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Model Forum / General / Models / September 2006Airfix in administration !
From the BBC Website Sticky future for kitmaker Airfix Iconic model-maker name Airfix faces an uncertain future following parent firm Humbrol's entry into administration. Since 1949, generations of children have struggled over plastic kit parts and tubes of glue. In its heyday, Airfix specialised in planes, ships and tanks of World War II - among them favourites such as the Spitfire fighter and Lancaster bomber. Thirty-one of 41 staff at the Hull firm have lost their jobs, with Grant Thornton of Leeds named administrators. 'Capable of sale' The firm had been hit by "severe cash flow pressures" and also a disruption in supplies from its principal manufacturer in France, Heller SA. The appointed administrator, Keith Hinds, told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that Airfix was an "iconic brand" which was "capable of onward sale and investment". "The company's been struggling for some time under the demise of general manufacturing and the lack of demand for some of its products," he said. That had caused losses to build up, with cash-flow difficulties following - only for further trouble to come as Heller, too, went into administration. "That's caused a blockage in supplies -- the accumulation of all that has brought about the insolvency of the company, Humbrol," said Mr Hinds. 'Great shame' Jeremy Brook, of the Airfix Collectors Club, said it was a sad day for those with fond memories of having sticky fingers as they struggled with often intricate kit arrangements. "When you think of construction kits, you think of Airfix," he said. "All the schoolboys of the 50s, 60s and 70s remember them, being covered in glue and cutting your fingers as you assembled them. "It's a great shame if Airfix is going to languish or go completely." The Airfix range also included helicopters, cars, motorcycles, figures, trains, spaceships, sci-fi figures, and movie-related characters. Last year it also announced it was launching a range of robot fighters from the 45th Century. Humbrol is the principal trading business of the Hobby Products Group Ltd, which is also in administration. The administrators said the group turnover was approximately £10m a year, and other brand names owned by the group include Plasticine, Supercast and Young Scientist. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/5301438.stm Published: 2006/08/31 11:07:41 GMT >From all the discussions on this forum about Airfix, I don't think it was unexpected, though a shame never the less. Who will step up and purchase them? Could it be someone in eastern Europe? Jerry >> From all the discussions on this forum about Airfix, I don't think it > was unexpected, though a shame never the less. Who will step up and > purchase them? Could it be someone in eastern Europe? Let's hope for Eduard! They are currently doing wonders with a hi-tech version of the Airfix Spitfire 24.  SignatureEnzo I wear the cheese. It does not wear me. > >> From all the discussions on this forum about Airfix, I don't think it > > was unexpected, though a shame never the less. Who will step up and > > purchase them? Could it be someone in eastern Europe? > > Let's hope for Eduard! They are currently doing wonders with a hi-tech > version of the Airfix Spitfire 24. I am guessing it will be someone in Poland. Labour costs are low and there is a strong following for Airfix kits of types used by Polish RAF squadrons. These can also be sold (with different markings) to Belgium, Noway and Holland as well as the UK of course. (kim) > I am guessing it will be someone in Poland. Labour costs are low and there > is a strong following for Airfix kits of types used by Polish RAF squadrons. > These can also be sold (with different markings) to Belgium, Noway and > Holland as well as the UK of course. > > (kim) There seems to be a economic hunger in Poland and Czech Republic. Notice the industrial upswing with smaller manufacturing processes as they consolidate or merge. Is it influenced by something we in the west would call organized c....? Many US companies have been importing labor from the region, but now it seems the good life has arrived for them there so those US companies are not getting the recruits they once were. So many are considering or have shifted production to the region. Does the word 'Outsourcing' ring a bell? But has anyone made the 'perhaps the business model just fell apart' joke yet? JJ (UK) > But has anyone made the 'perhaps the business model just fell apart' joke > yet? > > JJ (UK) No, thank God! Doug Wagner >>From all the discussions on this forum about Airfix, I don't think it >was unexpected, though a shame never the less. Who will step up and >purchase them? Could it be someone in eastern Europe? > >Jerry One can hope that a Chinese manufacturer will buy the molds and reissue the models as AIRFIX or under their own label. Its a surprise that AIRFIX didn't subcontract their kits to China earlier. The company's kits have been around for some 40 years now and they haven't issued anything new for the last decade or so. Therefore there wasn't anything in the form of trade secrets to protect. >>> From all the discussions on this forum about Airfix, I don't think >>> it [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > company's kits have been around for some 40 years now and they haven't > issued anything new for the last decade or so. TSR2? SignatureEnzo I wear the cheese. It does not wear me. > One can hope that a Chinese manufacturer will buy the molds and > reissue the models as AIRFIX or under their own label. Its a surprise > that AIRFIX didn't subcontract their kits to China earlier. The > company's kits have been around for some 40 years now and they haven't > issued anything new for the last decade or so. Therefore there wasn't > anything in the form of trade secrets to protect. You've been on Mars for the last 40 years ? Signature-sdg. And, uhm... brought any martian kits you'd be willing to part with, btw ? "Un gromono, mon royaume pour un gromono!" Shakespeare - Richard III >You've been on Mars for the last 40 years ? I started with Airfix in the late 60s and just about built their whole WWII military models offering. I haven't seen anything new from them for the past 20 years. I still have their catalog from the 90s (collector's item?) that showed the same models from as far back as I remember. I am not into company histories, just what I see in the shops and draw my conclusions from there. > From the BBC Website > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Thirty-one of 41 staff at the Hull firm have lost their jobs, with > Grant Thornton of Leeds named administrators. Well, there goes the 1/48 Canberras. Bill Shuey Talk about serendipity! I just ordered a Caravelle from Squadron today. Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr. Bugger! Does this mean Humbrol enamels are now going to be history too? > From the BBC Website > [quoted text clipped - 66 lines] > > Published: 2006/08/31 11:07:41 GMT > Bugger! Does this mean Humbrol enamels are now going to be history too? According to a well-known model dealer in Humbrol's home town that will be no great loss as the quality of their paints has fallen off a cliff in recent years. (kim) >> Bugger! Does this mean Humbrol enamels are now going to be history >> too? > > According to a well-known model dealer in Humbrol's home town that > will be no great loss as the quality of their paints has fallen off a > cliff in recent years. Can I say "Xtracolor"? SignatureEnzo I wear the cheese. It does not wear me. > >> Bugger! Does this mean Humbrol enamels are now going to be history > >> too? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > I wear the cheese. It does not wear me. Only if Squadron starts offering them. Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr. > >> Bugger! Does this mean Humbrol enamels are now going to be history > >> too? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Can I say "Xtracolor"? Floquil Military Classic colors... I hoarded so much, it's embarrassing! - Stephen > Floquil Military Classic colors... I hoarded so much, it's embarrassing! Never apologize for being smart. I wish I had put back more of their military colors. Bill Shuey >>> Bugger! Does this mean Humbrol enamels are now going to be history >>> too? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Can I say "Xtracolor"? Can I reply "not for brushing" :-) Humbrol paints are all made in China, so it is likely that the paint line will continue to be sold through the administrators as it is just a matter of keeping the distribution going. What might get into short supply are such items as Maskol, Liquid Poly and the varnishes. The kit tooling is all in France, I believe. >>>> Bugger! Does this mean Humbrol enamels are now going to be history >>>> too? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Can I reply "not for brushing" :-) Ooh! I Did Not Know That! :-D I've only ever sprayed it. SignatureEnzo I wear the cheese. It does not wear me. >>> Can I say "Xtracolor"? >>> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > I've only ever sprayed it. Too thin for good coverage and brushmarks show up very easily. It's thinned down to airbrush consistency in the tin. > The kit tooling is all in France, I believe. I've seen it suggested elsewhere that Heller "owns" the tooling. I always presumed that Heller were contracted to produce the kits, using tooling owned by Airfix, after f Heller was sold by Humbrol a few years back. Anyone clarify? Cheers, Bill. > > The kit tooling is all in France, I believe. > > I've seen it suggested elsewhere that Heller "owns" the tooling. I always > presumed that Heller were contracted to produce the kits, using tooling > owned by Airfix, after f Heller was sold by Humbrol a few years back. Anyone > clarify? See Uncle Pat's column:- http://www.mremag.demon.co.uk/hpsite/index.htm "It is understood that, in bidding for Humbrol, Hornby has reservations about the fact that Heller owns the moulds for Airfix kits." It works like this: Airfix has a reputation for supplying *reasonbale* quality kits at *reasonable* prices. If a prospective bidder is forced to pay an exhorbitant sum for the moulds they will then in turn have to pass on that cost to their customers. That would make the acquisition non-viable. (kim) mmmmm but how did heller get to own the airfix moulds, for sure airfix would not get shot of their own assets >> "Alan Dicey" <alan@removethis.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk> wrote in > message [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > (kim) > mmmmm but how did heller get to own the airfix moulds, for sure airfix would > not get shot of their own assets It wouldn't be up to them. Their parent company will have sold the physical assets and kept the intellectual rights. There is some dispute as to exactly who the parent company of Airfix currently is? Some sources say it's Humbrol. Some say it's the company which owns Humbrol. Some say it's the company which owns the company which owns Humbrol. (kim) > mmmmm but how did heller get to own the airfix moulds, for sure airfix > would not get shot of their own assets Heller don't own the Airfix moulds. Humbrol is the major (only?) trading arm of a company called Hobby Products Group. Airfix in turn is a brand belonging to Humbrol. Humbrol also owned Heller until about 9 months ago when a deal was reached to sell the Heller plant to it's management. Humbrol retained ownership of all the moulds from both the Airfix and Heller catalogues. Heller would be a contract moulder for Humbrol. In July the new Heller management placed the company in administration. Subsequently it would seem a dispute arose between Heller's administrators and Humbrol's management which resulted in Heller refusing to supply any products - kits- to Humbrol. It would seem that it is this drying up of their principal supply stream tat has forced Humbrol into administration. John > In July the new Heller management placed the company in administration. > Subsequently it would seem a dispute arose between Heller's administrators > and Humbrol's management which resulted in Heller refusing to supply any > products - kits- to Humbrol. It would seem that it is this drying up of > their principal supply stream tat has forced Humbrol into administration. Ah, the Frogs won't miss any opportunity to annoy the Brits, and the Brits won't miss any opportunity to blame it on the Frogs... Signature-sdg "Un gromono, mon royaume pour un gromono!" Shakespeare - Richard III > Heller don't own the Airfix moulds. Humbrol is the major (only?) trading arm > of a company called Hobby Products Group. Airfix in turn is a brand > belonging to Humbrol. Humbrol also owned Heller until about 9 months ago > when a deal was reached to sell the Heller plant to it's management. Humbrol > retained ownership of all the moulds from both the Airfix and Heller > catalogues. Heller would be a contract moulder for Humbrol. Thanks Graham, That's pretty much how I understood the situation, Cheers, Bill. > "It is understood that, in bidding for Humbrol, Hornby has reservations > about the fact that Heller owns the moulds for Airfix kits." I would want to know the source of that information before accepting it as correct. There's little business sense in operating in that way, though sense is often lacking in business. Chers, Bill. > > "It is understood that, in bidding for Humbrol, Hornby has reservations > > about the fact that Heller owns the moulds for Airfix kits." > > I would want to know the source of that information before accepting it as > correct. http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1863350,00.html > There's little business sense in operating in that way, though > sense is often lacking in business. Buying famous brand names and selling off their physical assets is standard business practice in the UK. Airfix' model railway tooling was sold off many years ago. (kim) > Buying famous brand names and selling off their physical assets is standard > business practice in the UK. Airfix' model railway tooling was sold off many > years ago. The railway tooling was sold, the products made from those tools are now sold under the Dapol name. If Humbrol was purchasing the moulded products form Dapol and rebranding them as Airfix, that would be a valid parallel. I can't see that the suggested situation with Heller has much in common with this arrangement, Cheers, Bill. > > Buying famous brand names and selling off their physical assets is > standard [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > can't see that the suggested situation with Heller has much in common with > this arrangement, Some of the former "Airfix" products sold by Dapol were always made by Kader in the far east and have since been rebranded as "Bachmann" products. The moulds were never physically owend by Airfix or Dapol. (kim) > Some of the former "Airfix" products sold by Dapol were always made by Kader > in the far east and have since been rebranded as "Bachmann" products. The > moulds were never physically owend by Airfix or Dapol. There is some confusion here. I thought we were discussing the Airfix model railway construction kits, most of which originated with Kitmaster before being bought by Airfix upon that company's demise. These tools always remained the property of Airfix until sold to Dapol. At no point after that did Airfix market products from the tools thay had formerly owned. I believe that Kader always owned the Mainline tooling in Hong Kong. This has become somewhat muddied following Mainline's purchase of the Airfix range, the latter (as far as I am aware) had nothing to do with Kader. Kader subsequently bought Bachmann sometime around 1987, launching many of the former Mainline tools they owned under the Bachmann Branchline brand. Cheers, Bill. |
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