Biggles
Junior Member
Born to FLY,crap at the FISHING
Posts: 59
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Post by Biggles on Oct 16, 2004 2:43:35 GMT -5
 First published on Thursday 07 October 2004: Cornish work goes to China! BRITISH Fly Reels Ltd, probably the world's largest manufacturer of fly-fishing reels, is closing its doors in Falmouth after nearly 40 years and putting up to 60 people out of a job. The news is a double blow to the community this week with 18 people also being laid off at Pendennis Shipyard which caters for the luxury yacht market. The closure of British Fly Reels, on the Tregoniggie Industrial Estate, is especially hard to bear as a Chinese company has bought the name and the company lock, stock and barrel. It will ship all the manufacturing equipment over to China where labour is much cheaper. The company in Falmouth will shut on December 17. The company's American owners made the announcement to the workforce yesterday morning after calling in all three shifts early to hear the news. Jim Logan, vice-president of current owners, Orvis Inc, travelled from Vermont to make the announcement along with human resources manager Mary Cheddy. Both were tight-lipped after the workforce had been told. A spokesman told the Packet: "Given this is a difficult day I cannot speak to you. I cannot allow anyone to talk to you today." The news has come as a bitter blow to the workforce which has suffered several bouts of redundancies over the last few months, but the complete closure of the 26,000 square metre factory is a total surprise. Some workers leaving the meeting yesterday blamed bad management for the company's woes. One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "No one is happy. We have been told to expect the worst, told it will be by the end of the year. Everyone has been told they can go home and think about what they are going to do - but no one has left yet." He added: "Everyone is shocked really. We don't know everything but have been told to expect the worst." Another worker said it sickened him that British fly reels would now be made in China. "I find it particularly offensive they can use that brand name," he said "They have cited the weakness of the dollar against the pound and they can produce reels cheaper than here, but we pride ourselves on the quality of our products. "There were tears among the workforce this morning and there was disbelief. Most people knew something was on the cards but the complete plant closure was a big shock. A lot of the ladies who work on the assembly lines are very upset." Following the announcement most of the staff were given the afternoon off on full-pay to consider their future. The plant will continue to operate until December 17. A few staff will then probably be kept on until January to strip out the machinery in preparation for it being shipped to China. British Fly Reels have been designing and making specialist products in Falmouth for almost 40 years supplying the world markets. During that time they have earned a reputation for quality, reliability and value. The reels are designed in house and are produced and assembled in the Falmouth plant.
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Post by bluedun on Oct 16, 2004 5:22:30 GMT -5
Well there we are then; that's why you might like to pay more than £50 for a fly reel........unless of course you want a cheaper foreign import.
A sad day indeed.
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Post by pitsfordpirate on Oct 16, 2004 6:01:07 GMT -5
Gutting! The Pirate |
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Post by PLG on Oct 16, 2004 6:11:56 GMT -5
A very bad day and they should not be allowed to be called BRITISH fly reels no more trade description and all that but stock up on the parts for the reels u have by them and dont buy them after january or on ebay as i dont and wont buy things that i can get from a british firm.
rods hardy
reels greys and leeda (BFR)
clothes snobee
lines airflo sinkers and shakespere floaters and inter
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Post by JonMartin on Oct 16, 2004 13:22:41 GMT -5
For once I am speechless.
PS. You need to do a bit of research on your list PLG.
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Post by sid on Oct 16, 2004 13:37:06 GMT -5
Its a shame,i wont be buying anymore BFR stuff now , or should i say CFR . |
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Post by JonMartin on Oct 16, 2004 13:41:02 GMT -5
Speech recovered.
What is going on at Orvis?
Their prices are falling along with the quality of their clothes.
Are they taking themselves down market?
Is their renowned customer service bleeding their profits?
Answers on a postcard please.
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Post by Mustang66 on Oct 16, 2004 13:47:32 GMT -5
Just posted this onto the UKSWFF forum too.
I know a few guys, like myself who have bought the Snowbee XS reel(made by BFR).
Does this mean that Snowbee won't/can't honour their 5 year warranty on the reel?
As I posted on the other forum, I think I'll be sending a wee email there way.
Martin
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Post by lakefisher on Oct 16, 2004 14:54:44 GMT -5
Orvis, B(C).F.R.
Duly added to my *boycott* list.
Along with French apples, straight bananas etc, etc.
Any one doing the same ??
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Post by Guernseybass on Oct 16, 2004 15:56:52 GMT -5
Orvis, B(C).F.R. Duly added to my *boycott* list. Along with French apples, straight bananas etc, etc. Any one doing the same ?? yep me.  |
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Post by otaku on Oct 16, 2004 16:01:57 GMT -5
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Post by auchinbadie on Oct 16, 2004 17:04:08 GMT -5
You certainly keep track of the old mans postings don't you.
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Post by otaku on Oct 17, 2004 6:12:13 GMT -5
You certainly keep track of the old mans postings don't you. No, Orc. I am on his emailing list and get advance warning of stuff he's seen, doing or about to post. He has three lists on different servers hes told us- Mere Mortals, Trusties & God! I am in the middle list but would love to know who is in "God'! If you'd played your cards right you know Orc, Paul might have invented a 4th one just for you!! |
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Post by ScottRods on Oct 17, 2004 6:26:26 GMT -5
I guess they can still call themselves BFR as the company name but not as an abbreviation of British fly Reels, due to the EU ruling on where it is made eg, Parma Ham only coming from Parma Italy, and Champagne from the same region in France.
I don't think this would have happened had the company not been owned by Orvis. The Americans are really trying to save their own industries and they are likely to have retained some Orvis Inc stuff in the US but pushed out the smaller operations to China.
Don't expect it to last though. As more and more manufacturing shifts to Asia, the EU and British govts will start to impose heavy levies on such imports due to the damage to local industry. These levies coupled with the impending difficulty of sourcing raw materials in China will have an adverse affect. Already the Chinese govt is warning that it cannot provide electricity for some of its rural areas especially in the Demand of winter because Industrial areas are both using it all and the govt cannot buy enough oil to supply the power stations.
It's a shame. There isn't anywhere to rely on now. My shimano's made in Korea, Hardy reels likewise. Greys reels are BFR. All the big names are doing it.
Anyone want to start a BRITSH company making fishing hardware? I'll support that.
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Post by 005Clive on Oct 17, 2004 6:37:19 GMT -5
I live less than a 5 minute drive away from the factory (if fact I pass it most days), and I have a good mate who will be losing his job. The workers feel that they have been stabbed in the back as well as kicked in other places. My contact tells me that the main reason for the failure of BFR is bad management, but the door has been left ajar for a management buy out for the bits no wanted by China. If where was another manufacturer who was interested in the site, they would be a workforce who would push that bit harder to make sure that the new owners of BFR would find hard to mach the quality.
Other than the loss of the jobs (at Christmas), in an area that could well do without more unemployment, the loss of another British firm, there is one other MASSIVE loss when they close……………<br>
………….. I lose my freebies
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