Our company history
Aluminium from Düsseldorf. Since 1932.
We are proud of our beginnings: everything you need to know about the 90-year company history of mejo Metall Josten.
Metall Josten is founded
As the global economic crisis reaches its peak, Heinrich Josten, one of the four children working for the long-established Wilhelm Josten Söhne company based in Neuss, sets out to find a new business opportunity in Düsseldorf. The founding of the company required more than just the financial resources for office and warehouse spaces. It also required a great deal of entrepreneurial courage and a good education.
The second generation
After the untimely death of the founder in 1939, his widow Cäcilia Josten, née Erasmus, guides the company through the war years and the challenging post-war years. In 1962, the sons Karl-Wilhelm and Ernst-Dieter Josten take the helm at the company. They successfully lead the company into its second generation and continue to expand it. In 1967, Karl-Wilhelm Josten dies suddenly and unexpectedly. His younger brother Ernst-Dieter Josten continues to run the company on his own.
Growth and change in the third generation
Excellent customer service becomes a hallmark of the company. And at an association level, Ernst-Dieter Josten works tirelessly to advocate for quality standards and fair competition. He is on the board of the Wirtschaftsverband Großhandel Metall Halbzeug e. V. from 1986 to his death in 1992.
His widow, Ruth Josten, continues to run the company until their son Stephan A. Josten completes his degree in business studies and follows in his father’s footsteps.
Stephan Josten continues to successfully build on the company’s success. He expands the product range, invests in new technologies and expands the distribution network.
At the company’s privately owned plot, a 1,600 m2 warehouse is built in accordance with the modern principles of warehouse logistics. Thanks to the large amount of space, the lorries can be loaded and unloaded inside the hall when the weather is bad. This means that the material is always protected against the weather during transport. The adjacent building spanning 400 m2 houses the modern office spaces and meeting rooms.
A second hall is built at the turn of the millennium, increasing mejo’s warehouse to 2,000 m2.
Metall Josten
mejo Metall Josten – A successful company with a long history
Longevity comes from constantly adapting to the times – and this is apparent now more than ever. This is something that mejo has proven time and again over its 90-year history. The company has constantly faced new challenges throughout these years, and it has been forced to grow to overcome these challenges. Today, mejo is a successful supplier of aluminium special profiles, construction profiles under the brand name No Name Konstruktion®, supporting structures for PV systems under the brand name No Name Solar® and aluminium honeycomb composite panels.
Introduction of the brands No Name Konstruktion® and No Name Solar®
2010 marks another significant milestone in the company's history: the founding of the brands No Name Konstruktion® and No Name Solar®.
In 2009, Managing Director Stephan Josten reviews an offer for a solar power system at the Düsseldorf location. In doing so, he is irritated by the disproportionately high costs of the required solar profiles. At that point, mejo is already supplying nearly 18,000 tonnes of aluminium profiles to the solar industry annually. Yet, three times the price is now being demanded for the supporting structure made from the company's own aluminium profiles.
Stephan Josten decides to declare war on these overpriced prices. In a nostalgic nod to the yellow-and-black striped condensed milk cans from the 1980s, which featured a large "No-Name" logo, No Name Konstruktion® and No Name Solar® are born. The goal of the brands: affordable profiles that are compatible with industry standards, without system constraints. And directly from the press shop.
A successful start to the new millennium:
national and international expansion
In 2018, mejo purchases a site in the village of Mackenstein in Viersen, close to the border between Germany and the Netherlands but also not far from the company headquarters in Düsseldorf. Today, the central warehouse and logistics centre is located in Mackenstein across an area of 3,400 m2. At the adjacent plot, which is currently still unoccupied, another hall covering an area of up to 2,500 m2 will be constructed in the near future to once again create space for more inventory.
Expansion into the Netherlands
In 2019, mejo expands into the Netherlands and founds mejo Aluminium B. V., which takes over the business operations for the Benelux area from this point on. In 2021, the growing team moves into its new premises in Hapert.
And there is also no shortage of new developments in Germany. The company navigates through the pandemic with a level-headed approach and is able to continue to grow during these difficult years. As a result, the logical decision is made in 2022 to further invest in the Viersen Mackenstein site in the future – namely with an additional plot covering almost 7,000 m2. In the future, this site will house additional warehouse areas, production areas and office spaces.
Vienna Calling
In 2023, mejo expands into Austria and opens a new site in Vienna.
Growth at mejo Aluminium in the Netherlands
Meanwhile, by 2024, the premises of mejo Aluminium B.V. in the Netherlands have become too small. Driven by the increasing success and continuous growth of the team led by Janine Panis, the subsidiary relocates to a brand-new, state-of-the-art office in Bergeijk. Offering 322 m² of space compared to just 114 m² in Hapert, the new location provides ample room for client visits and plenty of potential for further expansion.
"Katzengejammer" and Cat Content: The birth of Meti® and ALnarchy®
Amidst a recession, grim economic headlines and a tense market environment, mejo welcomes a furry new addition. 2025 marks the birth of Meti®, the brand ambassador on four paws. Originally starting out as a cat meme, then becoming a physical lucky cat (Maneki-neko) in the marketing office, and finally evolving into a cheeky 3D-animated tomcat, Meti is taking social media by storm. With wit and charm, he stands strong against the pessimistic mood in the German economy.
Alongside Meti, ALnarchy® is born – a symbol of resistance against the system and against the greed for power and money displayed by major corporations.
Both brands are officially registered and protected.
