Hornby’s decision to move production to the far east was considered highly controversial at the time, but the move secured the company’s future, as MARK CHIVERS explains.
Above: Hornby moved manufacturing to China in the late 1990s, but it was the new ‘Merchant Navy’ 4-6-2 of 2000 which really showed what was possible. This Southern 4-6-2 was the first of the modern models we have today from Hornby.
HORNBY’S transferral of production to the far east in the 1990s came out of necessity. Without it, the company would not have survived in its present state. The decision was not taken lightly at the time, even at senior levels.
As the 1980s approached there was growing competition from other manufacturers and new electronic toys. Not only that, but the company was also in difficult territory once again following the collapse of Dunbee Combex Marx in 1980. A management buyout secured the company the following year, but action was required to improve its turnover as sales of its model railway and slot-car products were suffering.
The competition was also in trouble, but the former Airfix/Palitoy tooling re-appeared in the 1980s with new players Dapol, Replica Railways and eventually Bachmann Europe in 1990. D…
