Timbecon 2

[Iain]

Not a bitch, just an observation on trade names:
At the Melbourne WWW I was looking at a series of tablesaws and Timbecon had some nice looking gear (along with everyone else).
What I loath is the name they have chosen, Torquata, Saligna etc, in my view it sounds cheap and nasty and turns me off a bit.
If it's their product why can't they use their own name, just like Carbatec?
Your views...........

[ozwinner]

Hi
I think nearly all the machinery on sale at the moment is made in one humungious factory in Taiwan, the factory must cover nearly the entire area of Taiwan.
The largest part of the factory is the badgeing section, you know for all the different badges that they apply, Torquata, Saligna, Carbatec, Jet, WMS, etc. etc. etc.
Second largest area is the paint shop for all the different colours, it must resemble a drab rainbow.
I was looking to buy a band saw, and the only difference between the whole lot at the show was the price.
Cheers, Allan

[DarrylF]

I'm with you Iain - I just can't get over how cheap & nasty their stuff looks. The combination of the colour, brand name & logo and suddenly it doesn't matter if it's good value or not, I won't buy it.

It's a pity really - they've obviously done well, they have a good range and mostly it's good stuff. A few bucks spent on a re-branding exercise from a half decent marketing outfit would go a very long way.

[craigb]

I'm not sure that it all comes from Taiwan.

I think that a lot of it, especially the cheaper stuff, is actually sourced form The Peoples Republic of China.

IMO the Taiwanese have a better handle on quality control than the Chinese.

[Termite]

It would be interesting to hear them pronounce "quality control", maybe thats why they mostly dont bother with it.
So solly for racist slur.
Termite

[kenmil]

Termite,

QC is an evolutionary thing in developing countries. In the 50's (& 60's to a lesser degree), anything made in Japan was pretty crappy. You wouldn't say that now. They started out making cheap copies of anything the West wanted, and gradually improved their technology to where it is today - the best. Taiwan also was reknowned for making cheap crap, but in the last 10 years they have moved to more high tech products, and in some fields - woodworking machines for instance - Made in Taiwan is now a symbol of some quality.

The PC I am typing this on (Acer) is a Taiwanese product and is in the top 3 in the world. In years to come, China quality will evolve too, and when it does, the western nations had better wake up or they will not compete at all, and they will cease to be relevant in industrial terms.

[BrianT]

Morning all,

Was recently speaking with my B in L - a resident of mainland China for business reasons - about QA etc as this has been on on-going topic in many threads.

China has a wide range of factories that have a capacity to produce almost anything and to whatever standard of QA OR price is required. The main criteria being factories supply only in container lots - preferably 40 ft - of the one product. If an importer/exporter wishes to mix/match, there is a different price structure etc.

The vast majority of products are shipped direct to the USA or Europe.

As Ken mentioned, there is little doubt China will dominate the world manufacturing scene within 10 yrs.

If people wish to dismiss all Chinese products as cheap crap, they may well be doing themselves a dis-service. If the product they purchased is crap, it's probably only because the importer chose to import that particular product 'on price' and not one of a higher standard.

eg those crappy screwdrivers and spanners in the the "$2 discount shops".

Don't be toooooooooo hasty to pass judgement fellas.

Cheers
Brian @ Burra

[craigb]

I wasn't casting judgement, merely making an observation.

In fact I agree with you regarding the PRC. In ten years time, their stuff will probably come at a premium and the cheaper stuff will probably come from India or some other industrialising place.

At the moment though, the less expensive and generally lesser quality woodworking gear, comes from China.

After all to a large extent it's horses for courses. If you perceive that a cheaper tool will do the job you want it to do then why not go for it?

In all things though, you generally get what you pay for.

[BrianT]

Apologies if you thought I was taking a 'cheap shot' Craig - certainly not the case mate.

Unfortunately at this stage Oz doesn't seem to have the market capacity to take many containers of 'single products' - so it goes to the States and they on-ship from there quite often - so extra cost.

You mentioned India. With 'reproduction furniture' now very popular, I've been to one place importing old style fire place surrounds from India as well as timber mantlepieces.

Just an aside - recently purchased the Torquata half inch 15 piece set of router bits. Very neatly and professionaly presented and has been of great value in learning 'the how to' of routing. I'm sure CMT and CarbiTool are better products and now that I have learnt a (very little) bit will go for either of those brands

Cheers

Brian @ Burra :

[Termite]

I agree mate. My vernier calipers are made in China and I'll put them up against any set of Mitutoyo you like. We had better look out if some of the made in Australia stuff I've recently purchased is any example of the way we are going.
Regards
Termite.

[macca2]

I was in Timbecon this morning and they had a couple of bandsaws in a new blue and white colour.

They had the brand name Sherwood as in the old orange models, and looked a lot better.

Living in Perth I find Timbecon to be very good, but then I don't use their mailing list.

Macca

[alf t]

If you are going to worry about the Brand name and colour I would suggest you take your hands out of your pockets or join the local footy club as a half back flanker.
Alf

[macca2]

Nice turn of phrase Alf......that adds a lot. We will all take note of your profound advice.

Macca

[DarrylF]

Bloody ridiculous statement Alf. I'm sure that everyone here would just love to buy a new table saw if it was painted pink and labelled 'Barbie'.

Brand name, colour, packaging, presentation, advertising - they all matter, which is patently obvious. Sure someone out there might want a pink tablesaw (or a sickly orange one for that matter) - but my point was that they would sell more if they looked the part.

[JackoH]

Lots of people buy Triton don't they?. :eek: