| Type | Aktiengesellschaft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Writing instruments |
| Founded | 1832 |
| Headquarters | Feusisberg,[1] Switzerland |
| Key people | Hooi Keat Loo (CEO)[1] |
| Revenue | 282.2 million CHF (2007) [2] |
| Employees | 1,236 (2007) |
| Website | pelikan.com |
Pelikan is a German manufacturer of fountain pens and other writing, office and art equipment, credited with the invention of the differential-piston filling method. Their "true" history began with the model "100" and the modified 100N (both fountain pens), which sparked the genesis of the company's distinctive styling.
The modern-day flagship line is known as the "Souverän", consisting of the M300, M400, M600, M800 and the M1000. Pens with vermeil embellishments, called Toledo, are manufactured in the sizes of (new-style) M400 and M800, and they're respectively referred to as M700 and M900. Pelikan is notable for manufacturing many of their pens using Cellulose acetate, instead of the more modern plastics used by most other major pen makers.
There is also a more modest "Traditional" line of fine fountain pens, really an extension of the Souverän line, which is mechanically very similar, but less elaborately decorated, and shipped with gold-plated stainless steel nibs, rather than the solid gold nibs of the Souverän pens. This line includes the M200, M150, and M100. The Souverän and Traditional lines are also notable for their easily replaced nibs, which are mostly interchangeable between most pen models. Many of the pen models are also available as ballpoints, mechanical pencils; their model designations have the same number as the corresponding fountain pen, but a different prefix letter.
Pelikan is also a manufacturer of Limited Edition pieces, their first being the acclaimed "Blue Ocean" Demonstrator in 1993 leading to the 2005 "Caelum". Pelikan also makes entry-level fountain pens and fountain pens for school pupils, for example "Pelikano" and "Future,". In recent years Pelikan also ventured into some "Special Edition" pens, where an unlimited number of a given pen is manufactured but only within a limited period - usually a year.
Pelikan's fountain pen ink is called Pelikan 4001. Pelikan also makes Pelikan Fount India, a deep black Indian ink which, unlike most Indian inks, can be used in fountain pens. It is very water-resistant. Additionally, the company makes Pelikan Drawing Ink A, which is not suitable for fountain pens. It should be used with a dip pen.
The purchase of rival Herlitz will double group revenue KUALA LUMPUR: Pelikan International Corp Bhd hopes to conclude a 45 million euros (RM227mil) cash deal to acquire a 66% stake in another German stationery maker, Herlitz AG, together with the firm’s logistics centre and related assets located near Berlin, by the year-end.
Pelikan product lines are:[3]
| Type | Range of Products |
|---|---|
| Writing instruments | Fountain pens, ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils, pen refills, inks, erasers, marker pens, highlighters |
| Arts and crafts | Graphite and colores pencils, brushes, wax crayons, oil pastels, moulding clay, chalks, drawing inks, eraserspapers |
| Printers | cartridges, papers, fax papers and accessories |
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