Overview
Kokuyo Camlin Limited is an Indian stationery and art materials company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It manufactures and markets a wide range of products including pencils, pens, notebooks, geometry instruments, fine art colours, scholastic colours, and office stationery. The company is a subsidiary of the Japanese stationery major Kokuyo Co., Ltd., and traces its origins to a venture founded in the early twentieth century by the Dandekar family.
| Type | Public company (subsidiary) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Stationery, art materials |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Parent | Kokuyo Co., Ltd. (Japan) |
| Former name | Camlin Limited |
| Stock exchanges | BSE, NSE |
| Country | India |
Background
The business that became Kokuyo Camlin began in 1931, when Dandekar & Co. was established in Mumbai by the Dandekar brothers to manufacture ink powders and writing inks. The brand name "Camel", later stylised as "Camlin", was adopted for the company's products and became one of the most recognised stationery brands in India through the twentieth century. Over the decades, the company expanded from inks into a broad portfolio of school, office, and fine art products.
History
Early decades
From its origins in inks, the company progressively diversified into items such as fountain pen inks, drawing inks, watercolours, oil colours, poster colours, and crayons. Operating originally as Dandekar & Co., the firm was later reorganised and listed as Camlin Limited, with manufacturing facilities established in Maharashtra and other parts of India.
Acquisition by Kokuyo
In 2011, the Japanese stationery and office products company Kokuyo Co., Ltd. acquired a majority stake in Camlin Limited. Following the acquisition, the company was renamed Kokuyo Camlin Limited in 2012. The transaction gave the Indian firm access to Kokuyo's product technologies and global distribution network, while Kokuyo gained an established brand and manufacturing footprint in India.
Post-acquisition operations
After the change in ownership, Kokuyo Camlin continued to manufacture and market products under the Camlin and Camel brands, while introducing select Kokuyo-branded products to the Indian market. The company operates manufacturing units in Maharashtra and Jammu, and distributes its products through wholesale, retail, and institutional channels across India and select export markets.
Products
- Scholastic stationery: pencils, erasers, sharpeners, geometry boxes, mathematical instruments.
- Writing instruments: ball pens, gel pens, fountain pens, markers, and inks.
- Colours and art materials: wax crayons, oil pastels, watercolours, poster colours, acrylics, oil colours, sketch pens.
- Fine art: artist-grade paints, brushes, canvases, and drawing materials sold under the Camlin Kokuyo Fine Art range.
- Office and notebook products: files, adhesives, and notebooks.
Significance
Kokuyo Camlin is among the oldest stationery manufacturers in India and has played a notable role in popularising affordable art and school supplies in the country. The Camlin brand is widely associated with student stationery and has long-standing visibility in Indian classrooms. The company has also engaged with the Indian art community through initiatives such as the Camel Art Foundation and the Camlin All India Art Contest, which have supported amateur and professional artists over several decades.
Related topics
- Kokuyo
- Stationery industry in India
- List of companies of India
- Mumbai
- Bombay Stock Exchange
- National Stock Exchange of India
References
- Wikidata entry: Q5026835
- Kokuyo Co., Ltd. corporate disclosures regarding the 2011 acquisition of Camlin Limited.
- Filings of Kokuyo Camlin Limited with Indian stock exchanges.