snowmatic Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 (edited) The Elan snowboard factory at Fürnitz (Austria) was since Years in financial trouble, because of loss of profitability. Even 2011, one of worlds biggest snowboard brand, Nitro snowboards was moving production away from Fürnitz to playmaker (Taiwan). 3 others big brands has turned away also. The Elan snowboard factory at Fürnitz has produced the alpine snowboard brands Sigi Grabner, Goltes and Pureboarding too. There are also rumours about Nidecker in Switzerland producing SWOARD Snowboards, an other alpine snowboard brand. Actually they don't anymore produce boards at the factory of Rolle. But they talk from restarting small production lots again after May 2013. NdK was sold to a foreign new holder. So Yes and Jones snowboards had to switch from Tunesia to the now last remaining big snowboard factory in Austria, the GST (Pale died, Elan is on the way to die). GST, is well known. It's the factory build by and for F2, producing all the Kessler stock snowboards now since 2 seasons. Kessler Ski stock items are from the Head factory at Bregenz (Austria). So Nideckers (no more Alpine Snowboards since a vew Years) goes on to produce in China (cheap boards and children boards), in Tunesia (mid-price boards) and Austria (higher value boards). We wait for a declaration where SWOARD will be produced in the future, maybe at Rolle (Switzerland) or at GST (Austria). http://www.ispo.com/newsblog/2013/03/15/elans-austrian-factory-reportedly-files-for-bankruptcy/ Edited March 20, 2013 by snowmatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kipstar Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 well that sucks. I guess this might explain why some brands (like SG) were releasing 2013/14 boards now rather than waiting until next season. Who makes Oxess and some of the other niche Swiss brands? From what Hans and others have said, their construction is first rate....maybe the factory can do OEM for SG etc? Maybe GST? Good news for the niche USA manufacturers though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Oxess make their own boards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 May be Elan makes a second start because their volume was big enough. The costs were too high. So a new cost reduction will solve the problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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