Edited by pyrotechnist, 30 June 2010 - 10:24 AM.
Possibility of starting a new firework manufacturing business
#1
Posted 30 June 2010 - 10:21 AM
#2 Guest_PyroPDC_*
Posted 30 June 2010 - 10:58 AM
Just curios to what peoples reactions are to starting new firework manufacturing businesses within the UK. With the modern methods and formulas we now know some formulas are a lot cheaper to produce. It would be interesting to if anyone would ever manufacture consumer fireworks or display fireworks within the UK again. With the price of importing cheap chinese fireworks and classifications etc they can become pretty expensive and to be honest, no dissing any importers, the quality of some fireworks lately are abysmal to say the least. This makes me wonder if you can just about cope with producing them in the UK, plus some people like myself feel warm in the fact it has Made in England on the back.
i think with increasing shipping and importing tax always going up and the pound value, i think its a move importers would like to see, i think its a move supermarkets ect would like to see a British brand, (its like British meat)
even better for things we cant get in like 1.1g item, iv always seen great potential for a L.S.O.D service (Large shells on demand). i cant seem to find 48" shells anywhere now lol
Edited by PyroPDC, 30 June 2010 - 10:59 AM.
#3
Posted 30 June 2010 - 11:52 AM
#4
Posted 30 June 2010 - 11:53 AM
I think its a move supermarkets ect would like to see a British brand, (its like British meat)
Maybe, would they be prepared to pay a premium for the privilege? I doubt it.
#5
Posted 30 June 2010 - 11:54 AM
Speaking to a friend of mine who used to manufacture he seems to think a cheap supply of decent BP is a major stumbling block for UK production.
#6
Posted 30 June 2010 - 12:18 PM
I like how the Maltese seem to do it where volunteers from the village go and help out with the manufacturing. Now I am curios to how much pyrotechnists should earn depending upon the job title e.g. chemical mixers, star manufacturers, assembly, packaging, pickers etc.
Edited by pyrotechnist, 30 June 2010 - 12:22 PM.
#7
Posted 30 June 2010 - 06:44 PM
The military fare no better. The majority of our filled HE shells are imported, bulk plastic explosives are no longer made in the UK (BAe/ROF Bridgewater closed 12 months ago).
In the UK we now only have a small number of specialist explosive manufacturers concentrating on marine and military pyrotechnics and occasional re runs of military demolition stores and the like and for other specialist areas such as oilwell perforations and pipeline cutting.
The state of our manufacturing base also reflects on the level of expertise in the UK. Most of us are approaching the ends of our careers and see very few following in our steps. There is a serious shortfall of persons with advanced knowledge and experience in the practical use of explosives and I guess this applies to the fireworks industry too. All the main players are now importers/suppliers - the knowledge base has diminshed with you folks as well ?
#8
Posted 30 June 2010 - 06:51 PM
I am going to try my best to stick to fingers where the sun doesn't shine to this god forsaken government and what once was Great Britain. People can be trained to do basic pyro jobs but at least we will always have our fellow dedicated pyros who probably know more than anyone who could take a degree in such a subject if there was one!
#9
Posted 30 June 2010 - 07:10 PM
The Bridgewater site will have to be fully decontaminated and will probably be sold as a "brown field" commercial site. Ther UK Government has now had to put out for international tender for the supply of the specialist plastic explosives and cutting charges made at Bridgewater. Myself and a few colleagues were lucky enough to be able to acquire the last of the Bridgewater production runs - but as they say - when its gone its gone!!
I guess that the market has changed for fireworks? Goverment and social influences may have changed the public perception of what we want fireworks for. Is it for better or worse - I really dont know.
Edited by exat808, 30 June 2010 - 07:14 PM.
#10
Posted 30 June 2010 - 09:00 PM
Insurance costs maybe the biggest factor due to our litigation culture.
I also agree with fruitfulsteve on the manufacture of gunpowder,...nobody makes it here anymore = scope to supply shooting clubs etc.
On a related issues, due to crass EU precurement & trading legislation, public owned bodies in this country are not allowed to favour the buying of british made goods or services, because they can not be seen to back UK companies in favour of EU countries, unless that company has something unique to offer that no one else makes or provides within the EU, so in essence, backing british is futile under the current free trade EU agreements = angers me!
Although I wonder if some of the old banned british fireworks could be made to sell to european countries not in the EU?
#11 Guest_PyroPDC_*
Posted 30 June 2010 - 09:07 PM
Maybe, would they be prepared to pay a premium for the privilege? I doubt it.
why do they have to be a premium just because its British. when the mad cows disease came this whole British meat thing became so impotent but prices didn't go up. all i mean is yes labour is cheap in china but every year prices to ship explosives to the uk are going up and up and most wholesalers are having to take the price increase. if they were made in the uk there must be a lot of ways to bring to the same price but better quality.
Edited by PyroPDC, 30 June 2010 - 09:09 PM.
#12
Posted 30 June 2010 - 10:24 PM
#13
Posted 01 July 2010 - 07:17 AM
It may be that Chinese won't always be so cheap. I don't see it happening next year, though, and as others pointed out, the skills are being lost, the public attitude is being reshaped, and maybe when that time comes it won't be possible. I believe there will always be fireworks, even if it has to become a completely underground hobby, and all the knowledge won't be lost. But as for a domestic shop goods industry, the world has to turn a good few times before that will ever be an option again.
#14
Posted 02 July 2010 - 10:19 AM
why do they have to be a premium just because its British. when the mad cows disease came this whole British meat thing became so impotent but prices didn't go up. all i mean is yes labour is cheap in china but every year prices to ship explosives to the uk are going up and up and most wholesalers are having to take the price increase. if they were made in the uk there must be a lot of ways to bring to the same price but better quality.
This has already been covered, but the basics are that the making of cakes is an extremely labour intensive task (OK a few devices maybe viable, like mines etc). Hence we would not be able to compete with Chinese products on labour costs alone ($100 per month is good for a Chinese worker).
#15
Posted 02 July 2010 - 01:55 PM
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