diff --git a/api/material.yaml b/api/material.yaml
index 967071c..3122e32 100644
--- a/api/material.yaml
+++ b/api/material.yaml
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
       500:
         $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/500'
 
-/materials/{group}:
+/materials/{state}:
   parameters:
-    - $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/parameters/Group'
+    - $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/parameters/State'
   get:
     summary: lists all new/deleted materials
     description: 'Auth: basic, levels: maintain, admin'
@@ -168,5 +168,51 @@
         $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/401'
       403:
         $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/403'
+      500:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/500'
+
+/material/groups:
+  get:
+    summary: list all existing material groups
+    description: 'Auth: all, levels: read, write, maintain, dev, admin'
+    tags:
+      - /material
+    responses:
+      200:
+        description: all material groups
+        content:
+          application/json:
+            schema:
+              type: array
+              items:
+                type: string
+                example: PA66
+      401:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/401'
+      403:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/403'
+      500:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/500'
+
+/material/suppliers:
+  get:
+    summary: list all existing material suppliers
+    description: 'Auth: all, levels: read, write, maintain, dev, admin'
+    tags:
+      - /material
+    responses:
+      200:
+        description: all material suppliers
+        content:
+          application/json:
+            schema:
+              type: array
+              items:
+                type: string
+                example: BASF
+      401:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/401'
+      403:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/403'
       500:
         $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/500'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/parameters.yaml b/api/parameters.yaml
index b4586f7..3cbe49b 100644
--- a/api/parameters.yaml
+++ b/api/parameters.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Name:
   schema:
     type: string
 
-Group:
+State:
   name: group
   description: 'possible values: new, deleted'
   in: path
diff --git a/api/sample.yaml b/api/sample.yaml
index 67f25ac..00e35ff 100644
--- a/api/sample.yaml
+++ b/api/sample.yaml
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
       500:
         $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/500'
 
-/samples/{group}:
+/samples/{state}:
   parameters:
-    - $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/parameters/Group'
+    - $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/parameters/State'
   get:
     summary: all new/deleted samples in overview
     description: 'Auth: basic, levels: maintain, admin'
diff --git a/src/models/material.ts b/src/models/material.ts
index 71d6b34..a183020 100644
--- a/src/models/material.ts
+++ b/src/models/material.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import mongoose from 'mongoose';
+import MaterialSupplierModel from '../models/material_suppliers';
+import MaterialGroupsModel from '../models/material_groups';
 
 const MaterialSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
   name: {type: String, index: {unique: true}},
-  supplier: String,
-  group: String,
+  supplier_id: {type: mongoose.Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: MaterialSupplierModel},
+  group_id: {type: mongoose.Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: MaterialGroupsModel},
   mineral: String,
   glass_fiber: String,
   carbon_fiber: String,
diff --git a/src/models/material_groups.ts b/src/models/material_groups.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e9c9861
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/models/material_groups.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import mongoose from 'mongoose';
+
+const MaterialGroupsSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
+  name: {type: String, index: {unique: true}}
+});
+
+export default mongoose.model('material_groups', MaterialGroupsSchema);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/models/material_suppliers.ts b/src/models/material_suppliers.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..573d397
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/models/material_suppliers.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import mongoose from 'mongoose';
+
+const MaterialSuppliersSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
+  name: {type: String, index: {unique: true}}
+});
+
+export default mongoose.model('material_suppliers', MaterialSuppliersSchema);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/routes/material.spec.ts b/src/routes/material.spec.ts
index 56f094e..31d7137 100644
--- a/src/routes/material.spec.ts
+++ b/src/routes/material.spec.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import MaterialModel from '../models/material';
 import TestHelper from "../test/helper";
 import globals from '../globals';
 
-// TODO: color name must be unique to get color number
 // TODO: separate supplier/ material name into own collections
 
 describe('/material', () => {
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ describe('/material', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('GET /materials/{group}', () => {
+  describe('GET /materials/{state}', () => {
     it('returns all new materials', done => {
       TestHelper.request(server, done, {
         method: 'get',
@@ -767,4 +766,92 @@ describe('/material', () => {
       });
     });
   });
+
+  describe('GET /material/groups', () => {
+    it('returns all groups', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'get',
+        url: '/material/groups',
+        auth: {basic: 'janedoe'},
+        httpStatus: 200
+      }).end((err, res) => {
+        if (err) return done(err);
+        const json = require('../test/db.json');
+        should(res.body).have.lengthOf(json.collections.material_groups.length);
+        should(res.body[0]).be.eql(json.collections.material_groups[0].name);
+        should(res.body).matchEach(group => {
+          should(group).be.type('string');
+        });
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+    it('works with an API key', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'get',
+        url: '/material/groups',
+        auth: {basic: 'janedoe'},
+        httpStatus: 200
+      }).end((err, res) => {
+        if (err) return done(err);
+        const json = require('../test/db.json');
+        should(res.body).have.lengthOf(json.collections.material_groups.length);
+        should(res.body[0]).be.eql(json.collections.material_groups[0].name);
+        should(res.body).matchEach(group => {
+          should(group).be.type('string');
+        });
+      done();
+      });
+    });
+    it('rejects unauthorized requests', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'get',
+        url: '/material/groups',
+        httpStatus: 401
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('GET /material/suppliers', () => {
+    it('returns all suppliers', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'get',
+        url: '/material/suppliers',
+        auth: {basic: 'janedoe'},
+        httpStatus: 200
+      }).end((err, res) => {
+        if (err) return done(err);
+        const json = require('../test/db.json');
+        should(res.body).have.lengthOf(json.collections.material_suppliers.length);
+        should(res.body[0]).be.eql(json.collections.material_suppliers[0].name);
+        should(res.body).matchEach(supplier => {
+          should(supplier).be.type('string');
+        });
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+    it('works with an API key', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'get',
+        url: '/material/suppliers',
+        auth: {key: 'janedoe'},
+        httpStatus: 200
+      }).end((err, res) => {
+        if (err) return done(err);
+        const json = require('../test/db.json');
+        should(res.body).have.lengthOf(json.collections.material_suppliers.length);
+        should(res.body[0]).be.eql(json.collections.material_suppliers[0].name);
+        should(res.body).matchEach(supplier => {
+          should(supplier).be.type('string');
+        });
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+    it('rejects unauthorized requests', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'get',
+        url: '/material/suppliers',
+        httpStatus: 401
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/routes/material.ts b/src/routes/material.ts
index 1711eb5..efdd38b 100644
--- a/src/routes/material.ts
+++ b/src/routes/material.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import _ from 'lodash';
 import MaterialValidate from './validate/material';
 import MaterialModel from '../models/material'
 import SampleModel from '../models/sample';
+import MaterialGroupsModel from '../models/material_groups';
+import MaterialSuppliersModel from '../models/material_suppliers';
 import IdValidate from './validate/id';
 import res400 from './validate/res400';
 import mongoose from 'mongoose';
@@ -16,17 +18,26 @@ const router = express.Router();
 router.get('/materials', (req, res, next) => {
   if (!req.auth(res, ['read', 'write', 'maintain', 'dev', 'admin'], 'all')) return;
 
-  MaterialModel.find({status:globals.status.validated}).lean().exec((err, data) => {
+  MaterialModel.find({status:globals.status.validated}).populate('group_id').populate('supplier_id').lean().exec((err, data) => {
     if (err) return next(err);
+    console.log(data);
+    data.forEach((material: any) => {  // map group and supplier
+      material.group = material.group_id.name;
+      material.supplier = material.supplier_id.name;
+    });
     res.json(_.compact(data.map(e => MaterialValidate.output(e))));  // validate all and filter null values from validation errors
   });
 });
 
-router.get('/materials/:group(new|deleted)', (req, res, next) => {
+router.get('/materials/:state(new|deleted)', (req, res, next) => {
   if (!req.auth(res, ['maintain', 'admin'], 'basic')) return;
 
-  MaterialModel.find({status: globals.status[req.params.group]}).lean().exec((err, data) => {
+  MaterialModel.find({status: globals.status[req.params.state]}).populate('group_id').populate('supplier_id').lean().exec((err, data) => {
     if (err) return next(err);
+    data.forEach((material: any) => {  // map group and supplier
+      material.group = material.group_id.name;
+      material.supplier = material.supplier_id.name;
+    });
     res.json(_.compact(data.map(e => MaterialValidate.output(e))));  // validate all and filter null values from validation errors
   });
 });
@@ -34,12 +45,15 @@ router.get('/materials/:group(new|deleted)', (req, res, next) => {
 router.get('/material/' + IdValidate.parameter(), (req, res, next) => {
   if (!req.auth(res, ['read', 'write', 'maintain', 'dev', 'admin'], 'all')) return;
 
-  MaterialModel.findById(req.params.id).lean().exec((err, data: any) => {
+  MaterialModel.findById(req.params.id).populate('group_id').populate('supplier_id').lean().exec((err, data: any) => {
     if (err) return next(err);
 
     if (!data) {
       return res.status(404).json({status: 'Not found'});
     }
+
+    data.group = data.group_id.name;
+    data.supplier = data.supplier_id.name;
     if (data.status === globals.status.deleted && !req.auth(res, ['maintain', 'admin'], 'all')) return;  // deleted materials only available for maintain/admin
     res.json(MaterialValidate.output(data));
   });
@@ -108,7 +122,7 @@ router.put('/material/restore/' + IdValidate.parameter(), (req, res, next) => {
   });
 });
 
-router.post('/material/new', async (req, res, next) => {
+router.post('/material/new', async (req, res, next) => {  // TODO: check supplier and group, also for PUT and DELETE
   if (!req.auth(res, ['write', 'maintain', 'dev', 'admin'], 'basic')) return;
 
   const {error, value: material} = MaterialValidate.input(req.body, 'new');
@@ -123,6 +137,26 @@ router.post('/material/new', async (req, res, next) => {
   });
 });
 
+router.get('/material/groups', (req, res, next) => {
+  if (!req.auth(res, ['read', 'write', 'maintain', 'dev', 'admin'], 'all')) return;
+
+  MaterialGroupsModel.find().lean().exec((err, data: any) => {
+    if (err) return next(err);
+
+    res.json(_.compact(data.map(e => MaterialValidate.outputGroups(e.name))));  // validate all and filter null values from validation errors
+  });
+});
+
+router.get('/material/suppliers', (req, res, next) => {
+  if (!req.auth(res, ['read', 'write', 'maintain', 'dev', 'admin'], 'all')) return;
+
+  MaterialSuppliersModel.find().lean().exec((err, data: any) => {
+    if (err) return next(err);
+
+    res.json(_.compact(data.map(e => MaterialValidate.outputSuppliers(e.name))));  // validate all and filter null values from validation errors
+  });
+});
+
 
 module.exports = router;
 
diff --git a/src/routes/measurement.spec.ts b/src/routes/measurement.spec.ts
index c27bf63..af21400 100644
--- a/src/routes/measurement.spec.ts
+++ b/src/routes/measurement.spec.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import MeasurementModel from '../models/measurement';
 import TestHelper from "../test/helper";
 import globals from '../globals';
 
+// TODO: test unique material names and produced error code
 
 describe('/measurement', () => {
   let server;
diff --git a/src/routes/sample.spec.ts b/src/routes/sample.spec.ts
index b90a722..11a5641 100644
--- a/src/routes/sample.spec.ts
+++ b/src/routes/sample.spec.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ describe('/sample', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('GET /samples/{group}', () => {
+  describe('GET /samples/{state}', () => {
     it('returns all new samples', done => {
       TestHelper.request(server, done, {
         method: 'get',
diff --git a/src/routes/sample.ts b/src/routes/sample.ts
index e8ed1f7..0155b8c 100644
--- a/src/routes/sample.ts
+++ b/src/routes/sample.ts
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ router.get('/samples', (req, res, next) => {
   })
 });
 
-router.get('/samples/:group(new|deleted)', (req, res, next) => {
+router.get('/samples/:state(new|deleted)', (req, res, next) => {
   if (!req.auth(res, ['maintain', 'admin'], 'basic')) return;
 
-  SampleModel.find({status: globals.status[req.params.group]}).lean().exec((err, data) => {
+  SampleModel.find({status: globals.status[req.params.state]}).lean().exec((err, data) => {
     if (err) return next(err);
     res.json(_.compact(data.map(e => SampleValidate.output(e))));  // validate all and filter null values from validation errors
   });
diff --git a/src/routes/validate/material.ts b/src/routes/validate/material.ts
index 805ccd2..225391a 100644
--- a/src/routes/validate/material.ts
+++ b/src/routes/validate/material.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,16 @@ export default class MaterialValidate {  // validate input for material
     return error !== undefined? null : value;
   }
 
+  static outputGroups (data)  {// validate groups output and strip unwanted properties, returns null if not valid
+    const {value, error} = this.material.group.validate(data, {stripUnknown: true});
+    return error !== undefined? null : value;
+  }
+
+  static outputSuppliers (data)  {// validate suppliers output and strip unwanted properties, returns null if not valid
+    const {value, error} = this.material.supplier.validate(data, {stripUnknown: true});
+    return error !== undefined? null : value;
+  }
+
   static outputV() {  // return output validator
     return Joi.object({
       _id: IdValidate.get(),
diff --git a/src/test/db.json b/src/test/db.json
index de4070f..b65c0ec 100644
--- a/src/test/db.json
+++ b/src/test/db.json
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"100000000000000000000001"},
         "name": "Stanyl TW 200 F8",
-        "supplier": "DSM",
-        "group": "PA46",
+        "supplier_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000001"},
+        "group_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000001"},
         "mineral": 0,
         "glass_fiber": 40,
         "carbon_fiber": 0,
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"100000000000000000000002"},
         "name": "Ultramid T KR 4355 G7",
-        "supplier": "BASF",
-        "group": "PA6/6T",
+        "supplier_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000002"},
+        "group_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000002"},
         "mineral": 0,
         "glass_fiber": 35,
         "carbon_fiber": 0,
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"100000000000000000000003"},
         "name": "PA GF 50 black (2706)",
-        "supplier": "Akro-Plastic",
-        "group": "PA66+PA6I/6T",
+        "supplier_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000003"},
+        "group_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000003"},
         "mineral": 0,
         "glass_fiber": 0,
         "carbon_fiber": 0,
@@ -204,8 +204,8 @@
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"100000000000000000000004"},
         "name": "Schulamid 66 GF 25 H",
-        "supplier": "Schulmann",
-        "group": "PA66",
+        "supplier_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000004"},
+        "group_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000004"},
         "mineral": 0,
         "glass_fiber": 25,
         "carbon_fiber": 0,
@@ -221,8 +221,8 @@
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"100000000000000000000005"},
         "name": "Amodel A 1133 HS",
-        "supplier": "Solvay",
-        "group": "PPA",
+        "supplier_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000005"},
+        "group_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000005"},
         "mineral": 0,
         "glass_fiber": 33,
         "carbon_fiber": 0,
@@ -238,8 +238,8 @@
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"100000000000000000000006"},
         "name": "PK-HM natural (4773)",
-        "supplier": "Akro-Plastic",
-        "group": "PK",
+        "supplier_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000003"},
+        "group_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000006"},
         "mineral": 0,
         "glass_fiber": 0,
         "carbon_fiber": 0,
@@ -255,8 +255,8 @@
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"100000000000000000000007"},
         "name": "Ultramid A4H",
-        "supplier": "BASF",
-        "group": "PA66",
+        "supplier_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000002"},
+        "group_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000004"},
         "mineral": 0,
         "glass_fiber": 0,
         "carbon_fiber": 0,
@@ -272,8 +272,8 @@
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"100000000000000000000008"},
         "name": "Latamid 66 H 2 G 30",
-        "supplier": "LATI",
-        "group": "PA66",
+        "supplier_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000006"},
+        "group_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000004"},
         "mineral": 0,
         "glass_fiber": 30,
         "carbon_fiber": 0,
@@ -287,6 +287,70 @@
         "__v": 0
       }
     ],
+    "material_groups": [
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000001"},
+        "name": "PA46",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000002"},
+        "name": "PA6/6T",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000003"},
+        "name": "PA66+PA6I/6T",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000004"},
+        "name": "PA66",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000005"},
+        "name": "PPA",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"900000000000000000000006"},
+        "name": "PK",
+        "__v": 0
+      }
+    ],
+    "material_suppliers": [
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000001"},
+        "name": "DSM",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000002"},
+        "name": "BASF",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000003"},
+        "name": "Akro-Plastic",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000004"},
+        "name": "Schulmann",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000005"},
+        "name": "Solvay",
+        "__v": 0
+      },
+      {
+        "_id": {"$oid":"110000000000000000000006"},
+        "name": "LATI",
+        "__v": 0
+      }
+    ],
     "measurements": [
       {
         "_id": {"$oid":"800000000000000000000001"},