"When we visited, the company had just recently moved from Pelikan Square to smaller but more modern quarters. Their factory is one of the most sophisticated I've ever seen—immaculate, organized and extremely well run. Jens calls it their step toward the future.

"They didn't forget their roots, though. Pelikan was an art company first, and that still comes through in playful ways. There's one wall where they had all their employees make  handprints using Pelikan paints. There's another wall that I call the Pen Anatomy Wall. It charts the 16 steps involved in making a nib.

"A lot of the work on these pens is still hand-done. They still test-write each nib despite automation. There's one woman who does nothing but inspect the pens and give them a final polish.

"People work on specific types of pens. Some of the parts for the limited editions—gold, celluloid—are so expensive that they have to be locked up. The company has set up this secure area for the people who work on them. It's a glass enclosure so  that they don't feel so isolated from the rest of the workers. You work your way up to a spot in the secure area.  

"The logo really suits this company, because just like that mama pelican with her chicks, Pelikan is very protective of its brand. It's a conservative company, but they're willing to try new things if people really believe in them—a sort of cautious innovation.

"Chemistry and art are their heritage, and the company is still an interesting amalgam of both."

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