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The benefits of the new formula, in addition to a smoother writing experience, was more vibrant colors and an option to create more nuanced hues. In 2017, the Z-Grip line of retractable gel pens was transitioned to low viscosity ink, aka advanced ink. Zebra products are available across the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Singapore, Korea, and Japan. Other product lines include Blen, Surari, Filare (emulsion ink ballpoint pens) Airfit, Z-Grip (ballpoint pen) Sarasa, Sarasa Dry (gel pens) Sharbo (multi-pens) CLiCKART (water-based coloring markers) DelGuard, Tect 2Way (mechanical pencils) Zensations (art products), Mildliner (double ended creative markers), Zebrite (double ended highlighters), and Zazzle (liquid highlighters). Zebra's line of pens and pencils include "The Original" F-301 and the M-301, which have stainless steel barrels and textured grips. Zebra products exhibited on a booth in Japan, 2019 The 1990s and 2000s decade came with new subsidiaries in Canada, Indonesia, China, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Zebra opened a subsidiary in the United States (1982). ĭuring the 1970s, Zebra marketed its first lines of markers, including brush-tip models, opening a new factory in Tokyo (1979). Four years later, the company renamed "Zebra Co., Ltd", with Hideaki Ishikawa becoming president of the firm. In 1959 Zebra launched its first ballpoint pen manufactured.
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In 1945, the Zebra facilities were destroyed during a bomb attack in World War II, but those would be reconstructed during the 1950s. Zebra stripes resembling calligraphic pen strokes may also have been a reason for the name. Ishikawa thought Zebra was an appropriate name because his goal was to build a business culture that resembled a family and zebras have a strong herding instinct. Tokumatsu Ishikawa had begun to produce home-made nibs in 1897, until he established its own business in 1914, registering the name "Zebra" as a trademark.
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Zebra offers a line of writing instruments that include fountain, ballpoint, brush and gel pens, markers, highlighters and mechanical pencils. The company sells a wide range of writing implements through retail stores, wholesalers and mail order. ( ゼブラ株式会社, Zebura Kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese manufacturer of writing instruments, established in 1914 by Tokumatsu Ishikawa.
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