About Tombow - Chronicle
Follow us back in time and discover how a Japanese pencil-producer became an internationally operating and highly successful company. A company with products for almost every application and price range.
| 1910 | |
| 1913 |
Mr. Harunosuke Ogawa founds Messrs. Tombow. Specialty: production of pencils. |
| 1920 | |
| 1927 |
Foundation of the brand Tombow |
| 1929 |
Upon request by the Japanese Government, Tombow develops and produces a pencil for technical drawing |
| 1940 |
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| 1946 |
Development of a pencil sharpener |
| 1950 | |
| 1958 |
Tombow starts producing felt-tip pens and ballpoint pens |
| 1960 | |
| 1964 |
Introduction of mechanical pencils |
| 1967 |
Tombow develops MONO 100 – an acknowledged top quality pencil |
| 1970 | |
| 1971 | Tombow is the first Japanese manufacturer to produce glue sticks |
| 1974 | Development of Tombow markers with hazardous solvents |
| 1975 | Introduction of ultra-polymer leads for mechanical pencils |
| 1979 | Tombow Pen & Pencil GmbH in Cologne is founded as subsidiary responsible for the distribution on the European market |
| 1980 | |
| 1982 | Tombow presents roll pens with a capillary system for liquid ink |
| 1983 | American Tombow Inc. is founded as subsidiary responsible for the distribution Tombow products on the North American market |
| 1984 | Development of a cartridge with a capillary system for ink rollers containing water-resistant and non-fading pigment ink |
| 1984 | Introduction of ABT Dual Brush Pens, a marker with two tips |
| 1986 | First design products named ZOOM: Super Pen Havanna and an extra flat mechanical pencil |
| 1987 | Design Collections ZOOM 707, EGG and Classic are introduced |
| 1988 | Haus Industrieform, Essen awards ZOOM 707 as „Best of the Best“ |
| 1989 | „Design Plus“ for ZOOM 707 by Frankfurt International Fair |
| 1989 | ABT Dual Brush Pen program is enlarged to 144 (!) different colours |
| 1990 | Development of Design-Collection Surge – exclusive ink roller with 22 carats gold or bicolor |
| 1990 | Industrie Forum Design Hannover gives iF-Award to Tombow for the Havanna Collection |
| 1991 | Introduction of the Monotech-Series – a new generation of mechanical pencils for professional use |
| 1993 | Tombow Oceanic is developed. A famous writing instrument with natural roots |
| 1995 | The Original MONO Sideway is introduced into the market. It is the first correction tape with a sideway system |
| 1996 | MONO Sideway wins after one year in the market the „red dot award“ and „iF Design Award“ for highest product design and quality |
| 1996 | Development of Object Collection in black and silver colour. One year later additional colours are presented – it´s a popular classic till this day |
| 1997 | The glue rollers MONO Adhesive capture the market in a permanent and non-permanent version |
| 1998 | The timeless ZOOM 980 series is introduced |
| 1998 | The European Centre Tombow Pen & Pencil GmbH moves from Cologne to Kelsterbach |
| 1999 | Introduction of MONO Highlighters. Exceptional product, as it works dry and can be erased easily with the finger |
| 2000 |
Just in time for the „Millennium“ Tombow introduces the high-class ZOOM. Tombow (Thailand) Co., Ltd receives ISO Certificate 9002
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| 2001 |
Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd receives ISO Certificate 9001 |
| 2003 |
The second production facility outside of Japan starts in Hoh Chi Minh City |
| 2004 |
With ZOOM 727, LADIES Collection and the XPA three new writing instruments are introduced. The ZOOM 727 directly wins the „iF Award“ of Industrie Forum Designs Hannover   
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| 2006 | Right after the launch of the possibly thinnest multifunctional writing investment of the world the Zoom 414 receives the important Design Awards iF award and red dot award 2006. |
| 2007 | Launch of the probably lightest writing instrument of the world – the Zoom 101 Collection. The body consists of 100% Carbon and the unbelievable light weight of 14g is very well balanced. |
| 2008 |
Tombow captures the world of artists, scrapbooker and card maker with the Creative Collection. The Creative Collection from Tombow offers a large variety of products for the creative hobby. Sketching, drawing, painting, scrapbooking, rubber stamping, glueing....Have fun with Tombow! (check www.tombow-creative.de) |
| 2008 | Due to the worldwide patented air-pressure technique, the AirPress Pen can be used “everywhere”. Even writing on wet paper or writing overhead is no problem for the AirPress Pen. |
| 2008 | With its length of only 11 cm, the “ZOOM 717”, the latest and shortest dragonfly ever even fits into the most common timer systems. The mat-silver-coloured body is complemented by 3 different grips and clip-balls: cool blue, pastel pink or soft orange. |
| 2009 | Another award-winning Tombow product: The brandnew ballpoint pen PFit receives the red dot design award when being launched. |
| 2009 | Finally! Good news for all designers, drawing artists and fans of perfect pencils: The world famous MONO 100 - Tombow´s highest quality pencil is now also available in Europe. |
| 2010 | A brilliant start for Tombow into the new decade: The products PFit and MONO Zero receive the renowned "iF product design award 2010". |
| 2010 | Launch of the ONBOOK Pen which is the ideal attendant for notebooks as it fits due to its special form perfectly down the spine or cover of a book. |
| 2010 | The award-winning story continues: The products AirPress Pen and MONO Zero receive the renowned "red dot award 2010". |
