BUT the big question on this roomer is will Marklin renew the contract???? or start again where they were before with Marklin USA.
That is the question.
Another is Does Walthers want the distribution Contract.
Do the dealers want Walthers and or the right to buy direct again

NN

I will happily comply IF Marlin produce the models which make my knees go week and my wallet flop open.

Regards

....it has been confirmed from an other source that, at Goppingen most of workers didn't work between early december untill about second week of January....(a majority of them - with some departments entirely closed)
On the followed link (already, partly published on this forum) , this is probably what Mr Pluta said to be " an adjustment of their entire cost structure to the reduced expected turnover in the second half of 2010...(...)...to reach a guarranteed achievement of the originally planned EBIT result....

http://origin.library.co...ress_release_ajckids.pdf

.....it seems that we are probably not far from certain limits of the system....(considering that delivery of some already ordered 2010 items has been postponed ...)

Bingo.

Marklin can't continue to release the broad range of models that it has in the past. That's why it dropped the 4MFOR line. The current catalogue is talking up US models to attract US buyers; and the multi-contoller packs and the I-phone apps to attract a younger market with lots of cash. Both are markets it doesn't have a lot of access to.

There appears to be no limit to how much cash can be spent on Xbox and Playstation. Currently the users of these systems would laugh if offered a traditional train set (srsly WTF?) . Offer the same market a two-console toy that can be controlled with their i-Phone, suddenly a lot of wallets might be looking a Brand name they haven't even heard of.

If these strategies don't work out, expect Marklin to drop or sell off the TRIX nameplate. How can they justify the costs of producing, packaging and marketing two lines of what is identical product (more or less)? Economic rationalism will prevail.

Achtung y'all.

Interesting topic (I usually don't get into these subjects) and by those who know much more of this than I do. I surveyed my layout and the following was discovered. Ten locos, some are doubles, with 8 being Marklin and made in Germany and 1 from Italy and one from China. The latter 2 were converted from 2r to 3r digital using Marklin parts, wheels and motors.

There are 10 passenger cars which are tinplate and made in Germany by Marklin. 58 freight cars, all of which were made by Marklin with 15 being tinplate and 43 of plastic with metal frames. The tinplates were made in Germany in the 80's, 90's and early 0's. The plastic models were all made in China within the last 10 years. All models are very good to excellent, both tinplate and plastic. All the models are from American or Canadian prototypes. The C-track and switches are from Germany and Hungary.

Question: is M producing models in China today? If you really want lower prices, that's the way. The huge 2R market sold and used here is nearly all made in China or SE Asia. That's your ticket to low prices and then we'll see you in Walmart? Would you buy it? That would help solvency and it's the only way M will ever succeed in the US. Also, it's gotta be 2R.

If I was running M, I'd make models galore for the American market, in China, including locos, and use heavy advertising to push sales in department stores and mail order plus hobby dealers, and with low prices. Use DCC, 2R and all the works. They would gain market sales pretty quick. Profits would soar. Meanwhile, all you purists would still be happy with the usual EU type models made the same old 3R way and with the high prices you now pay. Also, the company would be solvent again and in business for the long haul.

Everyone's happy. The bankers, the purists and the young hobbyists. Someday, when the youngsters get the big bucks they'll convert to the purist agenda too. Marklin would have 2 levels, one for the new young modelers and one for the old guys with all the money. It's the way to do it in this modern world and would bring a lot of youth back into model RR. I can see it now, on the way home from school, they'll turn on their set using a cell phone device and have it going by the time they're home. They could even show their friends the trains going around, on their phones.


Bob, from the boonies

No, they don't. Germany and Hungary only.

But they buy from Chinese companies.
No Märklin plant in China, but some Märklin moulds are there ...

Other threads:
https://www.marklin-user...px#post267499#post267499
https://www.marklin-user...px#post245785#post245785
https://www.marklin-user...aspx#post92975#post92975

A more correct answer would be, not anymore! There were some Marklin models made in China up to mid 2010.

It looks to me like the long term aim is to replace the Chinese production with production at Goppingen and Gyor. In the short term some production continues to avoid supply problems.

In any case it's only a small percentage of production that's being done in China (less than 10%). Though it doesn't really bother me where the stuff is made as long as they have good quality control in place, I know that some people would much rather all production be returned to Europe.

With China the second biggest economy and soon to be the first it would be better if each country made their own stuff and the population supported them. It would mean me buying Hornby but from what I have seen recently it is now pretty good and their control system is also now much better and all also cheaper.
However I prefer Marklin and as I already have a lot of their models and track etc I dont need to buy much more anyway.
If you want cheap then buy from China and other countries with cheap labour or you can support your own country and give jobs to your people. Wont happen of course because folk just want to buy as cheaply as possible.

dave

Insolvency proceedings are terminated - Märklin is now creditors

LONDON (Reuters) - The model railway manufacturer Märklin has freed after more than two years out of bankruptcy.
The company is now a de facto its creditors, led by the Kreissparkasse Göppingen and BW Bank. Insolvency administrator Michael Pluta had decided against an immediate sale because it does not offer sufficient. He had with the institutions that had 2009 to the financial investor Kingsbridge turned down the money supply instead negotiated a bankruptcy plan. Before a sale, we'll see the new owners now. The district court Göppingen have completed the bankruptcy proceedings on Thursday announced Märklin.

The reorganization of an insolvent company without fresh capital from investors is unusual. After Märklin wrote in the black for the insolvency, the company has accumulated on a turnover of over EUR 110 million, EUR 30 million equity. "This is the basis for a successful future, " said the new managing director Stefan Löbich, who had taken office in January.

A long interview (in German) with Lars Schilling, Märklin marketing manager:

http://www.swp.de/goeppi...derzimmer;art5583,935863

Several interesting info, most of them positive or very positive. I am sorry, but I do not have the time to make a translation here.

I will only mention this point for the American friends:
Q: "Sie wollen doch aber auch neue Märkte erschließen, beispielsweise in Amerika".
Q: "But you still want also to open up to new markets, such as the American one".
Answer: "Die Absicht besteht immer noch. Wir stehen kurz davor, speziell für Amerika etwas Neues mit hohem Spielwert zu kreieren. Das ist aber noch nicht kommunikationsfähig. Wir gehen aber davon aus, dass wir schon im Sommer den Sprung nach USA wagen. ".
Answer: "The interest is still there. We are close to create something new with a high play-value for the American market. But it is not communicable yet. We assume, however, that the venture will leap to the U.S. in the summer".

Cheers,

This is great financial news of our favorite company! Thanks for posting.
Peter

Absolutely you are right. Indication of name by each answer.

Best,

Edited by user 26 April 2011 23:17:48(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Märklin published a press release yesterday (German only) indicating that the volume of sales (turnover) was 105.7 million Euro in 2010 (down from 111.2 in 2009), but EBIT went up to 10.1 million Euro (a plus of about 2 million Euro versus 2009).

Please note: those figures are for 2010 while Märklin was still under insolvency.

Link to the German press release:
http://produktadmin.maer...9-PM_Bilanz_Maerklin.pdf

Are there any news in Germany about the Marklin recovery status??

Below is the link to a short article about Kingsbridge Capital litigation against Alix Partners:

Article

Michael

Lars Schilling left Märklin (German newspaper article):
http://www.swp.de/goeppi...Maerklin;art5583,1273338

Google translation:
http://translate.google....klin%3Bart5583%2C1273338

Perhaps this has already been discussed, but does anyone have an insights into the circumstances or implications related to the departure of Lars Schilling, Marklin marketing director? I assume this is a big topic in the Stuttgart area among those involved with model railroading. I understand he has been marketing director for some 7 years. understand.

http://www.swp.de/goeppi...erklin;art5583,1273338,A

As Tom pointed out, yes it has been discussed. Topics merged.

That was my impression Kimball.

My read on the article (in German) is that they went head to head and he was probably let go rather than leaving on his own. Most major companies spin it that way so they don't look super bad. A guy in his position was probably given a package and told to stick with the story. My guess is one of Marklin's problems is that they don't want to change some of their core values, beliefs or what ever they are so stuck on. I see this same lack of change in the the Corporation I work in and those who usually believe in change or want it don't always make it. I think Marklin should get off their high horse, lean out their processes, drop their prices (yes, $700 is too much for locomotive), sell more, and listen to their employees. Oh, and the guys on this Forum...

Well stated Larry. Good Luck Lars! Peter

Yes, Tom, it is a lot of speculation against the absence of information but the importance of the marketing director can't be diminished in setting the strategy and success of Marklin in the future and its potential effect on customers and Insiders. It will be very interesting who they decide on and how much responsibility the director of marketing will have(if any). As you know, these types of decisions have made and broken similar organizations.

I'm just pleased that the previous management teams including Lars Schilling, for the past 7 years, successfully led them through the bankruptcy, etc., especially given the world-wide competition Marklin faces. Of course, much of their success also has to do with the willingness of the financial institutions/creditors especially in B-W to exercise forebearance and to help them through the crisis.

Regards,

Larry

Any news on 2011 Turnover and profit?

Mr. Löbich said at the trade fair that business in 2011 was "excellent" without giving any figures yet.
I presume they won't give any figures until they have testified results.

Google translation:
http://translate.google....Fdg%2F0%2F1%2F1007171%2F