Viarco Pencil Industry, Ltd.

Viarco Pencil Industry, Ltd. manufactures pencils, crayons and graphite-based drawing materials for office, school, professional and creative use. Its production combines traditional pencil making with technical development in forms, equipment and manufacturing methods, a practice that has shaped the company since its early years. The portfolio spans graphite pencils for writing and sketching, technical pencils for occupational applications, watercolour pencils, artist materials and design objects centred on the pencil as both a functional tool and a material for creative work. Graphite cores are baked at temperatures above 1,000°C, reflecting the factory’s established approach to pencil production.

The business traces its origins to the acquisition of the Portuguese Pencil Factory by Vieira Araújo & Cª in 1931, followed by registration of the Viarco brand in 1936. Operations moved to the present factory in São João da Madeira in 1941, bringing equipment and personnel from Vila do Conde. Subsequent technological development introduced crayon production and broadened the technical pencil offer. The factory became autonomous during the 1970s under the name Viarco, continuing as Portugal’s only pencil factory. Its work also extends to collaborations with designers, artists and educational initiatives, while FSC and PEFC certification aligns its wood sourcing with responsible forest management principles.