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The name Tombow has been associated with original office products since 1913. As early as 1910, Mr. Harunosake Ogawa founded Tombow which at that time specialised in the production of pencils. By 1927, the Tombow brand was firmly established and in 1929, on request of the Japanese Government, Tombow produced a pencil for Technical Drawing. Today the Tombow office products range includes products which write, “stick”, correct, highlight and sketch.

During the 1960’s Tombow developed the MONO 100, which has been acknowledged as a top quality pencil. Tombow also became the first Japanese Manufacturer to produce glue sticks. In 1979, Tombow Pen & Pencil GmbH in Cologne is founded as a subsidiary responsible for the distribution of products into the European market.

During the 1980’s, Tombow presents roll pens with a capillary system for liquid ink, a cartridge with a capillary system for ink rollers containing water-resistant and non-fading pigment ink and introduces their ABT Brush pens, the ZOOM fine writing instrument range and receives an award from Haus Industrieform, Essen awards for the ZOOM 707 as “Best of the Best”.

It was during the 1990’s that Tombow enlarged their office products range, to include the MONO Correction Tape, which was the first correction tape using a “sideways” system. After only one year in the market, the MONO Sideway wins the “red dot award” and the “iF Design Award” for the highest product design and quality. Later on, the glue rollers, MONO Adhesive capture the market with a permanent and non-permanent version and the MONO Highlighters are introduced, which is still described as being an exceptional product as it works dry and can be erased easily with a finger.

Many Tombow products have received renowned design prizes, such as the “Haus Industrieform” (Essen) prize, the “Industrie Forum Design Hanover” prize and the “Design Plus Award” from the well known Frankfurt Paperworld show.