The Explorer Group has been sold to Hymer
- Thread starter LizziePope
- Start date
Are the UK manufacturers selling out to European countries before Brexit? :dry:
Just because the company becomes German owned, if they remain building in Britain, the quality may not improve ...... but that's my sinical view.
I do hope that standards do raise under new ownership ..... plus it broadens Hymers market.
Just because the company becomes German owned, if they remain building in Britain, the quality may not improve ...... but that's my sinical view.
I do hope that standards do raise under new ownership ..... plus it broadens Hymers market.
- May 7, 2012
- 8,596
- 1,818
- 30,935
It is surprising with a firm famous for quality buying what the magazines surveys would suggest could be the worst. For the sake of the workers we have to hope they intend keeping the factory open but if so it can only be good for future buyers. It should also help get a parts supply where tgey turn up within three months.
The buying power of Hymer might help with getting prices down at Eldiss but it it might make life difficult for the small companies left, Lunar and Coachman who may find it increasingly difficult to compete.
The buying power of Hymer might help with getting prices down at Eldiss but it it might make life difficult for the small companies left, Lunar and Coachman who may find it increasingly difficult to compete.
- Mar 14, 2005
- 18,684
- 3,940
- 50,935
I am certain that Hymer will not tolerate the poor manufacturing quality levels of the current Explorer products, and they will be taking steps to improve things, But it wont happen suddenly or necessarily as quickly as we would like.
When companies of this size are taken over or merge, the TUPE arrangements afford protection to employees and some of their employment conditions. So changes to contracts will take time to work through.
There are some very entrenched 'traditions' in UK caravan manufacturing, and poor working practices can take time to be analysed and eradicated. There used to be quite a strong union activity in the industry, and its likely they, or other workers groups will re emerge.
When companies of this size are taken over or merge, the TUPE arrangements afford protection to employees and some of their employment conditions. So changes to contracts will take time to work through.
There are some very entrenched 'traditions' in UK caravan manufacturing, and poor working practices can take time to be analysed and eradicated. There used to be quite a strong union activity in the industry, and its likely they, or other workers groups will re emerge.
- May 7, 2012
- 8,596
- 1,818
- 30,935
Martin24 said:
Given the number of makes and assembly sites Hymer have then I would not rule that out.
If the present employees value their jobs then they had better do better pretty quickly as I cannot see Hymer tolerating the present standards. Having seen the new Compass ranges I have to say they look pretty impressive in design, but I feel that the beauty is only skin deep, so until things improve they are unlikely to get our business when the current caravan is replaced.
I have to say some German management arriving quickly would be no bad thing.
I would bet my last pound that the UK production plants will close due to this.Take alook at German manufacturing of the past,this is how they operate.One make,one very close model with different colour schemes and badges.What a sad Great Britain we live in.
- Nov 11, 2009
- 23,609
- 8,134
- 50,935
ProfJohnL said:
I agree that it will take time to improve the overall level of quality, but I am sure that with a company of Hymer's standing there will be discernible progress and that will surely act as a catalyst for the other UK makers; the alternative is that they will not succeed, or even survive. German companies do have a long tradition of worker involvement and within UK private industry there hasn't been any real TU problems for many years. It is really down to the management to set the direction of travel and to clearly communicate their strategy, whilst making sure that the whole "team" from MD to cleaner are fully aware of and involved in the company's expectations. This is not a five minute task as it will involve design, training, logistics supply chain, production techniques and facilities etc and getting all, including dealers, to embrace the new approach. It can be done in UK, just look at the car makers. When Nissan first started to make cars in Sunderland there was some surprise expressed that the UK built ones were of better production quality than those same models made in Japan. Even without Japanese or Korean input some UK companies are world leaders viz JCB, Dyson. And a key common thread is management ability to set up and motivate a top performing team capable of producing high quality products at a price that attracts buyers and makes a profit.
Why would they start to improve the UK product when they can simply slot their own excisting design in to operation in the UK.By that i mean mainstream production.Which no doubt people would like.The whole idea of a take over is to utilise more the parts/assemblys you already have.Take a look at Bentley in Cheshire,Besides the bodys,every part is VAG.There is also this other thing called redundancy.
- Mar 14, 2005
- 18,684
- 3,940
- 50,935
seth1 said:
Hello Seth,
These issues are usually not black and white, and the actual reasoning for Hymer's buy out may never be known, but I think it is safe to assume changes will happen, and as others have said if it makes the other UK manufactures sit up and take note that no longer can shoddy manufacturing processes be tolerated then so much the better for the buying public.
My own experience of a UK division being sold to a German manufacture was not so positive, Despite assurances of a long future made at the time of the purchase, 6 months down the line the UK company and brand was closed. 80 solid employees were made redundant. For reasons I won't explain that was a double kick in the teeth for me.
But I mustn't tar all German companies with the same brush, the circumstances were not exactly the same, So I hope Hymer will retrain and continue to offer good employment to the employees of the Explorer group.
It does leave a question unanswered,has the explorer group got cold feet over the departure from the EU?Why this would worry anybody is beyond me.From my findings i would give the explorer facilitys 5 years,the Germans usually have one thing in sight.
One good thing that might result is that German industry seems to give more attention to engineering as well as accountancy. I do not know the exact figures but they have a very much higher ratio of Chartered Engineers to Chartered Accountants than we do ( or the appropriate equivalent qualification) and so a diiferent ethos to function and quality rather than short term profit..
- Mar 14, 2005
- 18,684
- 3,940
- 50,935
seth1 said:
I'm certain that this sale has not just happened after the Brexit vote, It will have been in the pipeline for probably more than a year. These days companies cannot just be sold at the drop of a hat, they have to get permission from the shareholders, and they have to go through "Due Process" which as large set of legal & financial checks. Its also likely that a company the size of the Explorer group the deal might have been reviewed by the competition and mergers commision.
- May 7, 2012
- 8,596
- 1,818
- 30,935
The short term future of the Explorer group must be safe as when we were at the Glasgow show several models had sold out their entire 2017 production run on the first day. The order book looks full and the designs were to us some of the best but their record in the PC surveys and customer complaints would put me off buying one. It does however mean that transferring production with sales at that level would be difficult although it might mean they could move some to take the pressure off the UK factory if they have the spare capacity at another site.
Given the sales success of the company one would hope that Hymer would concentrate on getting standards up and a better spares delivery service but what their long term intentions are only they know. They have retained the MD which suggests they are not looking at closing the business though.
I do wonder what the future of the Whale heating system is though given that Explorer might well use the Hymer buying power and fit the Truma systems instead.
Given the sales success of the company one would hope that Hymer would concentrate on getting standards up and a better spares delivery service but what their long term intentions are only they know. They have retained the MD which suggests they are not looking at closing the business though.
I do wonder what the future of the Whale heating system is though given that Explorer might well use the Hymer buying power and fit the Truma systems instead.
- Aug 23, 2009
- 3,167
- 4
- 20,685
Very good point Ray about Whale. Our Bailey has the Whale system so I would not like them to go out of business.
We've spent the weekend surfing the net looking at possibilities for our next van. Front runners are Adria Alpina and Knaus StarClass at the moment but they aren't quite ticking all the boxes in terms of accessibility around the van for a small transfer wheelchair.
At the moment I can't see us changing for a UK van
We've spent the weekend surfing the net looking at possibilities for our next van. Front runners are Adria Alpina and Knaus StarClass at the moment but they aren't quite ticking all the boxes in terms of accessibility around the van for a small transfer wheelchair.
At the moment I can't see us changing for a UK van
- May 7, 2012
- 8,596
- 1,818
- 30,935
Martin24 said:Very good point Ray about Whale. Our Bailey has the Whale system so I would not like them to go out of business.
We've spent the weekend surfing the net looking at possibilities for our next van. Front runners are Adria Alpina and Knaus StarClass at the moment but they aren't quite ticking all the boxes in terms of accessibility around the van for a small transfer wheelchair.
At the moment I can't see us changing for a UK van
We did see the Knaus at the Glasgow show. A lovely caravan and apparently superbly built but the weight is something else.
I agree reform is required.
The current management is proving to be less effective each passing year; I do think Hymer will make the changes accordingly if they think their reputation will be damaged.
I foresee a more robust and impenetrable bodyshell if the entire range incorporates the German caravan's structure.
The current management is proving to be less effective each passing year; I do think Hymer will make the changes accordingly if they think their reputation will be damaged.
I foresee a more robust and impenetrable bodyshell if the entire range incorporates the German caravan's structure.
I agree Raywood; the system is good, however it does comes down to the person building the unit.
I think Hymer will have a positive effect on the workmanship.
I think Hymer will have a positive effect on the workmanship.
I also agree, I like some of the Elddis layouts and they were on my short list but no more. I hope the new owners act quickly and get visas for some QA folk.
I recently watched a video of a motorhome being assembled and the employee was putting down a bead of sealant by hand before the cab was lowered. Glad I was not becoming the owner of that outfit.
I recently watched a video of a motorhome being assembled and the employee was putting down a bead of sealant by hand before the cab was lowered. Glad I was not becoming the owner of that outfit.
I'm afraid they are all constructed in the same fashion; I have seen them built and goodness.travellerone said:
hmy:They always say, if you see one built, you'd never buy one.
Swift caravans take just over a hour and half for full construction...I find that scary! :dry:
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
CAMC: SHOULD SITE WARDENS BE EXPECTED TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THOSE THAT ARE LATE UPON ARRIVAL?
- Started by Slowtow
- Replies: 6
-
-
-
-
-
Facebook
Twitter