Fellowes, American Stationery Giant, Brought to Its Knees in China

Imagine: You’ve invested millions, and your 1,600-strong workforce arrives one morning to find the factory gates locked, trucks blockading the entrances, and serious-looking enforcers tell them to move on. The culprit? Your joint venture ‘partner,’ with the blessing of Chinese officials.

HARD TO COME BY: The 'C-225i 100% Jam Proof Strip-Cut Shredder,' which can handle CD-ROMS, credit cards, paperclips, and handfuls of paper at a time, is one of the items in 'limited supply' after the forced takeover in China. Fellowes Inc.

HARD TO COME BY: The 'C-225i 100% Jam Proof Strip-Cut Shredder,' which can handle CD-ROMS, credit cards, paperclips, and handfuls of paper at a time, is one of the items in 'limited supply' after the forced takeover in China. Fellowes Inc.

There are few paper shredders in the world that can rip an A4 piece of paper into 2,000 pieces, and come with functions like SilentShred, SafeSense, and “100% Jam Proof”—and most that do have the name “Fellowes” printed on top. But consumers may soon be able to buy, say, the deluxe Powershred C-480Cx, without the Fellowes brand, because the company’s entire business in China has been stolen by its joint venture partner.