Should Pelikan Be Considered Asian Brand?

[4lex]

I think that romantic idea of a high value product being manufactured in a company factory with old tradition and great manufacturing and then sold by the same company no longer holds water. Companies are just Brands nowadays.

 

Pelikan is printing Made in Germany on their products to get better added value. In fact, Pelikan is achieving 60% profit margin thanks to high brand value. But in reality it is a Malaysian owned company and CEO Loo Hooi Keat said that "it is impossible for it to completely get rid of its manufacturing arm as this is needed for its high-end product offerings." But as the company progresses, he says it plans a product output ratio of 30% manufactured and 70% sourced instead of the other way around.

 

So you may be paying the company a profit margin of 60% because you buy into story of "timeless German heritage" as they say on their corporate profile, but would you pay that profit margin knowing 70% of the product may be sourced from a sweatshop? Should Pelikan be considered a Malaysian, and not German company?

Edited January 31, 2016 by vonManstein

[sargetalon]

I'm not sure whether you are trying to provoke debate, an argument, or are genuinely asking a question. I think that a statement such as what you have made should be backed up with evidence. Can you please provide a link to the source material from which you make your claims? Where do you derive the 60% profit margin figure and it sounds a little harsh declaring that Pelikan International would source products from "sweatshops." Do you have evidence to support that claim?

 

Not to become too involved in this discussion but Pelikan International has 8 different manufacturing facilities spread across 5 different continents. The company has a wide portfolio of products including writing instruments, stationary, art and hobby products, office supplies, and printer consumables. There are many facets and divisions of this multinational corporation and that is how I view it. That said, it has always been my understanding that the fine writing instruments being discussed on these forums are still made at their plant in Vöhrum, Germany which is 25 miles east of the administrative headquarters in Hanover, Germany. As such, I will continue to think of their products as "Made in Germany" until that is no longer the case.

[proton007]

vonManstein,

 

It would be illegal for a company to write 'Made in Germany' if the product isn't actually made or sourced from there.

 

And then, the claim about 'sweatshops' is something that, even if you did have the proof, may apply to the company, but not to FPs.

 

The company's claim to 'Timeless German Heritage' only applies to their 'Fine Writing Instruments' website.

 

So, in paying for a Pelikan FP, the argument that it may be sourced from a 'sweatshop' doesn't hold water.

 

P.S.:

Going by your line of argument, Jaguar and Land Rover would be Indian companies, Volvo would be a Chinese company, 7-11 would be Japanese and Budweiser would be Belgian.

[4lex]

http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2014/10/11/is-there-value-in-pelikan-potential-rm400mil-to-be-returned-to-shareholders/

 

Yes their Fine Writing is still produced in Vohrum. As I quoted their CEO "it is impossible to get completely rid of manufacturing." Other factories are located in Scotland, Bohemia, China, Mexico and Malaysia.

I am not so sure if I can consider a company that does not manufacture most of what they sell under their brand, and most of what they still manufacture is not manufactured in Germany, to be a German company.

 

It may be that my fear is unreasonable. It will be with my great regret if Pelikan goes down the way of some great companies, like Sheaffer for instance. I don't waste my money on Sheaffer any more because I know they are made by third party in China and I can get same pens without branding on a grey market for a fraction of the cost.

Edited January 31, 2016 by vonManstein

[4lex]

  On 1/31/2016 at 4:32 PM, sargetalon said:

I'm not sure whether you are trying to provoke debate, an argument, or are genuinely asking a question. I think that a statement such as what you have made should be backed up with evidence. Can you please provide a link to the source material from which you make your claims? Where do you derive the 60% profit margin figure and it sounds a little harsh declaring that Pelikan International would source products from "sweatshops." Do you have evidence to support that claim?

 

Not to become too involved in this discussion but Pelikan International has 8 different manufacturing facilities spread across 5 different continents. The company has a wide portfolio of products including writing instruments, stationary, art and hobby products, office supplies, and printer consumables. There are many facets and divisions of this multinational corporation and that is how I view it. That said, it has always been my understanding that the fine writing instruments being discussed on these forums are still made at their plant in Vöhrum, Germany which is 25 miles east of the administrative headquarters in Hanover, Germany. As such, I will continue to think of their products as "Made in Germany" until that is no longer the case.

I did not mean to say that their pens are made in sweat shops. I said "may be made", because when I buy a German product I have confidence that workers were not exploited, and I don't have that same confidence with products from Malaysia and China. I am willing to pay a premium for that confidence, I wouldn't be willing to pay that premium otherwise.

[fplover01]

I agree with sargetalons post and quite frankly this is old news.

 

The Malaysians have been with Pelikan for almost 25 years now. This is not something that happened yesterday. While there were worries of how they would do things, they have maintained production of fine writing instruments in Germany and worked to strengthen the company. Of course Pelikan has a wide portfolio of stationery, some of which cannot be produced in a high wage country. So they deserve a little respect in that aspect, they have actually worked to save workplaces in Germany and keep the Pelikan heritage here. If they wanted to move production somewhere else, they would have done it a long time ago.

 

Asia is an important market for luxury goods, and Pelikan has done a lot to be in that market, however these clients expect a high quality product, being made in Germany. The market of fountain pens is not a big one, so brands are looking to sell luxury goods in addition to pens to make a profit, just like Montblanc does.

 

There have been consistent reports from people who have taken the factory tour in German forums, all of them have seen that the fine writing instruments are completely made in the Vöhrum plant, and as someone put it, it is astonisingly that pelikan manufactures almost everything needed for the pen there from scratch. And the pen is 100% made in Germany. There are no sweatshops...

 

A large company has investors from different nationalities and backgrounds, that is normal in a globalised world. But this doesnt make Pelikan pens any less German. I am not German but I live in Germany and lets say I would hypthetically buy a couple of shares in the stockmarket of an automaker, which produces just 10kms from my home. Are the cars any less German because me and many other share owners are foreigners? Or Opel has been owned by General Motors for ages... But Opel cars are designed and made in Germany. And they are German cars for mostly everyone in and out of Germany.

 

The day Pelikan would stop manufacturing in Germany, I would not be buying any more Pelikan pens.

Edited January 31, 2016 by fplover01

[KaB]

  On 1/31/2016 at 5:00 PM, proton007 said:

and Budweiser would be Belgian.

Now that would be quite an intollerable insult to beer, Belgian beer that is, now wouldn'it

😊

[Lam1]

  On 1/31/2016 at 6:12 PM, KaB said:

Now that would be quite an intollerable insult to beer, Belgian beer that is, now wouldn'it

 

Outrageous insult, indeed!

 

As for the original post, I agree with Sargetalon, Proton007 and Fplover01.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Lam1

[Calabria]

Anybody who watches Top Gear knows that many British heritage car brands are owned by foreign conglomerates. They also know that design and production remains British, and in the case of Jaguar and Land Rover, has actually improved under foreign ownership.

 

I watch these things like a hawk, and have voiced my opinion elsewhere, but Pelikan's recent decision to bring nib manufacturing back to Hannover means a lot to me. I personally don't want to spend money on a Pelikan pen and get a nib that is made by the same company that outfits most other pens (i.e. Bock - who make excellent nibs btw. ... it's just that they all feel the same.)

 

Every once in a while somebody brings up the bugbear of the evil Oriental. Apart from sounding xenophobic (think of the dastardly Fu Man Chu), it's outdated. Brand integrity is what buyers are paying for, not the skin color of the people who collaborate on production.

 

It's ironical, btw., I grew up at a time when "Made in Japan" was synonymous for cheap. Now it's recognized as being of utter technical perfection and attention to detail. I'm much more scared of 3D printed pens, but that's for another thread ...

[dfo]

+1 to Sargetalon and Calabria's comments.

 

As a historian, I have to teach how the process of globalization is intensifying. It is no longer possible for a publicly owned company to be owned totally by stockholders within one country. I have never heard the argument that Starbucks is a Latin American company because the majority of its product are produced in small farms across Latin America or because some of its stock holders reside in Brazil and Mexico. It is American because the essential part of coffee production, roasting, takes place mostly in Seattle.

 

Your question is simple: Should Pelikan Be Considered Asian Brand?

 

The answer is also simple: No, they are designed and manufactured in Germany.

Edited January 31, 2016 by dfo

[Freddy]

No....And the world is flat....But..the Earth is not........

 

Deja Vu.

 

Fred

 

...Hmm boy..that's good booze!

~ Reginald Van Gleason lll, that rude,debonair,arrogant..millionaire.

[zuhandensein]

A 'global' company, but a German brand. As it seems they are increasing their prices, I am more inclined to think that in order to support their 'luxury' items positioning strategy the FP production will remain in Germany for a while. Sheaffer and Parker decided to compete in price and outsourced the production, but to my understanding this is not what we are currently seeing in Pelikan's evolution.

[4lex]

Well you all made some good arguments. I have to accept, Pelikan pens are still German, they are manufactured and designed in Germany. Well, at least the premium one.

 

And this was not meant to be a slur on Asia. IMO best pens are made there i.e. Pilot and Sailor. And best value for money pens as well (TWSBI).

 

Maybe Cross and Sheaffer could learn something from Pelikan. I think their pens are not manufactured or designed in the states any more.

 

Jinxian Huahao Pen Company really makes some good pens. And once they create a name and reputation on quality and reliability I would love to buy their pens for more. But preferably under their own brand.

[dfo]

Could we use this thread to clarify what Pelikan models are made in Germany or elsewhere?

 

I know that all of the Souverän, Ductus and Tradition models are made in Germany. What about the rest?

[4lex]

  On 2/1/2016 at 1:38 AM, dfo said:

Could we use this thread to clarify what Pelikan models are made in Germany or elsewhere?

 

I know that all of the Souverän, Ductus and Tradition models are made in Germany. What about the rest?

 

I believe Pura is still Made in Germany. I don't think Pelikano are.

As far as I know their gold nibs are made in house. Not sure about the steel ones.

[twdpens]

  On 2/1/2016 at 1:38 AM, dfo said:

Could we use this thread to clarify what Pelikan models are made in Germany or elsewhere?

 

I know that all of the Souverän, Ductus and Tradition models are made in Germany. What about the rest?

Pretty much all Pelikan pens are made in the same factory outside Hanover, from fine writing LEs all the way down to office products. I visited the factory last year and saw the production. It was fascinating! Unfortunately, photography was not allowed.

 

So whilst I cannot say that every Pelikan pen is made in Germany, certainly all the company's fountain pens are (including the Pelikano and steel nibs).

 

So when you see "Made in Germany", that's what it means. 100%

 

HTH,

 

Martin

Edited February 1, 2016 by twdpens

[The Good Captain]

  On 2/1/2016 at 1:21 PM, twdpens said:

Pretty much all Pelikan pens are made in the same factory outside Hanover, from fine writing LEs all the way down to office products. I visited the factory last year and saw the production. It was fascinating! Unfortunately, photography was not allowed.

 

So whilst I cannot say that every Pelikan pen is made in Germany, certainly all the company's fountain pens are (including the Pelikano and steel nibs).

 

So when you see "Made in Germany", that's what it means. 100%

 

HTH,

 

Martin

Nicely put!

[fplover01]

+1 to this. all Pelikan fountain pens are made in Germany.

  On 2/1/2016 at 1:21 PM, twdpens said:

Pretty much all Pelikan pens are made in the same factory outside Hanover, from fine writing LEs all the way down to office products. I visited the factory last year and saw the production. It was fascinating! Unfortunately, photography was not allowed.

So whilst I cannot say that every Pelikan pen is made in Germany, certainly all the company's fountain pens are (including the Pelikano and steel nibs).

 

So when you see "Made in Germany", that's what it means. 100%

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[dfo]

  On 2/1/2016 at 1:21 PM, twdpens said:

Pretty much all Pelikan pens are made in the same factory outside Hanover, from fine writing LEs all the way down to office products. I visited the factory last year and saw the production. It was fascinating! Unfortunately, photography was not allowed.

 

So whilst I cannot say that every Pelikan pen is made in Germany, certainly all the company's fountain pens are (including the Pelikano and steel nibs).

 

So when you see "Made in Germany", that's what it means. 100%

 

HTH,

 

Martin

 

 

Pretty much or for sure?

People have been claiming that the cheaper models were made elsewhere. Is there any proof that any Pelikan fountain pen have been made outside of Germany?

[4lex]

  On 2/1/2016 at 7:05 PM, dfo said:

 

 

Pretty much or for sure?

People have been claiming that the cheaper models were made elsewhere. Is there any proof that any Pelikan fountain pen have been made outside of Germany?

 

I think my fears were unnecessary. I researched a bit more and Pelikano is still made in Germany.

It wouldn't be the end of the world if it is not. As long as the ethos, skills and tradition are not lost. After all I think Pelikan was making some pens in Milan after 1947. I keep coming back to Cross and Sheaffer. That was such a loss. I am glad Pelikan is not going that way. I guess they are smarter than that.