Pearl River Piano Group

2009-12-11T21:43:39Z

24.22.75.14: /* Product Placement */

{{Article issues| advert = October 2009 | self-published = October 2009 | primarysources = October 2009 | onesource = October 2009 |date=November 2009}}

The '''Pearl River Piano Group''' (广州珠江钢琴集团有限公司) is China's largest [[piano]] manufacturer and lays claim to the largest piano [[factory]] in the world.<ref name="PearlRiverSite"/> . The [[company]]- was established in 1956 in [[Guangzhou]], [[Guangdong, China]]. [[Pearl River]] is also the fastest-growing piano company in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], with over 300 dealers and growing.<ref name="PearlRiverSite"> [http://www.pearlriverusa.com/pr_story.html''Pearl River''] Pearl River Pianos's USA site. Retrieved on [[September 29]] [[2007]].</ref>

== Production/Materials ==
Pearl River is capable of producing over 100,000 pianos a year, while [[exporting]] them to over 80 countries.<ref name="PearlRiverSite"/>

=== World's Largest Piano Manufacturer ===
Pearl River is the world's largest piano manufacturer and makes the world's best-selling pianos. {{Citation needed|November 2009|date=November 2009}} Since 1956, Pearl River Piano has operated several factories in [[Guangzhou|Guangzhou, China]], including the world's largest piano factory. Recently a new [[state of the art]] woodworking facility has been completed to prepare the company for the next generation of manufacturing. {{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

=== Core Building Features ===
Pearl River pianos feature [[hardwood]] rims, sand-cast plates, and lower tension scales, features found on the world's best pianos such as [[Steinway & Sons |Steinway]], [[Bösendorfer]] and almost all other top tier pianos. These features are considered to be important to protecting the long-term durability of the piano's tone, which can be affected over a period of time by changes to the soundboard's "crown", a problem which is thought to occur more rapidly on pianos that do not have these core features.

Most Pearl River Pianos are considered [[entry level]] pianos; however, some are manufactured to higher specifications with better materials (see [[Essex Pianos]] below). To improve [[product design]] and manufacturing efficiency, Pearl River automated and installed [[computer-generated]] design equipment. To boost quality, they brought in a raft of foreign industry executives as consultants and forged a $10 million joint venture with Yamaha in 1995. "We can study good management concepts [from Japan's industry leader]," says Tong Zhi Cheng, CEO of Pearl River. In return Yamaha gets a [[production line]] for its own low-end items.

Pearl River also releases [[special edition]] pianos, including the Butterfly Grand which is 198 centimeters and available in Silver or Blue and Pink finishes. Pearl River also produces a Ritmuller, a higher end piano, for the Asian and European markets.

== Certifications ==
=== International Organisation for Standardisation ISO 9001 Certification ===
In 1998, the Pearl River Piano Group earned the International Standards Association ISO 9001 Certification ([[ISO 9001]]) for its complete line of grand and vertical pianos, including all parts and components. ISO 9001 Certification is awarded by an independent auditing organization following a lengthy audit of quality systems ranging from the procurement of raw materials to manufacturing systems, assembly procedures, and [[customer service]]. Pearl River was the first piano company in China to receive this independent certification of quality.<ref name="PearlRiverSite"/>.

=== International Organisation for Standardisation ISO 14001 Certification ===
Pearl River also recently was awarded [[ISO 14001]], which is similar, but relates to the environmental standards practiced by the Company. Pearl River is again the first manufacturer in China to receive this award.

== Pearl River Name ==
Pearl River was not a "known" name in the United States until recent years, as Pearl River has only had company-owned US distribution since 2000. Since then Pearl River's US sales have grown quickly and today Pearl River enjoys a large [[market share]] of the under-$15,000 US piano market. Pearl River was the first Chinese piano company to market pianos in the United States under its own company name, and continues to be one of only two or three that do.

Other companies' Chinese pianos are generally sold in the United States under deceased American piano names, licensed by the distributors or the companies themselves. These are known as "stenciled" pianos. Some examples of Chinese pianos bearing non Chinese piano company names are: [[Baldwin Piano Company |Baldwin]] (formerly Hamilton), George Steck, Falcone, Hobart Cable, Story & Clark, Hallet & Davis, Steigerman, [[Heintzman & Co. |Heintzman]], and many others.

=== Ritmuller ===
The company also markets another brand in the USA: Ritmuller brand pianos sport upgraded cabinetry, a different plate, upgraded felt and several different scale designs. Both product lines are marketed in the United States by authorized retail piano stores.

== Other Instruments ==
Pearl River is also one of the world's largest guitar and violin manufacturers, and is a primary supplier for the popular "[[First Act]]" brand of guitars commonly found at [[Target Corporation |Target stores]] among others. The company also sells drums, brass and [[woodwind instrument]]s around the world.

In the [[People's Republic of China]], they produce guitars with their [[Store brand|own brand]] name, "[[Kapok Guitars]] (红棉)".

===OEM Supplier===
The three largest retail piano companies in the US have selected Pearl River as their OEM [[Generic brand|house brand]] supplier: [[Jordan Kitts Music]], Sherman Clay, and [[Schmitt Music]]. These three [[Chain store|retail chains]] use their own brand name (Henry F Miller, Christifori) on the front of the pianos and in a couple of isolated cases feature slightly different specifications than the Pearl River brand models distributed by Pearl River Piano Group America, based in [[Ontario|Ontario, CA]].

=== Pearl River Connection with Yamaha & Steinway ===
==== The Yamaha Connection ====
Yamaha formed a joint venture with Pearl River in 1995 to establish a factory to build pianos for the Chinese market. This factory is located east of Guangzhou in an '[[Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone |economic development zone]],' approximately 35 miles from the Pearl River factory.

This factory produced two models for the Pearl River Piano company: The UP125M1, and the Ritmuller UP126R. Ritmuller is a brand name belonging to Pearl River. Ritmuller brand pianos sport upgraded cabinetry, a different plate, upgraded felt and several different scale designs. Both Product Lines are marketed in the United States by retail piano stores.

The former "Yamaha/Pearl River Joint Venture Factory" is now completely owned by Pearl River, after Pearl River bought out Yamaha's interest in it.

==== The Steinway Connection ====
Pearl River also manufactures three models for Steinway's "Essex" brand piano line, including two grand pianos and an upright.

On [[May 1, 2005]] Steinway & Sons and Pearl River Piano Group, Ltd. released a joint announcement of the signing of an agreement. The companies began development work on several new models of the Essex piano line, designed by Steinway & Sons for affiliate company Boston Piano Co., Inc. The new line of pianos reached the marketplace early in 2006. This was Steinway's first such venture in China and Pearl River's first OEM relationship with a Western piano maker.

Essex pianos are manufactured in their factory in Guangzhou, China.

==== Product Placement ====
Pearl River Pianos are used by many schools in North America, and are placed in performance venues by retail dealers. Pearl River does not pay for endorsement or product placement and is not aware of any such existing scenarios.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* http://www.pearlriverusa.com/grands_pro.html
* http://www.steinway.com/essex
* http://www.forbes.com/global/2002/0513/040.html (article about Pearl River on Forbes.com)

[[Category:Manufacturing companies of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Piano manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1956]]

[[zh:广州珠江钢琴集团有限公司]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Pearl River Piano Group