Emil Lux Sr, an entrepreneur from the city of Remscheid, had been manufacturing and selling tools before Emil Lux GmbH was officially entered in the German commercial register – but it was 20 May 1919 that marked the actual start date of the company in which Emil Lux Jr and Manfred Maus then met in the 1950s. Together, they developed the idea of founding OBI and, in 1970, launched the very first DIY store in Germany. Today, the OBI Group is still selling LUX products. As a member of the OBI Group, Emil Lux GmbH was responsible for global sourcing for many years, relying on the support of subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Shanghai, an office in Ho Chi Minh City and a network of independent agencies.

Founded in 2006, Euromate expanded the role of Emil Lux GmbH within the OBI Group. As another organisation responsible for sourcing, it concentrated primarily on the procurement and quality assurance of promotional and seasonal goods, plus long-term promotional items for the DIY product ranges in the areas of technology, gardening, homes and construction. Euromate GmbH maintained a worldwide sourcing network with local offices and agencies, and was able to bring other important qualities to the merger table in the formation of OBI Group Sourcing GmbH: a commitment to timely deliveries and high quality standards for not only the products it was responsible for, but also the associated services and processes.