The first Hama bead was produced in 1971 by Malte Haaning Plastic A/S, in Nykøbing Mors. The beads are still developed, manufactured, packed and shipped from Denmark. Today, Hama beads are sold to more than 40 countries around the world.
The Midi beads were the original size, and still account for the vast majority of sales today. Later, the Mini and Maxi beads were added. The name Hama comes from the name of the company founder, Malte Haaning, who combined the first two letters of his surname with the first two letters of his first name.
You can now take your beads with you on-the-go. In 2015, Hama launched the Hama Universe app, a digital universe for classic play with beads and pegboards, but where the pegboards are ironed and saved digitally.
Malte Haaning Plastic A/S was founded in 1961 and initially produced drinking straws. It evolved into other plastic items, such as chopsticks and fly swatters, before the beads were introduced.