During the 1990s, Guangzhou Pearl River Piano Group Ltd. rose to prominence as a renowned producer of upright and grand pianos, carrying the esteemed Pearl River brand name. This state-owned enterprise oversees operations at an enormous 3.1 million-square-foot factory, which holds the distinction of being the world’s largest. Situated along the banks of the Pearl River in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, this factory serves as a testament to the company’s scale and influence.
Pearl River was founded in 1956, but it experienced significant growth only in the mid-1980s when China underwent social and economic reforms that favored free enterprise. The company’s expansion was fueled by a rise in domestic piano sales in the early 1990s and it subsequently turned its attention towards Western markets towards the end of that decade.
Out of the 85,000 pianos manufactured in Guangzhou in 2001, approximately 20 percent were sold internationally. Apart from pianos, the company also possesses factories dedicated to producing guitars, violins, and traditional Chinese percussion instruments. Pearl River’s President, Tong Zhi Cheng, played a crucial role in implementing transformative changes that established the company as a reputable manufacturer of well-crafted pianos. His willingness to seek advice from external experts and make substantial investments in state-of-the-art machinery has garnered respect from the music industry. The company’s ability to combine value and quality positions it as a formidable contender against long-standing Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
Born in Germany, Respected Worldwide
Dating back to 1795, the legacy of exceptional piano craftsmanship under the Ritmüller name was established by Gottlieb Wilhelm Ritmüller, who founded one of Germany’s earliest piano factories. Across generations, the business was successfully handed down from father to son, earning a distinguished status as Europe’s foremost pioneer in piano manufacturing. Notably, 19th-century composers, including the esteemed Johannes Brahms, favored Ritmüller pianos for their innovative design and outstanding musical qualities.
To challenge the world’s finest pianos, a group of highly skilled piano designers from Europe was assembled. Their mission was to blend traditional European craftsmanship and premium components with state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge processes, resulting in pianos of unparalleled quality.
The outcome manifested in a collection of instruments characterized by their pronounced German essence, delivering a sweet, warm tone and an exquisite touch. Following a comprehensive redesign and re-engineering in 2007, Ritmüller pianos have garnered widespread acclaim and exceptional ratings from industry critics and publications, including esteemed online forums dedicated to the piano industry.
Presently, Ritmüller grand and upright pianos remain meticulously handcrafted, incorporating our meticulous CNC manufacturing process. Our unwavering objective is to pursue continuous improvement and uphold the legacy of Gottlieb Wilhelm Ritmüller with every instrument we create.
In 1990, the Pearl River Piano Group, based in China, successfully registered the “Ritmüller” trademark in Germany, followed by worldwide registration. In 1999, Pearl River acquired the German brand name Ritmüller with the intention of utilizing scale designs from previous Ritmüller models to manufacture the pianos in a dedicated section of their Guangzhou factory.
Today, Ritmüller has become the flagship piano line of the Pearl River company. In an effort to pay tribute to the German heritage associated with the brand, Pearl River enlisted the services of acclaimed piano designer Lothar Thomma. The resulting pianos can be described as German in essence, expertly assembled utilizing cost-effective Asian labor.
Gottlieb Wilhelm Ritmüller opened his musical instrument workshop in Göttingen, in 1795
The company continued to grow under the leadership of Ritmüller’s sons, Gottlieb and Carl, outgrowing the old wordshop
In 2013, Pearl River introduced the Kayserburg brand of premium pianos to the North American market. Kayserburg, the renowned brand, has cemented its position as the premier offering from Pearl River Piano Co Ltd, the largest piano manufacturer globally. Designed by esteemed Swiss piano designer Lothar Tomma, Kayserburg pianos are meticulously crafted at the Pearl River factory by an exceptional team of piano builders led by Swiss chief technician Stephan Mohler.
The Kayserburg line now offers five distinct series: Excellent verticals, Heritage verticals and grands, Nuovo verticals, Artists verticals and grands, and Master verticals. Notably, all Kayserburg vertical pianos incorporate two noteworthy features typically found in higher-end instruments. Firstly, they feature a slightly forward-tilting back, which facilitates faster note repetition by aiding the hammers in returning to their resting position swiftly after each keystroke. Secondly, an asymmetric back-post structure is employed, providing better alignment and support for the varying string tensions across the back frame, surpassing the capabilities of a traditional back structure.
