Lamy is a design-driven company par excellence. With Dr Manfred Lamy (1936 to 2021), the son of company founder C. Josef Lamy, the real success story of the Heidelberg-based writing instrument manufacturer began 36 years after its beginnings with the “Lamy 2000” designed by Gerd A. Müller. The clear, unmistakable design language of the Lamy 2000 still characterises Lamy design today. Today, the world-famous design brand is not only the market leader in Germany with an annual production of more than 8 million writing instruments; the company has also developed into an internationally sought-after lifestyle brand that is represented in more than 80 countries.
C. Josef Lamy GmbH has now announced that the Mitsubishi Pencil Company, founded in Japan in 1887, is taking over the Heidelberg-based company and the LAMY brand. According to Lamy, the owner family has been “looking for a buyer who will lead the company founded by C. Josef Lamy in 1930 into the future with expertise, experience, love for the LAMY brand and a commitment to Germany as a business location”. This process has now been successfully concluded with the sale of all shares in the company. The annual turnover of Mitsubishi Pencil is several times that of Lamy. The reasons given for the sale to a strong partner are the further development of the “Digital Writing” growth area and the expansion of international sales. Mitsubishi Pencil brings this to the table and has “at the same time promised to maintain its headquarters and production facilities in Heidelberg and to invest in the further development of the company and brand”.
Mitsubishi Pencil employs more than 2,700 people worldwide, has 22 international sales offices and operates eleven production facilities. The stationery portfolio ranges from simple pencils to sophisticated ballpoint pens, marker pens and mechanical pencils. Shigehiko Suhara, sixth generation President and CEO of Mitsubishi Pencil, said: “We have the greatest respect for the history and strength of the Lamy brand. We believe that the vision and corporate culture of Lamy and Mitsubishi Pencil harmonise perfectly. We are also confident that the acquisition of Lamy will provide a strong joint platform for future growth and increased shareholder value for both Lamy and Mitsubishi Pencil.” Vera Lamy, former co-partner of C. Josef Lamy GmbH, said: “We placed great importance on finding a company that has the strength and the heart to open a whole new Lamy chapter together with the Lamy employees and all our partners. We have found this company.” Her brother and co-partner Markus Lamy added: “The core of the Lamy brand will be retained and further developed. ‘Made in Germany’ will continue to play a decisive role in this. This was and is of the utmost importance to us.”
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