1930

C. Josef Lamy, who worked as a manager at an American writing instrument company, founded the Orthos Jullfederhalter-Fabrik fountain pen factory in Heidelberg in 1930.

1939

At the beginning of World War II, the company produced more than two hundred thousand fountain pens annually under the brands ORTHOS and ARTUS.

1952

He changed his name to C. Josef Lamy GmbH (1948) and developed the LAMY 27, a streamlined fountain pen with the innovative Tintomatik system that allowed ink to flow smoothly and cleanly, creating a sensation in the fountain pen market and solidifying the brand's position.

1957

The headquarters are moved to their current location in Heidelberg Bieblingen.

1964

We succeed in establishing ourselves in the ballpoint pen market by developing the LAMY exact, the first ballpoint pen in Germany to be equipped with a large-capacity refill and a stainless steel tip. Sales greatly increase due to explosive growth in ballpoint pen sales both domestically and internationally.

1966

Lamy seeks ways to increase brand awareness. Dr Manfred Lamy (son of founder C. Josef Lamy), who was in charge of marketing, was trying to benchmark Braun and Olivetti, who were leading the market in product design at the time, and had a fateful encounter with Gerd A. Müller, a former Braun designer. Through a joint project called 'Fountain pen design based on the Bauhaus tradition', the two launched the LAMY 2000 in the fall of 1966. The innovative feature of the LAMY 2000 was that, unlike other brands, it focused on practicality by eliminating unnecessary materials and functions based on the Bauhaus philosophy that 'form follows function'. This became the beginning of a clear design language that became the basis for all Lamy writing instruments. The LAMY 2000 created a new technical standard by combining matte stainless steel and a polycarbonate material called Makrolon, which were technically difficult and untried in the mid-1960s.

1972

Lamy distributes and sells its products exclusively through professional dealers. It differentiates itself through its consistent sales methods, such as Lamy’s Writing Instrument Center, unique advertising and product displays, and distribution consulting services.

1973

Dr Manfred Lamy is promoted to sole Managing Director of C. Josef Lamy GmbH.

1976

As the market base expands, marketing strategies focus on communication. Lamy's new advertising became a major publicity opportunity, winning the biggest award in Germany, and contributed to solidifying the brand image until the 90s.

1980

When the LAMY safari was first unveiled at the Frankfurt Trade Fair, no one could have guessed that it would one day become the world's best-selling fountain pen. With the development of the LAMY safari, LAMY succeeded for the first time in targeting teenagers aged 10 to 15, thanks to the close collaboration between the Mannheim Development Group, led by Professor Bernd Spiegel, and the designer Wolfgang Fabian. The LAMY safari was designed with an ergonomic design and was built to be durable, reducing the stress on students' handwriting and making writing fun. It soon became popular with adults as well as students.

1981

Rami’s high technical standards are also reflected within the company. For example, the newly built central warehouse features a high-bay system with ultra-modern control devices.

1985

The new injection molding room provides a major stepping stone for independent production. With the development of the injection molding machine, we can now produce fountain pens, refills and ink cartridges in-house. This is our promise of quality: “Made in Germany”.

1986

To celebrate 20 years of Lamy design, the entrance to the company building is redesigned to reflect Lamy design principles. In July, founder C. Josef Lamy passes away at the age of 87.

1988

Lamy's design is not limited to products, but also applies to packaging, advertising, retail store displays, and corporate architecture. As a result of its continuous efforts, it was awarded the '1988 European Design Award' by the European Commission.

1989

Producing our own ink deepens Lamy's passion for independent management and provides an opportunity to further strengthen our production capabilities.

1996

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Lamy Design, we are opening a new Lamy Galleria with a large glass ceiling that lets in plenty of light and displays many large-scale paintings. Located at the heart of Lamy, this artistic space is a place of inspiration. Right next to the Galleria is the Development Center where Lamy’s new products are designed, tested, and manufactured. The Development Center, with its striking exterior, is a black glass cube made of solar panels suspended from silver-steel columns and cables, embodying Lamy’s core philosophy of ‘simplicity, moderation, and functionality.’ In addition, the company’s commitment to innovation and eco-friendly management philosophy are demonstrated by the placement of solar modules on the entire building. We are working to reduce water consumption by supplying energy through solar power and collecting rainwater in a cistern.

2000

In keeping with the millennium, LAMY offers the best writing instruments for creative people to express their ideas freely. The LAMY scribble, designed by Hannes Wettstein, is a round mechanical pencil with an ergonomic design that fits comfortably in the hand. There is also a ballpoint version for writers. The LAMY scribble, which looks like a piece of charcoal for sketching, has become a huge hit with creatives working in architecture offices, design studios, and advertising.

2010

LAMY noto wins the German Federal Design Award, which can be called the Oscar of the design world. It is even more meaningful as it is the second time winning the award, following the previous awards of LAMY spirit and LAMY pico in 1966 and 2004. It was also a successful year as LAMY dialog 3, which received high praise from the jury, also won the if and Red Dot Design Awards.

2012

'Contrast creates excitement, and excitement soon becomes emotion', the new LAMY scala designed by Sieger Design has caught the public's attention with its extraordinary impression created by strong contrasts. The simple, functional and unadorned finish of the scala is a joy. The high-quality paint finish, the shiny chrome material finish and the perfect weight give great satisfaction to the users.

2013

In 2013, half a century after the company was founded, Lamy launched the LAMY 2000, a full-metal body made of high-quality stainless steel. The LAMY 2000 is an iconic Lamy piece, boasting a timeless design and unique materials. The combination of matte stainless steel and polycarbonate used in the LAMY 2000 is a demanding process that requires a perfect blend of mechanics and handwork, making the LAMY 2000 a masterpiece at the pinnacle of technical expertise. In the same year, Lamy was awarded the ‘German Brand Award’ in the fountain pen category and was included in the prestigious German collection «Marken des Jahrhunderts - Leuchttürme auf dem Markenmeer» (Brands of the Century) by a high-ranking jury.

2014

Beyond being a German market leader, we are expanding our role as a pioneer in the writing instrument field as a German design brand that dominates the global market.

2016

Lamy celebrates 50 years of design. The anniversary is not only a milestone for the company, but also the beginning of a new era. With its signature line and limited editions released each year, Lamy is reestablishing itself as a design brand that transforms ordinary consumer goods such as writing instruments into trendy and fashionable items.

2018

2018 was a special year for LAMY. First of all, we published our first brand magazine LAMY specs. LAMY specs was an opportunity to show a different side of LAMY from an interesting perspective. It combines analog and digital content through 3D animations and videos using augmented reality applications. In May 2018, LAMY opened its second concept store in the United States. Visitors to the store, located in the trendy Soho district of New York, can discover the world of LAMY design. Since June, the company has been run by a new management team consisting of long-time employees Beate Oblau, Thomas Trapp and Peter Utsch.