Global Market Leader 2025
The German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche has awarded the PAJUNK Group the title "World Market Leader - Champion 2025". The family-owned company has thus once again been included in the index of hidden champions compiled by the University of St. Gallen and the Academy of German World Market Leaders in the segment of "medical systems for various applications in regional anesthesia, pain therapy, neurology and neurorehabilitation, biopsy and minimally invasive surgery".
Strict Criteria for World Market Leader Status
A comprehensive database forms the foundation for identifying potential world market leaders. Currently, it includes 1,300 entries from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, which are filtered and selected based on strict rules and criteria.
Among other requirements, a world market leader must be ranked first or second globally in at least one relevant market segment (not necessarily in all its business fields), measured by revenue. The company must generate at least 50 percent of its annual revenue— with a minimum threshold of 50 million euros— abroad and on at least three continents. Another criterion is that the company's owners must have at least partial residency in the DACH region.
Consistent Internationalization Strategy
There are good reasons why the PAJUNK Group has once again secured a place on the list of hidden champions. Since the second generation joined the family business over 30 years ago, the company has pursued a steady growth trajectory through its internationalization strategy. It has established its own sales subsidiaries and built a network of distribution partners in more than 100 countries.
Today, the specialist in medical technology systems operates on six continents, with an export share of 75 percent. In 2021—the reference year for the current indexation—the company generated revenue of 78 million euros.
PAJUNK Sees Regulation as an Opportunity
In an era of increasing regulatory requirements, maintaining world market leadership in medical technology is anything but a given. Many manufacturers, including those with a regional presence, struggle to meet the growing global standards, as each country now enforces its own regulations.
“Our advantage lies in the fact that our company has been aligned for many years—from development and production to logistics—toward product diversity and customer-specific solutions,” explains Martin Hauger, CEO of PAJUNK GmbH. He adds, “Flexibility and agility are deeply embedded in our family business’s processes, making us well-equipped to meet market-specific requirements.”
This latest recognition is further confirmation that PAJUNK remains on course despite increasingly stringent regulations in recent years. In fact, the "hidden champion" increased its revenue by an additional 37 million euros in 2024, reaching 115 million euros by year-end.
“The necessary investment is certainly high, but at the same time, the competitive landscape is shifting in our favor. Not all competitors are able to meet the new standards, which ultimately also benefits patient safety,” emphasizes Simone Pajunk-Schelling, CEO of PAJUNK GmbH.
Market Leadership Requires Multifaceted Expertise
PAJUNK’s direct contact with end users, fostered through its presence in various markets, is particularly valuable in today's fragmented global landscape. Market-specific requirements are quickly identified and seamlessly integrated into product solutions through collaboration between development, risk and quality management, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing.
“We are fortunate to be located in a region shaped by the medical technology industry, where we can rely on the technological expertise, skills, and experience of local specialists. Our goal is not only to maintain our market position but to continue expanding it,” affirms Simone Pajunk-Schelling.