the 1970s was the spray high in the Norwegian archipelago. Approximately 150 producers rubbed his hands together and produced boats for sjøglade Norwegians at a furious pace. Profitability was good, and most of the production was done on Norwegian soil.
When the financial crisis hit in the 2000s, people stopped to buy a boat. Who needs something you strictly need to have when your wallet is shrinking and the outlook is failing?
accounts for the largest Norwegian boat market from the mid-2000s is interesting reading. From 2005 to 2007 it went quite well with relatively good results for most people. From 2008 until 2011, the situation turned upside down. The period paints a grim picture of blood-red figures, bankruptcies and flagging.
There are exceptions and some producers who monitors around one million surplus. Gold Fish, which has saved himself with a contract with the military, served as six million. Also Nordkapp registered a surplus of just over three million.
Read also: will build the world’s fastest sailboat
Specialization
Erlend Prytz, Managing Director of båtbransjeorganisasjonen Norboat and represent over 400 companies that deal with everything from boat building, import, båtmegling and equipment manufacturing. He does not have a complete overview of how many people have moved production or closed down, but after several tough years, he hopes it will now turn to companies that want to produce in Norway.
– It was very high demand in Norway from 2004 to 2007, and it was probably an unnaturally high båtsalg. I think it is possible to produce boats in Norway, but it has to be niche products that hit well in the market. We have a high cost and fierce competition from abroad, so it comes to sharp production, he said.
Many Norwegian producers have taken the consequences of the high Norwegian prices and all the heavy path to insolvency or moved production abroad.
of those who have moved are Windy, which at its peak employed 180 people in Norway. The Company held long insisted that production Skarpnes just south of Arendal was viable, but last year took patience finally after several difficult years.
Board decided to move production to Poland, a decision which ollow CEO Knut Heiberg-Andersen came a little late.
– We waited probably two or three years too long, something we perhaps lost around 70-80 million. We had to move out of Norway to be able to produce the quality we wanted. It was simply too expensive here at home, he said.
– We waited probably two or three years too long, something we perhaps lost 70-80 million on. We had to move production out of Norway to be able to produce the quality we wanted. It was simply too expensive at home, says Knut Heiberg Andersen, CEO. Windy. Photo: Peder Qvale
Read also: This boat can dive 50 meters
Going overseas
The first foreign-built Windy boats currently being assembled in Poland. Here at home, the company will develop new products, preparing the boats and drive service business. Between eight and nine pieces are going to be left within the country.
Heiberg-Andersen said the math to move the jobs were easy.
– In Norway cost 50 men in manufacturing 340 million per hour, 1750 hours a year. There are nearly 30 million. The same 50 costs ten million in Poland, which saves us 20 million only in direct labor. Materials, fiberglass and cast are also cheaper in Poland even though it has the same quality as at home, he said.
– But what about the brand Windy, you are not afraid of it being compromised?
– There is something mystical about the Norwegian. We cling to it here in Norway because we have so much production again. We spend a lot of time that we will deliver the quality is identical to the one we have in Norway. I know that we can. The mythical will then disappear and make sure we remain “Norwegian”. A Windy will not tolerate Norwegian coast inferior because it is built in Poland, says Heiberg-Andersen.
Read also: Here are sailing the world’s largest Viking ship
Slow moving
few kilometers from Windy old premises blowing a gentle vårbris in the archipelago and mingles with the smell of chemicals and the sound of lapping machines.
We are at Marex on Hasseltangen, a manufacturer is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. While many manufacturers have taken the whole production and moved it abroad at once, Marex has done it in less steps.
It began 12 years ago, when the company received a Lithuanian team up to Norway that produced one of the models together with the Norwegian boat builders. This has continued, and today produced six of Marex ‘seven models in Lithuania.
– We did it that way because we were terrified of the brand. We wanted the quality would be as good. We had the matter not been able to make seven models here, and manufacturing cost would be too high in Norway. In addition, we focused on a new model during the financial crisis that made sure we got some new orders. These two things have made that we are one of the few Norwegian boat manufacturers that have gone bankrupt, says Thomas Aalrud, who owns the business with his brother Espen.
Much of Norwegian boating industry has moved abroad because of the Norwegian cost. Marex has moved production of six models to Lithuania, and is now considering whether also their last model to be moved. Photo: Peder Qvale
Read also: Here is Oslo’s new TV
Disappears?
currently produces thus Marex one model in Norway. It’s about 1:32 on foot cabin cruiser with a retail price of 2.2 million. In all, 20 of these made complete by the summer holidays, which Aalrud interprets as a relatively good signal.
– autumn 2008, it was as if someone turned off a switch. Before that we made about 30 cabin cruisers a year, and it was good times. We have thus a decrease, but actually 20 boats very good. The market has begun to pick up a bit, but we are the industry that will last for up including automotive, says Aalrud.
– Can you preserve the production of the latest model here in Norway?
– We are Norwegian, and we live here. It is an important element. We have always been Norwegian, and Norway is a strong brand in Europe. We do everything we can to keep production here, but it depends on the market. We therefore possible situation from month to month, he said.
Read also: In 10 years we see ships without crew
kits
About eight kilometers away, right by the river Nid outside Arendal, sits Jan Petter Zonneveld behind a cluttered office desk and looking at the order list for 2013.
– Let’s see … 12, 13, 14 to 14 boats ordered from us for years, ranging from 21 feet up to 36 feet. It’s not so bad, he says, smiling broadly. Soon one year has passed since Zonneveld acquired forms, rights and entire fleet to Scand Boats. He bet that is a market few others dare to sail in right now. It is hoped that the deficit in 2011 and 2012 will turn into profit this year.
– Casting is set away from our premises by the river Nid, but not a damn thing is being outsourced to foreign countries. Here we keep it local. I have no control over what happens in other countries, so it’s just not something I’m considering. You Do not Buy A Scand or a college that is made in Poland, you know. The only problem we have is that we might grow out of our premises, says Zonneveld.
He admits that it is difficult to operate well when so many manufacturers disappear.
– There are not many manufacturers left here in the South. People stop one by one. I think it’s very sad, because the whole concept depends a lot on our subcontractors. Do they go bankrupt, we struggle even more. There has been a major purge in the market, but I see very positive about the future. Otherwise I would not have been so crazy that I opted for this, smiles Zonneveld.
phone is not set for Jan Peter Zonneveld in Agder Boat. Zonneveld focuses exclusively on Norwegian production, and now has 14 new ships on order list, including 1:35 on foot Scand commissioned by Ole Paus. Photo: Peder Qvale
Read also: Planner speed of the air cushion hull
Good weather
CEO Erlend Prytz in Norboat think now is a good summer will be important for Norwegian boat manufacturers.
– We know that there is a tremendous interest in recreational boats in Norway, but it has decreased the use of boats. Unfortunately we are dependent on the weather here in Norway, and most people use their boats in the summer. A good summer would therefore help to Norwegian producers, there is no any doubt, he said.
Read also: Norwegian shipyards lose three out of four contracts
No comments:
Post a Comment