DOVO Solingen

DOVO Solingen, or DOVO Steelware, or DOVO, is an independent German company, based in Solingen. They are a manufacturer of scissors, shaving equipment such as straight razors and safety razors, as well as manicure tools.[1] Shaving equipment and razors are produced by Merkur Solingen, a subsidiary of DOVO.[2]

For the football club, see Door Ons Vrienden Opgericht.
DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH & Co. KG
IndustryCutlery
Founded1906 (1906)
FounderCarl Dorp
Carl Arthur Voos
Headquarters
Solingen
,
Germany
Products
  • Razors
  • razor blades
  • razor strops
  • shaving brushes
  • scissors
  • manicure tools
Brands
  • DOVO Stahlwaren
  • Merkur
  • Shavette
  • Bismarck
Number of employees
70 (2016)
SubsidiariesMerkur Solingen
WebsiteOfficial website
The Merkur logo. The Solingen logo, under the main Merkur logo, is the trademark of the place and as such it is shared by all Solingen based manufacturers.

DOVO was founded in 1906. The name derives from the last names of the original founders Carl Dorp + Carl Arthur Voos.[3] Starting from 1950s onwards DOVO has acquired multiple companies like Tennis (1952), Bismarck (1957), "Ankerflagge" (1957), "Teufelskerle" (1968). "Kronpunkt" (1969), Fontana (1970), Heups & Hermes company (1973) and Merkur company (1996).[4]

As of 31 December 2001, the company employed 86 staff, who produced a daily output of 1200 scissors, 900 nippers, and 150 open razors and shavers. 75% of these products were exported to other countries, while the remaining 25% were sold in Germany.[2] Since the early 2000s, the company has seen an increase in demand and as of 2016 produced tens of thousands of razors a year, with 20 employees working exclusively on razors.[5]

Since 2013 DOVO moved towards focusing mainly on their shaving products and introducing new range of straight razors.[6]

  • Merkur 38C & Double Edge Blades. An example of current Merkur DE safety razor design and double edge blade packaging.
  • A DOVO straight razor.
  • Poster of the DOVO Meisterwerke in Solingen. This shows the names of the original owners (as the DOVO brand name was not yet used) and the original location of the factory.

See also

References
  1. DOVO - Products Archived 2011-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Shackleford, Steve (5 January 2010). Blade's Guide to Knives & Their Values. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 68. ISBN 1-4402-1505-7.
  3. DOVO - History Archived 2009-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2009-04-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "The German smithies forging cut-throat razors for the world". The Local de. The Local Europe AB. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  6. Werbeagentur, Diners. "DOVO Solingen | The History". www.dovo.com. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
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