Sometimes we wonder ourselves what a journey our PAX bags have made out of Andreas garage. Today, our bags are available in Spain, Sweden and even in the high latitudes of Iceland.
Continually by your side for more than 20 years
You are there when the going gets tough. You are there when people get hurt. You rush to places, where others run away. PAX bags are always at your side. They are made for real-life situations and your daily routine: the accident sites, disaster operations and crisis areas. Since 1997, we at PAX have been making high quality and innovative rescue products. We make sure that both material and workmanship are of the highest quality. In short: We are only happy if our PAX bags are both indestructible and convenient. Before delivering a PAX product, we perform extensive tests to make sure that it meets PAX quality bench-marks. Our test procedures and practical tests are designed to meet the highest standards.
In this chapter we tell you how PAX became the quality brand we are known for today.
a PAX (hi)story
“I can do this better” thought Andreas Harms as a colleague from the Emergency Services proudly presented his brand new Medic Backpack from the USA. This was in 1994 and Mr. Harms was just Andreas living with his parents in Achternmeer, Germany. He excused himself to the garage and tinkered for 14 days and 14 nights on his first PAX Bag: a prototype of today’s “Wasserkuppe” (the Koup) model. For the next few years he built on his idea of developing resilient quality backpacks for the Rescue Services. The backpacks were successful and in 1997 he celebrated the formation of his first business.
In the year 2000 Thomas Busch crashed Andreas Harms car. Thomas, Andreas’s good friend from the Emergence Services, survived completely unharmed - unlike the vehicle – and unwillingly demonstrated the “street toughness” of a genuine PAX bag, which also was in the car and made it through the accident without a single scratch. In that same month they founded the company X-CEN-TEK. Soon after, the two friends strapped on their backpacks and started sales in Europe.
The rest is best shown in this chart:
The PAX timeline
1994
Andreas Harms sews the first PAX Bag prototype.
1997
The idea grows. Andreas produces and sells the PAX Bags initially as a side business.
2000
Thinking bigger: Establishment of X-CEN-TEK GmbH. Thomas Busch, a friend from the rescue service times becomes second Managing Director.
2002
Expansion of storehouse capacity.
2003
Three letters that make a difference: PAX becomes a trademark.
2004
PAX global: The beginning of worldwide sales.
2006
The Irish Emergency Services start using PAX emergency backpacks.
2008
ISO 9001: 2008 Certification.
2008
PAX keeps growing - Expansion of warehouse space.
2010
Implementation of the Wasserkuppe ( the Koup) as standard backpack for the Rescue Services in Romania.
2010
PAX goes Aussie– First shippment of emergency backpacks to Australia.
2010
Our products get a new look: Contemporary design and reliability with even better brand visibility.
2013
PAX keeps on growing: new office rooms and facilities for product management of prototype and product development.
2015
Further innovations: Pax introduces the world’s first welded emergency backpack P5/11.
2015
Acknowledgment: PAX receives the Red Dot Design Award with the P5/11.
2016
Boundless opportunities: PAX starts sales in the USA.
2016
Acknowledgment: PAX wins Good Design Award Chicago Athenaeum with the P5/11.
2016
Acknowledgment: We receive the German Brand Award Health & Medicine for the brand PAX.
2016
First transactions with MENA region countries.
2017
PAX celebrates 20th anniversary.
2018
PAX keeps on growing - the warehouse moves to a new and bigger location
2020
Establishment of PAX USA
The Pax (Hi)story in Pictures
How it all started
1994
1995
1997
PAX guidelines
Our committment
Now that you know the PAX history in brief we’d like to list up in a few concise sentences what PAX stands for.
We ...
- MANUFACTURE the finest emergency bags and backpacks.
- BUILD for practice and improve from field experience.
- ESTABLISH security for risky situations.
- KNOW about the importance of our products and act accordingly.
- INTERACT with everybody as equals.
- ARE objective, cooperative and honest.
- STAND FOR resourceful and sustainable production.
- IMPROVE from mistakes and critical remarks.
- ARE there for you, no matter where you are.
PAX partners
PAX around the corner
In total, more than 50 distributors around the world have included PAX-Bags in their assortment. Surely there's one near you, too. If not, please give us a call. We are used to discover new territories.