From a single idea to a global phenomenon

When we parents choose a school backpack for our first-grader, we're looking for the perfect balance. We want our child to love the backpack, but above all we care about their healthy development. This very idea was behind the birth of the Norwegian brand BECKMANN, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. What began as a local family business has grown into a global leader present in more than thirty countries around the world. So how did this phenomenon, which redefined the standards for children's gear, come about?

The company's core philosophy rests on a simple but powerful motto: a back has to last a lifetime. For BECKMANN, this has never been just an empty marketing slogan, but the driving force behind all its development and design.

A legend born in makeshift conditions

The brand's history is inseparably linked to the end of the Second World War. Amid Norway's post-war reconstruction (1946), there was a need to equip a new generation of children with good-quality, health-safe helpers for carrying their school things. Young and creative Olav Beckmann had a clear vision, but little capital.

So the very first steps of development took place right in the small living room of the Beckmann family home in the town of Kristiansand. Olav drew the patterns himself and sewed the first prototypes by hand. These early samples were tested by his own children, as well as by children from the neighbourhood. If the straps cut into the shoulders or the material couldn't take the load, he made adjustments straight away. This close contact and constant improvement built a culture of craftsmanship and precision into the company, and the brand still benefits from it today.

As early as the 1960s, the company showed its innovative flair by introducing the first modular systems – school bags that could be carried on the back or clipped onto a wheeled trolley, laying the first real foundations for reducing the physical strain on children's spines.

The golden age of biomechanics and the road to the world

The 1970s were an absolute turning point for BECKMANN. The management realised something fundamental: children's anatomy changes rapidly during their school years and the “one size fits all” principle simply doesn't work. So the company introduced its iconic backpack in three different sizes, defining a modern approach to ergonomics.

But the real revolution came with the tartan-patterned model. From a technical point of view, it featured an absolutely groundbreaking element – a back panel reinforced with spring steel. An ordinary book bag suddenly became a sophisticated orthopaedic support system. The quality of this solution is also shown by the fact that, with minor updates, it sold continuously right up until 2000.

The 1980s brought the huge success of the classic leather backpack, which kicked off intercontinental expansion. At that time, BECKMANN was exporting 10,000 units every year to the highly competitive US market. Despite this global growth, the company made a key decision in the 1990s: while most European brands were moving production to Asia, BECKMANN kept production of its flagship premium models in its native Norway. In doing so, it kept its identity as a truly premium, locally controlled Nordic product.

A revolution in ergonomics: health comes first

BECKMANN realised very early on that children are not small adults. Their spines are still developing and need maximum prevention and support. Over the decades, its backpacks have evolved from simple canvas bags into state-of-the-art ergonomic designs. As the company's current CEO Martin Tordsson notes: “Parents today are more conscious than ever when choosing products for their children. They are looking for products they can trust, products that are safe, ergonomic and responsibly made.”

Today, BECKMANN backpacks boast innovations that are unmatched anywhere in the world. Every school backpack in our range (school satchels and backpacks for grades 1–3, school backpacks for grades 4–9) is carefully designed with a child's anatomy in mind. The key features that define today's versions of these Norwegian gems include:

• Aluminium ergonomic frame: A firm yet lightweight base for the back system that naturally follows the shape of a child's spine.
• Weight distribution: Thanks to the well-designed padded hip belt and chest strap, the weight of the backpack is spread evenly, making it remarkably light to carry.
• Innovative padding systems: For example, models with AIR technology (Premium AIR, Active AIR FLX) use a unique foam-and-air cushion that provides maximum comfort.

These qualities haven't gone unnoticed. BECKMANN backpacks are multiple winners of the prestigious German IGR ergonomics tests, and the brand works with leading experts from around the world. During development, the backpacks have also undergone demanding laboratory testing with pressure sensors and robotic arms to confirm how exceptionally gentle they are on children's backs.

Today: health comes first

Over the decades, the backpacks have become state-of-the-art feats of engineering. Just how deep the roots of this tradition go is captured in the words of Martin Beckmann, a member of the family's third generation and the current marketing director: “In many markets, parents remember our brand from their own childhood, which is why they confidently choose it again for their own children today.”

As the company's current CEO Martin Tordsson notes: “Parents today are more conscious than ever when choosing products for their children. They are looking for products they can trust, products that are safe, ergonomic and responsibly made.”

Today, BECKMANN backpacks boast innovations that are unmatched anywhere in the world. Every school backpack in the current range is carefully designed with a child's anatomy in mind. The key features of today's Norwegian gems include:

• Aluminium ergonomic frame: A firm yet lightweight base for the back system that naturally follows the shape of a child's spine.
• Weight distribution: Thanks to the well-designed hip belt and chest strap, the weight of the backpack is spread evenly, making it remarkably light to carry.
• Innovative padding systems: Models with AIR technology use a unique foam-and-air cushion that provides maximum comfort.

These qualities are also confirmed by the prestigious German IGR ergonomics tests. During development, the backpacks undergo demanding laboratory testing with pressure sensors and robotic arms, so that their exceptional gentleness on children's backs is backed by hard data.

Where timeless design meets sustainability

The history of BECKMANN proves that top-class orthopaedic function and style can go hand in hand. While parents appreciate the sturdy construction, children love the playful designs. What's more, the brand has always listened to the needs of its young customers – for example, it came up with the unique reversible pocket. It lets you simply hide a playful picture and turn a childlike design into a more neutral backpack for an older pupil.

As the company grew, it also embraced its responsibility towards our planet. Traditional manufacturing has been modernised, and today the backpacks are made from recycled materials using the rPET method. So every backpack actively rids the world of unnecessary plastic bottles.

12 years with you in the Czech Republic

We're proud to be part of this story. As the exclusive distributor, we've been bringing Norwegian quality to Czech children for 12 years. We know every seam, offer expert advice and stand behind the top-class workmanship so firmly that we give an exclusive 4-year warranty on all backpacks.

Whether your child is starting first grade with a traditional school satchel or you're choosing a backpack for a teenager, with BECKMANN you can always rely on 80 years of proven tradition – a tradition for which healthy children's backs are a lifelong mission.