This is the sort of thing that baffles me .

[Evans Electric]

I think I mentioned this in another thread ....a local fasteners factory  closed down ,  load of jobs gone , moved to Germany .  Left with this below.

I have learned that the Germans couldn't get tool setters  with the skills to keep the place running so it has been sold to the French and is back in the UK  , Manchester , Bolton , Leeds  ...I forgot where I was told TBH . 

How on earth can a company withstand the financial drain of  ...moving all their machinery to Germany ....losing their skilled staff......suffering a loss of production ...selling it again ...move it back to the UK and set it all up again .    

The only gain would be selling the site ....is that what these things are all about ? 

 

[Evans Electric]

This baffles me too  ....how can we go from 6000 jobs at  Austin /BMC/ British Leyland/  MG Rover  to the pic below.

 

[Sharpend]

There are many reasons that affect the companies abilities to remain viable within a country. However the biggest underlying factor over here is ............................

because we're stooopid!!

who else lets their manufacturing industry go to the wall?

 

[user 28595]

The British car industry disappeared because they made poor quality cars. The Japanese were making cheap tinny things, but they worked every time you got in them. The Germans made well engineered expensive cars that worked every time you got in them.

As for moving a business, that's up to the bean counters, who report to the shareholders. If they can see money in it, then they move it - doesn't always work, as you've pointed out.

cheers, Paul

 

[Murdoch]

These days, the UK needs to change its approach to buying products - too often "cheap" wins , but for our long term good we have to accept that buying British has to be good for us all...

Which manufacturers in our industry, actually MAKE the kit in the UK?

 

[Blue Duck]

China Direct

it's not going to get any better, looks like Mrs May is going for bargain basement.

The fact our economy exists in such a high plane is that its built on hedges and "affordable" 1 bed apartments.

There will be nothing left except coffee shops, charity shops and pound shops.

:|

 

[phil d]

I can't understand it either, all these foreign companies that seem to be fighting to take control of our industries are only doing it for their own benefit, most of the British railway firms now are foreign owned, we have a lack of rolling stock, overcrowded trains, delays and regular fare increases yet go to the countries that actually own our railways ant they have loads of trains, they run on time, are never overcrowded and have lower fares, why? simple because the companies that are buying ours are using the profits to maintain their own stocks in their own countries and benefit their own people.

Many  years ago the British travelled the world and took control of anything they wanted that would benefit Great Britain, we moved slaves all over the place, we ran cotton plantations, tea plantations and many other things. The countries we were taking these things from got very little from this "deal", however Britain benefitted massively, this is exactly what is happening now, the French, Germans and increasingly the Chinese are anxious to get a foothold in our country, not through any sense of altruism, simply because by providing services over here they can use the profits back in their own country. The politicians say it's great for us that for example the Chinese are so keen on building nuclear power stations over here, how? They will no doubt use as much materials and equipment as they can from their own country and possibly even bring over their own "specialist" workers. In a given situation normally local firms benefit from these construction sites, from local firms supplying concrete, tool hire companies, fixing and fastener suppliers, even bigger firms supply steel, take it right down to the local shops, they make money by selling food, papers, drinks, cigarettes etc to the workers.

With foreign companies wanting to build things quite often with materials imported from their own countries this takes quite a big chunk out of the chain of benefits to the local economy, how is that benefitting Britain?

 

[Lurch]

Lets make America Britain great again.

 

[Murdoch]

When the Germans and French write tenders, they specify the minimum levels of local supply, and local workers..... We must do the same.

The stupid Scots didn't do this for the new 4th bridge..... When a steel works within sight could have been used to supply the steel..... So they watched it come past on ships from. China

 

[Kurt]

My understand is that the power station is being built by the French, the Chinese are simply financing it. Basically because china has such an excess of cash from exports, they need to invest it. Gilts are so low around the world that something like a nice power station will give them a higher return. Why not, who cares whose money it is, a big chunk of US debt is China owned, even little old me has some premium bonds, lol - so I own a little bit of UKs 1.7 trillion debt pile.

 

[Sharpend]

It doesn't matter whose money it is right up too the point when they want it back? 

 

[Kurt]

Doesn't work that way, gilts are traded, if China wants out, its bad for the remaining investors but the Gov have their money already, as for the power station no idea what happens if China change their mind or don't make a payment date, I guess the gov will have to step in and raise premium bond thresholds lol.

 

[Blue Duck]

I understood it like this....

Chinese money and French expertise are to build a powerstation, a similar one is currently being constructed in France and it's has taken 13 years and is way way over budget!

Once it is constructed EDF and the Chinese will put a levy on our energy bills and the Chinese will also be allowed to construct another power station in Essex.

We will be in debt to the Chinese and EDF for the rest of our lives.

It seems ridiculous to re enforce our infrastructure in a payday loan kind of way, it would much better to nurture skill and development here at home.

 

[binky]

EDf are working with China to build nuclear powerstations in China. Ultimately the Chinese wish to steal the technology and know-how, like they have with just about everything else.

 

[binky]

The only gain would be selling the site ....is that what these things are all about ? 

 It's called asset stripping. It was allowed under Thatchers brave new world to shut a perfectly viable business down, sack the staff and build houses on valuable land for profit. The asset strippers were quite amazed, apparently, that they were allowed to do this. It was this that responsible for the jump in unemployment and ultimate destruction of our industry. Now the 'free market' supporters would argue that these established old companies should have moved premises and sold the land off themselves. I suppose they have a point, but the wholesale destruction of jobs should not have been allowed in my opinion. It happened all across Europe too, and we wonder why the Chinese grew so quickly.

 

[Evans Electric]

   Looks like this is what is happening here .  It always seems to be same scenario ....this company grew in B,ham ,  with operations across Europe .

Emhart become owners .

2010  they sell out to Stanley Black & Decker.

2012  they close it down & move it to Germany .

Now I hear it is back in the UK  in the north somewhere.

The site here is to become a transport hub & warehousing facility .