo, and Lilliputiens.16

Maped’s modern identity is considerably broader than simply making stationery. Its stated mission is: “Give every child the power to change the world with their own hands.” The underlying idea is that children learn by drawing, writing, building, experimenting, making mistakes, and creating things themselves. Consequently, Maped positions its products as tools that support children’s education and creativity rather than merely as commodities.17

Maped identifies five core values:
1. Inventivity
2. Sincerity
3. Audacity
4. Responsibility
5. Citizenship

Its broader ambition is to facilitate access to education and help individual talents emerge.18

An important characteristic of Maped is that it has remained family-owned and independent. The company is associated with the Lacroix family, which has managed the business across generations. Maped has adopted an unusual rotating governance system involving Antoine Lacroix and Romain Lacroix. According to the company’s corporate information, the presidency and general-management roles alternate every three years.19

This family ownership distinguishes the company from many large stationery brands that belong to multinational conglomerates.

Innovation is central to Maped’s strategy. The company states that product design is carried out internally and maintains dedicated R&D and testing capabilities. Maped also established the Mino Lab at its French headquarters in 2021 to observe how children actually use its products.20

The company emphasises testing products for safety, ergonomics, durability, mechanical performance, chemical compliance, and children’s usability. Quality teams conduct extensive internal testing and also use independent laboratories to verify compliance with applicable regulations.21

Although Maped is a French company, its manufacturing footprint is international. Its current corporate presentation identifies integrated production operations in China and Mexico, while its French operations remain important to the group’s industrial and corporate identity.22 Maped emphasises a strategy of producing as close as possible to its markets rather than relying on one centralised manufacturing location.

The company also maintains certified environmental and occupational-health systems at its production operations, including ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications.23

Sustainability has become an increasingly prominent part of Maped’s corporate strategy. The company describes its objective as developing products that are more durable, safer, more sustainable, and designed with children’s needs in mind. Maped has also worked on reducing the environmental impact of its packaging and production, stating an objective of moving toward 100% recycled and recyclable packaging materials by 2026.24

Maped holds FSC Chain of Custody certification covering certain FSC-certified school and office products and certified wooden/paper toys.25 In 2025, the company reported receiving a Relocalisation Award in France for its efforts to maintain local production and employment at its Argonay site while investing in more sustainable technologies.26

A significant milestone came in October 2022 when Maped chose to become a French entreprise à mission (company with a mission). This means that its social and environmental purpose is incorporated into its corporate framework rather than being treated solely as a marketing initiative. Maped’s stated vision is: “Children will change the world to make it a better place.” Its ambition is to make education more accessible and help people develop their talents.27

Maped occupies a distinct position in the global stationery industry, sitting between several categories:

• Traditional stationery manufacturer: Compasses, rulers, scissors, sharpeners, and erasers.
• School-supplies brand: Pencils, pens, colouring products, and school accessories.
• Creative brand: Craft and activity products.
• Children’s development company: Educational games, toys, and creative activities through its broader group.
• Lifestyle/school accessories company: Lunch containers, bottles, and reusable products.

This diversification has allowed Maped to move beyond its original identity as a precision-instrument manufacturer.

The historical milestones above are based primarily on Maped’s own corporate history and current corporate information.28

Maped’s registered headquarters are located at 530 Route de Pringy, 74370 Argonay, France. Argonay is in the Haute-Savoie department near Annecy in southeastern France. The company remains strongly connected to the Annecy region where its history began.29

Several characteristics distinguish Maped from ordinary stationery manufacturers:

• French origins: Maped has maintained its identity as a French company since its foundation in 1947.
• Family ownership: The business remains independent and family-owned, with the Lacroix family continuing to play a central role.
• Technical heritage: Unlike many modern stationery brands, Maped began with precision engineering and technical drawing, especially professional compasses.
• Global reach: What began as a French manufacturer now sells products in over 120 countries.
• Strong emphasis on creativity: Colouring, creative activities, and children’s products have become major parts of its identity.
• Child-centred philosophy: The company’s modern mission is explicitly built around children’s learning, creativity, and development.
• Sustainability: Environmental responsibility and product durability have increasingly become part of its corporate strategy.
• Expansion beyond stationery: The Juratoys acquisition demonstrates Maped’s ambition to participate in the broader children’s learning and play market.30

1. Maped in a nutshell – Maped Helix USA
2. Découvrir Maped – Maped Groupe
3. M comme Maped – Maped Groupe
4. Maped rachète Juratoys et confirme son développement sur le marché du jouet – Maped Groupe
5. Products – Maped India
6. Products – Maped Helix USA
7. Gouvernance – Maped Groupe
8. Innovation – Maped India
9. Maped in a nutshell – Maped India
10. MAPED SAS 530 ROUTE DE PRINGY, 74370, ARGONAY,
11. MAPED reçoit le prix de la relocalisation ! – Maped Groupe
12. Maped devient entreprise à mission et renouvèle son engagement pour les générations futures – Maped Groupe
13. Mentions légales – Maped Groupe
14. Maped ferme Argonay — Le Guide Sulkowski
15. MAPED, engagé pour l’environnement ! – Maped Groupe
16. Maped met la gomme à l’international… tout en préservant son usine française
17. Découvrez notre rapport de Mission 2023 – Maped Groupe
18. Conditions générales d’utilisation (CGU) – Maped Groupe
19. Contacter le SAV Maped France (Maj juin 2026 )
20. Shop – Maped Helix USA
21. ¿Quiénes somos ? – Maped Peru
22. Productos – Maped Peru
23. Descubre Maped – Maped Mexico Corporate
24. Productos – Maped Mexico
25. Ποιοι είμαστε; – Maped Greece
26. M de Maped – Maped Mexico Corporate
27. Découvrir Maped – Maped Quebec
28. Cine suntem? – Maped Romania
29. 1% For Education Fund – Maped Helix USA
30. Travailler chez Maped – Maped Groupe