Grifos
From Penpedia
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|---|---|
| Basic data | |
| Founder: | Maurizio Stura |
| Year founded: | February 2002 |
| Current status: | Full function |
| Additional data | |
| Website: | Offical Homepage |
| Parent Company: | Owned by founder |
| Country: | Italy |
Contents |
[edit] History
Read essay papersfor details.
[edit] Company roots (years before company foundation)
Maurizio Stura started to master pen mounting operations for plastic pens as his first job being that time a 12-year-old boy from Settimo Torinese. Though the young boy thought the only benefit was a little spending money, an additional, unknown benefit resulted: the planting seeds that would enable him to create a pen company. Maurizio continued working on pens throughout his school years, constantly learning more about the art and business of making pens. As a young man, now armed with an electronics and pen making background, another Settimo based pen company hired him. His job began just as the company changed its production from plastic, low-end pens to silver, high-end pens. Maurizio used the next 11 years continuing to perfect his knowledge and experience in the art of making high-end pens from precious metals. In 1995, with the company’s permission, Maurizio entered the world of e-commerce by starting an internet business selling pens. As a result, Maurizio’s new business ranked among the first 200 Italian companies to use e-commerce that year. Maurizio’s internet business continued to grow. He left this company to start his own pen company, providing Maurizio the freedom to pursue his ideas of designs, materials, and customer service.
[edit] Company in action
Grifos Pen Company was born in February 2002, and now Grifos markets to customers of all sizes worldwide.
A nearby 11th century Abbey mosaic, unearthed in 1979, inspired the company' majestic symbol and motto. Griffon, both powerful and yet calm, with the words, “Alius Ex Alio…”, “One for the other, one after the other” is fitting that Grifos Company use this symbol as they carry Renaissance craftsmenship into the new millennium.
[edit] Production and services
Situated in the little village of Champdepraz, northern Italy’s Valle d’Aosta, Grifos Pen Company is strategically located with easy access to Turin, Milan, Lyon (France), and Switzerland. It is in a modest sized building where craftsmen make quality-writing instruments: fountain pens, roller pens, ball pens, and mechanical pencils. The “core” business is two-fold. First, to provide small customized jobs, perhaps only 20 pieces, with engraved corporate logos or names. Grifos fulfills this important niche in the pen business because only a small company like Grifos, with a high level of engraving ability and flexibility, can in an economical manner provide customers with small customized jobs, quality products and affordable prices. Second, the core consists of their own “Grifos” brand name writing instruments using precious metals, gold and silver etc., brass, resins, briarwood, natural African buffalo horn, and leathers from alligator, python, lizard and stingray skins. See figures 1, 2, 3. Only such a small company as Grifos has the ability to be this versatile.
What makes Grifos writing instruments so coveted is the company’s ability to hand-make everything and apply Guilloché techniques for engraving. See figure 3. Guilloché is a technique from the 18th century in which a natural diamond-cutting tool engraves metals, resulting in brilliant diamond cut patterns. Today this is essentially a dead art, considering the craft is handed down from father to son using machines that are still operated as they were three centuries ago. Grifos Pen Company has a Guilloché cutting machine in-house, thus allowing their experienced silversmiths to engrave on site, whereas few pen companies do Guilloché engraving within their own facility. Outside of Grifos Company, there are only about three craftsmen in all of Europe who have ability to use these machines. Customers are also assured that Grifos writing instruments are truly precious metals because all artisans at Grifos belong to a silversmith guild, which complies with both compulsory Italian and European law. This compliance is verified by marking each writing instrument with a rhombus shaped stamp encasing the mark “*AO 23,” their guild symbol. This stamp insures each customer that Grifos brand is using solid silver or gold.
Grifos also has many writing instrument collections, each designed by Grifos’ owner and silversmith, Maurizio Stura. The designs begin with a plethora of ideas; all influenced by Maurizio’s knowledge of history, his desire to use workable, natural materials, and his skill in knowing what pen lovers and collectors want. The first step starts with pencil sketches before drawing the designs on the computer with detailed fittings. The computer images help to identify any production problems. Next, Maurizio makes a handmade brass prototype using a turning machine. He continues to observe the new prototype for several days until he is comfortable the design is perfect.
There is a commonality among all designs, regardless of material, making Grifos’ products unique. Each pen is specifically designed in a classic style with an elegant flair, while maintaining a comfortable balance and weight. See figures 4, 5. In addition, each pen has an important engraving on the band, the Grifos Company symbol and motto.
As Grifos prepares for the future, they continue to maintain the same high standards in the construction of their pens. However, there is a modern addition to the “old” skills. Customers may create and order their own unique pens by using the Grifos web site, www.grifos-pens.com, and accessing the heading, “Create.” Of course, the full catalogue is also available on the site for customers to choose from all collections. This continual sensitivity to customer and market needs is another example how Grifos continues to be a Renaissance company. A Grifos writing instrument may start out as with a collection of inanimate materials, but once the Grifos “magic” touches the materials, these future writing instruments take on a life of their own, combining the heritage of passed down age old skills with fresh ideas, ready to record the future history of its new owners.
[edit] Notable Pens
[edit] Contact Information
- Maurizio Stura
- Address: Via G. Freydoz, 15
- 11020 Champdepraz
- Aosta - Italy
- Ph. ++39 0125 960 929
- Fax ++39 0125 961 940
- Email: gri-pens@grifos-pens.com
