The history of the renowned pencil manufacturer Koh-i-Noor goes back to the 18th century. Koh-i-Noor became known worldwide through the innovative invention of Joseph Hardtmuth, who in 1792 developed a novel process for pressing and firing pencil leads - leads then no longer had to be laboriously cut from solid stone. This innovative ability has been preserved at Koh-i-Noor to this day.