TOZ Penkala-Glinamol is partnering with Toy festival in Ivanić Grad, the only festival in the region completely dedicated to toys, to mark the 111th anniversary of Penkala’s patent and the 80th anniversary of the company, mojzagreb.info reported on April 3, 2017.
TOZ Penkala-Glinamol is a company that has continued the legacy of the legendary Croatian brand TOZ. School supplies, pens, markers and crayons made by TOZ (Zagreb Pencil Factory) nearly disappeared when the company declared bankruptcy in August 2015. After almost a year and a half, Glinamol, TOZ’s former supplier , purchased the company’s movable property, including the brand at the third public auction, as the most favorable bidder for 5.3 million kn. The company soon leased part of the abandoned factory and began renovating and running the machines again. More than 11 million kn was invested in total and the plan is to invest an additional 3 to 4 million kn. After starting the machines, first employees were reemployed, mostly workers who had been working at TOZ for more than 30 years. TOZ Penkala – Glinamol d.o.o., the official name of company, now employs over thirty workers, representing a successful blend of youth and experience, with a minimum net salary of 4,000 kuna, and plans for further employment in the future.
Currently, there are 53 products – pens in various colors, wooden and wax crayons, markers, water and oil colours, modeling clay, India ink, etc (find more products here). The main brands include Fantasy, Leonhard and the one Croatia’s most proud of, Penkala. The aim is to return the brands to the old markets and conquer new ones. especially in the region.
The famous inventor Slavoljub Penkala invented and patented the mechanical pencil in 1906, and the first solid-ink fountain pen in 1907. This year marks the 111th anniversary of Penkala’s patent and the 80th anniversary of founding TOZ factory.
The conditions at the factory are satisfactory for now, but expansion and modernization is in the works, including building a new production facility and purchasing contemporary equipment, with two or three locations near Zagreb as potential candidates. The plan is to finance the purchase of the new machines and construction of the new factory combining EU funds and the company’s own resources.
“The Toy festival is a place of positive energy and a great opportunity to present the oldest and most famous pencil factory in the region which is rising from the ashes, with new owners and old workers and with big ambitions to return to the old paths of glory.” a TOZ Penkala-Glinamol spokesperson said.
The Toy Festival will be held in Ivanić-Grad, April 8 – 9 and you can find out more about it here.
