“Yes, we have projects at this factory and Trainworx production will be affected,” said Pat Sanders via e-mail. “We are researching our options at this time and hope to get rolling again soon.”
In a blog post, Atlas Model Railroad Co. noted the factory was one of its locomotive and rolling stock suppliers, but the company’s track and accessories were not impacted by the closure. “Atlas is currently working with our network of suppliers to transfer the projects to others for completion,” the blog post continued. “This will cause a delay in some previously ordered products.”
In addition to adjusting production schedules, some firms have finished projects waiting to be shipped. Chris Brimley, vice president of product for ExactRail, wrote in a blog on the firm’s website, “The N scale AutoFlood II hopper is on hold as we move that project to a new factory. We have been told that the HO scale GSI bulkhead flatcar production was actually finished last week but is still sitting at the now-closed factory. We expect these to be on our way to us soon.”
Frank Angstead of InterMountain noted that though there will be a delay in new product releases, the company is already looking for new manufacturing options. “Our expectation is that we will begin shipping a selection of new product within four months,” wrote Angstead in a letter posted online. “Purchase orders with alternate vendors are already being arranged so we anticipate production to resume very soon.”
One theme shared by the manufacturers impacted by Affa’s sudden closing is this will take time to sort out. On the Fox Valley Models Facebook page, company president Matt Gaudynski wrote, “If projects can be moved, it will take a number of months to do so, and then get a new factory up to speed on our projects will take even more time…[We] greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we move forward through this unexpected interruption.”
Visit the Model Railroader website for updates on this developing story.
It would be nice to see some of our favorite model rr firms start thinking about making more items in the USA. I would like them to promote ” made in USA” in their advertising. Considering automated processes, building cars/kits, buildings, and engines would be beneficial in the long run and not that much different in price. When I buy any type of merchandise at retail stores, I check the country of manufacture. and choose USA made stuff where I can. In a lot of cases, there just isn’t anything but Chinese merchandise. Our corporate owners/planners are short sited & need to think farther out in time and be more patriotic corporate citizens.
We need to bring back manufacturing back to the US, all this crap about pollution and taxes etc., etc., is so the big CEO’s and profit holders can get more dollars in their pockets. By the time you pay the wages in Japan, the shipping cost of the container, unloading of same. Then transported to the inland warehouses, then to the distributor, then to the train stores, adds a lot more cost to the models. Plants could be built in Iowa or Nebraska where there is less pollution, would create jobs for US workers, would get better quality control too. I have bought several models with sound, only having too send them in for repair. Just food for thought.
Unlikely this has anything to do with tariffs.
China’s version of the EPA was given expanded authority last year, both to enforce existing regulations and to put further limits on airborne pollution. Most likely the Affa factory closure is due to to their painting operations.
Now would be a great time for US Companies to jointly fund a plant located in the US!!! Let’s get China out of the picture. (Previously approached Lowell Smith.)
Time to go back to the usa….
SO a thought…. Why don’t they all get together and buy the factory to keep it running. It would save time and less chance of it shutting down in the future.
Is this a result of the tariffs imposed on China?
Yes! Probably too expensive (or banned by China) to combine with Doug Wickson’s idea-buy factory move here.
Does the Chinese government allow foreign ownership of manufacturing firms?