Now that flights across Europe are resuming, life in the office is starting to get back to normal. One thing this experience has shown us is just how much we rely on those things we generally take for granted. Far too often we only realise how useful something was, when circumstances have changed. At DGOS we embrace positive change and make sure we keep up to date not only with the industry but also our competitors: in order to offer the best possible service and value. By the same we token we understand that although your business may grow or alter, you’ll still pretty much need the same fundamental office supplies to keep going. We also understand that you don’t want to be at the mercy of fluctuations in price which could adversely affect your overheads. With that in mind we have devised our industry-leading contract pricing system.

With DGOS contract pricing you create a core list of items which you re-order on a regular basis. Not only do you get these items at an incredibly low price: generally 20% less than our competitors, but this lowest price is also fixed for 12 months: protecting you from price fluctuations, inflation and increased manufacturing costs! To find out more about this and the other incredible benefits of using DGOS for your office supplies Manchester, office supplies Stockport and office supplies Macclesfield then please send us an email here.

The pencil has been a mainstay in the hand of the scribe, note-taker, artist and doodler for centuries. Its simple but effective design is central to the sustained popularity of this most humble of mark makers. The technique of manufacture used today is heavily based on the method devised by N.J. Conte in 1795. He discovered that by pulverising graphite and combining it with certain types of clay, he was able to fashion an effective drawing and writing tool, that fundamental process remains the foundation of modern pencil manufacture. Although the principle is simple and the final product relatively basic, the creation of a pencil from raw materials to sitting on a desk is a relatively lengthy and complex business.

The life of a pencil begins at a sawmill, where incense-cedar logs are cut into blocks referred to as ‘pencil stock’ and then dried in order to reduce the moisture content in a uniform manner. This pencil stock is then sent to a slat factory, where it is cut into ‘pencil blocks’ which are slightly longer than standard pencils in order to allow for trimming waste. These blocks are then cut into pencil slats which are sheets of the lumber that are slightly thicker than a pencil to further account for the waste resulting from the final shaping process.

Having been reduced to slats, the wood is treated with wax and stained to both ensure consistent colouring and prepare the slats for the machining processes to follow. These treated pieces of wood are then shipped off to a pencil factory. The first task undertaken at the pencil factory is the cutting of grooves into the slats to allow for the insertion of the writing core (often referred to as the ‘lead’). The writing cores, made from a mixture of graphite and clay not dissimilar to Conte’s original recipe, are then placed into the grooves of a prepared pencil slat before another grooved slat is securely glued on top. The resulting sandwich is then machined into individual pencil shapes, whether that be hexagonal, circular, triangular or otherwise.

Once any defective pencils have been discarded, the remainder are put into a machine which applies anywhere between four and ten coats of lacquer to achieve a smooth, attractive finish. At this point some pencils are imprinted with a brand name and others wrapped in decorative foil, dependant on the manufacturer. Those pencils which are to feature an eraser tip are put through a tipping machine which adds the eraser attached to a metal ferrule.

Once these manufacturing processes have been carried out, the pencils are ready to be shipped out to distributors and ultimately end up in your desk drawer, pencil case or shirt pocket.

For pencils and other stationery supplies dont forget to visit the DG Office Supplies Stockport website today for a whole host of bargains.

Although it’s hard to believe, today marks the 10th birthday of DGOS. For a decade now we have been striving to provide the best office supplies and stationery solutions to businesses based all across the UK and wish to thank our loyal customers for helping us to reach this sensational milestone.

Established by Darren Carr in April 2000, DGOS has progressed from servicing the needs of organisations based in the North West to providing a nationwide service to all manner of companies. By utilising face to face and telephonic communication in conjunction with a constantly updated and improved website, we have focussed our attention on customer service, diversity of products and providing great value- which seems to be working very well for all involved!

So to you our wonderful customers we extend our gratitude and hope you’ll join us in looking forward to many more decades of consistently excellent service.