China

[LNER1949]

The way things are going at the moment would it not be a good idea to bring our tooling back to the UK and start making our own model railways again, as it was before everything went abroad to China ? as this would keep everybody employed as it was before. Union Mills can do so why can't Hornby & Dapol do the same I don't know if Fleasham Models are made in the EU ? please excuse my spelling not my favoit subjet spelling as I write as I hear it being quite deaf too !!-!

[PLD]

This seems to crop up regularly...

In short - plain and simple economics. While China remains the cheapest place to produce the product to the required standard, that's where it will remain. If Chinese costs do continue to increase at current rates, yes we may see production shift, but it's more likely to be to some other low-cost overseas location than to the UK.

Union Mills is literally one-man-in-a-shed producing small volumes, and as such is not comparable with the big volume manufacturers...

[LNER1949]

quite understand the reason though Farish managed to do it in Poole then, I supose labour & wages forced then to look elsewhere sadley, though the produts have varstly improved since then, would it have it had it stayed is anybody guess ?

[jpendle]

Farish in Poole ceased to exist when Bachmann bought them. Bachmann in turn are owned by Kader, who are a Hong Kong based company.

So the tooling for half the models we buy isn't 'ours' and wouldn't be sent to the UK.

And as @PLD said it's just economics.

Regards,

John P

[LNER1949]

Thanks for your reply lets hope that the troubles does not get any worst for everybody involve.