Pilot (pen company)

K. K. Pilot Corporation (Japanese株式会社 パイロット コーポレーション, Kabushiki - gaisha Pair Otto Kōporēshon, Eng. Pilot Corporation) is a Japanese stationery manufacturer based in the Kyobashi district of Chūō, Tokyo Prefecture (Tokyo, Japan). The company is the largest stationery manufacturers in Japan and the third largest in the U.S., mostly known for his mechanical pencils and pens from Namiki line. The company also deals with the pearl necklace making.

The company in 1918 by Ryosuke Namiki was founded as KK Namiki Seisakusho (株式会社 并 木 制作 所, " AG Namiki factory", engl. Namiki Manufacturing Co. ). 1938 was in pilot Mannenhitsu K. K. (パイロット 萬 年 筆 株式会社, "Pilot Filler AG ," engl. Pilot Pen Co., Ltd.. ), 1989 finally in KK Pilot Corporation (English Pilot Corp.). Renamed.

The big break in Germany, the company succeeded with the so-called " Frixion " pins. It is a rollerball pen that can be erase by using heat.

Pilot Corporation has 1,240 employees in fiscal year 2008 ( Kalenderjahr! ) sales of approximately 80 billion yen largest shareholder with 15.5 percent of the shares is Daiwa Securities SMBC Singapore Ltd.. , 32.8 percent are held by financial institutions, about one- district is in free float (as at 30 June 2009).