Will they make a Lenny oops Leopold the Baggage Smasher accessory for Z?:tb-hissyfit: http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=3709
400 Wow, Says they are going to release 400 new products this year!!! I wonder how many in Z scale? Cool! Hobo Tim
One thing they did not discuss, will they produce the same quality products, at lower prices, using Chinese factories?
Marklin was making us-type product in China at least as early as 2002, probably well before that: http://www.ztrains.com/pages/ancillary/china.html Sad to say, the cheaper labor never reflected in their prices. Now that Japanese Mfrs are selling $100 (retail) Z mikados made in China, Marklins suggested price of $300+ for their mikes/pacifics, and $400+ for a Commodore V is ludicrous. Methinks Marklin will retreat to their last bastion with a moat around it, European prototypes, which no other major player is interested in producing. US-type product will certainly be produced until the molds wear out, but I wouldn't hold my breath for a Marklin Dash-9 anytime soon! Lionel took their stuff offshore to China in the mid-90's, the starter sets sold today ($300 list - $99 blowouts after christmas) have more detail parts, exquisite finish, better track and apparently (and hopefully) the same longevity as the 1995 and earlier starter set products. And yet Lionels big news is that they may bring some assembly work back to the US. go figure.
