Re: Which Lathe (groan)

On Tue, 15 May 2007 07:31:57 +0100, Odie Ferrous <odie_ferrous@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Peter Fairbrother wrote:


Old iron is a different world, and although I think I have been both
diligent and lucky in my first purchase, I couldn't have gotten something
Chinese .....

And there's the problem; I now try to establish the country of
manufacture of everything I purchase, from beds to dishwashers to
tools. Anything made in China (within reason) gets a kick.

But I do recall a period where "Made in Japan" represented cheap plastic
tat, whereas now, it is about the best on the planet.

Can't see China going down that route in a hurry.


Odie

Sorry to disagree with you Mr Odie but I have recently come back from a trip to the Canton
trade show and what they have and are doing is rather scary.

One example was a company making generator sets, I enquired about a diesel, super silent
5.5 Kva and was shown the engine in parts on the stand.
If someone had given me this engine and asked me to guess the country of origin I would
have said Japan immediately. All die cast, no flash or imperfections, all internal
components ground to mirror finishes, in fact nothing to fault it. All that was missing
was Honda cast in it.

On looking in their leaflet on the range the first page showed the factory, large, single
story and brand new. Next page showed the machine shop, 35 brand new CNC vertical
machining centre's churning parts out, all with China Fadal on the side. No 10,000 coolies
with a file and a casting between their toes.

Who in this country has invested in 35 new machining centre's just for one product line in
one pop ??

On the Sieg stand I asked how old their bedway grinder was, their answer ? Which one ?
Ask Myfords the same question and the answer will be "Can you wait while we sent a chap
round to ask Bert as he retired 10 years ago and he's the only one who knows "

Ask Colchester's the same question and their answer will be "Can you wait while we ring
China up and ask them, they make our beds"

I'm not defending the Chinese just pointing out that they are now in a position we were in
back in Victorian times. As I say it's scary and the younger you are the scarier it is.
Like many I have a private pension being self employed, for the last 10 years most of this
pension money has been invested in China as it gives the best return on investment.
So indirectly myself with many others have been funding our own redundancy, sad but true.

Investment money goes to money, if we had invested instead of listening to bean counters
perhaps things could be better but who has invested in manufacturing here to attract
investment ?
Our local tool and cutter grinders wanted a new 6 axis ? T&C grinder, they rang the Swiss
up for details and prices but told "sorry no point sending details as all the next two
years production is going to China.
So now not only can they make tools cheaper they are doing them better as they are doing
them on machines we have never seen.

One thing to remember is that there are always levels of goods. Being tight asses we want
the best machine for the least money so quality control comes into play. Lets face it that
£300 lathe has 500 components, umpteen bearings, a chuck, an electric motor as part of
it's make up.
It has to be made halfway round the world, shipped here, import duty paid, VAT paid and
shipped to the UK supplier who then has to throw his bowl of rice at it, all for £300 so
is it any wonder that it needs a bit of a tidy up, fettling etc.
Even if it was landed free how much would a carrier charge you to collect it from
Felixstow and deliver it to you ?

Now approach the Chinese and say I want an industrial lathe for about £7K and look what
you get compared to a Conny Sewer costing the same money.

Sorry but we lost it at the same time big money went into UK manufacturing and the company
was no longer run by the owner.

..
--
Regards,

John Stevenson
Nottingham, England.

Visit the new Model Engineering adverts page at:-
http://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/
.

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