I have posted my latest Timberlines Blog analysis of pencil industry developments. This analysis is in response to Newell Rubbermaid (Sanford Brands) November announcement that it will close it's Lewisburg, TN pencil factory. This has been presented as part of Newell's plan to create new centers of manufacturing excellence in support of their Sanford Brands Writing instrument business.

Slate Magazine's Green Lantern series provides illuminating answers to environmental questions.

Here is the latest question which relates to environmental impact of pencils.

"As a new middle-school teacher, I'm facing a challenge I never thought about before: assigning a list of school supplies for my students. My colleagues tell me that there's a real downside to wooden pencils, since it gives students an excuse to get up every few minutes and use the pencil sharpener. But am I being environmentally irresponsible by asking parents to buy plastic mechanical pencils?"

For the Green Lantern's answer read on here.

Today we recieved a letter dated July 30th to suppliers announcing the acquisition of Johnn Froeschels Lyra-Bleistift-Fabrik GmbH & Co. by the Italian writing instruments group FILA Group. No specifics as to timing of the close were provided, however a follow-up conversation with FILA indicated the close occurred on July 27, 2008.

Here are excerpts of key relevant facts:

This article in the FINANCIAL TIMES claims Pelikan may be taken private in cooperation with a Private Equity group and that it is also in discussions with mutliple prominent acquisition candidates including Faber-Castell, Montblanc and an unnamed Canadian company (i.e.Mega Brands) to bid on i's unnamed Stationary Division (i.e. it's RoseArt stationary products division). It seems highly unlikely that Faber-Castell family would sell to Pelikan.

Chicago Tribune - May 28, 2008

NEW YORK—When Hymen L. Lipman patented the world's first pencil with an attached eraser 150 years ago, he certainly didn't anticipate its having to compete one day with BlackBerrys and online crossword puzzles.

Faber-Castell has produced a special limited edition retro design 1950 style box for in honor of the 100th anniversary of their famous Polychromos artist color pencils. 5500 sets are to be produced. Read more here.

According to the Faber Castell website "The name Polychromos was officially registered along with a colourful advertising logo in 1908."

California Cedar Products Company (CCPC) has launched its redesigned and re-branded consumer website under the Pencils.com brand at www.pencils.com.

Pencils.com, formerly known as “The Incense Cedarⁱ Institute - Pencil Pages”, was originally established in 1995 to provide educational information to teachers, students and parents about the production of wood-cased pencils and as a means of communicating the important message of utilizing well managed renewable forest resources. The website supplemented other learning materials distributed by the Incense-cedar Institute, including a well received Teacher Education kit titled “The Story of Pencils: Technology & Tradition”. For several years the Institute also held an annual Pencil Doodle Contest.

MONTREAL, March 5, 2008 – MEGA Brands Inc. (TSX: MB) (the ‘‘Company’’) today announced that following a comprehensive strategic review, it intends to explore a sale of its Stationery and Activities business. The Company believes that this initiative will bring significant benefits:
• Focus MEGA Brands on its core toy business, leveraging its strengths and innovation culture
• Dedicate resources and management’s attention to creating value through the execution of the Value Enhancement Plan
• Provide the Company with a stronger and more flexible capital structure

Children are natural-born artists and colouring is of great importance for their development.

As such, STAEDTLER is calling out for support of the first World Kids Colouring Day to be held on 6 May 2008. In this special colouring campaign, children the world over are invited to colour and sell their most beautiful works to family and friends. The proceeds will then be donated to a good cause.

STAEDTLER will use these donations to support underprivileged children in conflict affected areas, offering them an opportunity to receive a better education and a chance to escape poverty

STAEDTLER coloured pencils now have a new white protective coating they are calling the Anti-Break-System (ABS)

When children colour, the coloured pencil has to be able to stand up to a lot of punishment!

When they really get going in earnest, they can push down too hard and the occasional pencil can go flying.

The consequences are broken and sometimes even unusable leads.

Read more about the ABS here and see which Steadtler pencils now offer ABS feature here.