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Pearl River Piano Group China's largest piano manufacturer. The company was established in 1956 in Guangdong.
In 1998, the Pearl River Piano Group earned the International Standards Association ISO 9001 Certification for its entire line of grand and vertical pianos, including all parts and components - the first piano company in China to receive this independent certification of quality. In its 50-year history Pearl River has risen to become the largest piano company in the world, manufacturing 100,000 pianos each year in a factory in Guangzhou, China
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 ," says Tong Zhi Cheng, CEO of Pearl River. In return Yamaha gets a production line for its own low-end items.
Pearl River makes many different sizes of upright and grand pianos.
Here is the list of Grand Pianos listed by the Pearl River Piano USA web site.
4'7" GP142 Home Series Ebony, Mahogany, or Walnut Polish; Designer: Cherry or Walnut Satin 5'0" GP150 Professional Ebony Polish; Ebony or Cherry Satin; Designer: Walnut Satin 5'3" GP159 Home Series Ebony Polish; Ebony or Cherry Satin; Designer Walnut Satin 5'7" GP170 Professional Ebony or Mahogany, Polish or Satin; Designer: Cherry Satin 6'0" GP183 Professional Ebony Polish 6'1" GP186 Performance Ebony Polish 6'4" GP188 Performance Ebony Polish 7'0" GP213 Performance Ebony Polish, Walnut or White 9'0" GP275 Performance Ebony Polish 10'9" GP328 Ebony Polish (Available in China only)
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.
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.
Pearl River was chosen for their ability to produce "higher quality" pianos than comparable manufacturers in Asia.
Essex pianos are manufactured in their factory in Guangzhou, China.
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)