The picture illustrates the process of producing pencils from logs and leads.
This industrial linear process, consisting of no fewer than 12 steps which, can be divided into two stages: tree cultivation and manufacture. From start to finish, it takes more than 17 years to produce pencils.
First, the seeds are cultivated in nurseries before being planted four months later. After three years, the plantation is thinned to facilitate growth and improve the quality of the wood. After an additional fourteen years of growth, the trees are ready for pencil manufacturing and are cut down to make logs.
The wood obtained is cut into thin pieces, treated to become dry, and then left for sixty days before being used for pencil production. At this stage, a groove is cut into the slat and a special glue is injected. Subsequently, a black lead is placed into the slat, followed by an empty slat on top to form a “sandwich,” which is then heated and hard-pressed. Consequently, the two slats are converted into a single piece, which is then cut to produce individual pencils. These pencils are finally printed, sharpened, and stamped. Lastly, the completed pencils are packaged into boxes.