Fairline Redundancies

Oh dear here we go again , I bet this isn't the first of cuts either , order books have to be filled to keep workers going. I do feel for the staff I hope there skills can be used in other areas. No mention of this in the recent press showing the new facilities at fairline , then again you don't advertise ,the fact that new machines take the place of workers! A real shame as there skills will dissapear over time as there is little in the way of apprenticeships these days.
 
The tone of the article reads to me that Fairline is reaping the benefit of the investment in new machinary and techniques, and these jobs are no longer needed. The article in MBY stated for example that new processes have taken several days out of the veneer and lacquering time, thereby needing fewer manual activities. This is sensible management, rather than panic redundancies.
 
rafiki_ said:
The tone of the article reads to me that Fairline is reaping the benefit of the investment in new machinary and techniques, and these jobs are no longer needed. The article in MBY stated for example that new processes have taken several days out of the veneer and lacquering time, thereby needing fewer manual activities. This is sensible management, rather than panic redundancies.
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Tend to agree with that. In the present climate, it is even more vital that boat builders invest in their manufacturing process in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs. If you stand still, you die

Of course this could be because Match 2 is finished! Come on jfm, time you ordered another one:D
 
Out of the nice PR spin most probably I would say Fairline is seeing a very slow market and has been increasing its outsourcing for what it used inhouse back in the days....

This gives better security if the market will continue to slow down....
 
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PowerYachtBlog said:
Out of the nice PR banter most probably I would say Fairline is seeing a very slow market and has been increasing its outsourcing for what it used to do back in the days....

This gives better security if the market will continue to slow down....
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I don't think it is PR. The refitted factory in Corby (I have been round it for a full detailed tour) is quite something and not like many/any other boat factory you've seen. The automated furniture and lacquer line is a more modern version of the Beneteau thing on their well known youtube video and produces all the wood panels, (CNC cuts them, sticks the edge veneer on, lacquers them) with almost no human intervention. The thing can run through the night and in the morning there is a stack of furniture panels. It has a huge impact on labour requirements for both the Corby and Oundle Fairline factories because it serves both (apart from the Squadron 78, for now at least)

The 3 mixed model lines in Corby mean that as uneven orders come in for the different models you do not have the build team guys working slow on some lines and fast on others, as you would have with one-line-per model factory. And the moulding is going to resin infusion (on the 48 platform which is now fully in production) which cuts out more labour hours.

So this isn't PR to "hide" a story about weak markets and weak sales. It is a genuine wholesale move from traditional boatbuilding to a relatively high degree of automation.

Separately, Fairline isn't particularly increasing oursourcing in any kind of wholesale way
 
PowerYachtBlog said:
ok JFM thank you for clarifying.... Anyways good luck for the workers
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Yes PYB, good luck to all the workers. They are skilled guys but the boatbuilding process is becoming more automated in the last few years meaning that there is overall less demand for their skills, until the markets pick up and boat building returns to 2007 levels or more. It's very tough for them, so as you say good luck to them. I'm doing my best to buy as many boats as I can (LOL!!) but it needs the whole market to come back, which will take some years I guess
 
Richard Shead said:
Unless you have gone for M5 already which is currently enjoying a refit at Pendennis...
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Tee hee, no, she is a bit big for my needs currently. Lovely machine - I have been to sea in her a number of times including when owner (first owner, before the sale and Pendennis project) and Ron Holland were on board so her legs could be stretched to 20 knots or so
 
I ll be the fly in the ointment - agian as it appears - sorry folks buts this is how i see it
I posted this below well before Sealine popped

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It's insolvent ( basically without help of parent Co) because folks are buying the competitors boats in the narrow sectors sealine operate in .
Land locked - they lack long term vision of going larger than what they can truck out.This severly limits the even the most optimistic growth forecasts for a so called " venture capitalist Co in it for the long term"
The owners realise the brand is weak ( except in the UK) in nearly all of the rivals major markets -eg France ,Spain ,no chance in Italy well oversubscribed with builders - likewise the US ,
Next up emerging markets like China,and Pascific rim countries - they wade in at Pred 80's and Priny 95's etc as starter boats , Sealine don,t get a look in .They have missed the boat .
So with the EU Genaral ecomonic situation - the sub 60 fter,s are the hardist hit - sales wise
Sunseeker/ princess are shifting much bigger ( profitable) stuff onto a global market, kinda compensates for the shrunken sub 60 ftEU market , they have critical mass in brand image cultivated over he last 40 years - its payback time .
Sealine has nothing in the locker brand wise .
2011 Sealine opened Sealand France in LaNapoule ,next to Sunseeker.Fr and Princess.Fr .It was opened at the la Napoule Easter boat show ( check out this month mag advert) .it shut within 8 months did not make it to 2012 - fancy glamourously decorated office - gone before the year end !
Re Jeanneau - and Beneteaux , iam afraid French are fiercely loyal to there own , and to be fair they are great sea boats practical and priced accordingly ,with commensurate build quality .They are not rubbish sales are holding up in market .
Future of Fairline - tough one - I personally think they are on a knife edge .As I said modal range is just not broad enough in today's / tomorrow's global market ,- or they are not ' niche' enough or small enough yet .
I Predict Fairline next in the financial stocks ., 2014 ish ?
 
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Goodo, we'll see if Fairline goes into a bankruptcy process in 2014 then. As they are generating cash and making a profit, it's hard to see that happening but we can pick this topic up on 31.12.2014 (or sooner!) :-)
 
Anders_P42 said:
Fairline are feeling the pinch if their accounts are anything to go by:
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I think you can assume that the owners would not have invested £2.8m in new machine tools if they didn't have faith in the long term viability of the business. Many manufacturers in all sorts of industries have been going through a painful and expensive restructuring to align their costs with much tougher market conditions but it doesn't mean those businesses don't have a long term future
 
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