Zitat: Insolvenz bei ERNST PAUL LEHMANN PATENTWERK Das ERNST PAUL LEHMANN PATENTWERK (kurz: EPL) in Nürnberg, Hersteller der weltbekannten Lehmann-Gross-Bahn (LGB), zählt zu der traditionellen Nürnberger Spielzeugindustrie. Das Familienunternehmen feierte im Juli 2006 sein 125-jähriges Bestehen. Seit März 2005 befindet sich EPL in einer intensiven Restrukturierungsphase. Durch die anhaltende negative Umsatzentwicklung der Modellbahnbranche, mussten die bereits von den EPL-Eigentümern im Jahr 2002 begonnenen Maßnahmen zur Kostensenkung nochmals drastisch verstärkt werden. Auch die ca. 150 Mitarbeiter unterstützten den Restrukturierungsprozess durch die Erklärung eines schriftlichen Lohnverzichtes. Mit der engen Verbundenheit an den Standort Nürnberg und der hier gefertigten Qualität, wurde 2004 die Fertigung bei der EPL-Tochterfirma in Tschechien aufgegeben und nach Nürnberg zurückverlagert. Der Erhalt der Arbeitsplätze in Nürnberg hatte Vorrang. Trotz dieser positiven Faktoren wurden durch die Finanzierer am 01.09.2006 nicht nur die Konten von EPL gesperrt, sondern auch ein Verkauf der Sortimentsartikel untersagt. Die Umsatz- und Auftragsabwicklung für das Gesamt-Jahr 2006 liegt im Plan. Auch wurde die verlustträchtige amerikanische Tochtergesellschaft LGB of America an ein amerikanisches Unternehmen, mit umfangreichen Vereinbarungen zur langfristigen Weiterführung der operativen Partnerschaft, verkauft. Trotz der dadurch erheblich generierten Liquiditätszuflüsse blieben alle Bankkonten von EPL blockiert. Der Druck der Banken auf die persönlich haftenden Eigentümer stieg stetig und wurde letztlich so immens, dass sich die Eigentümer entschlossen haben, mit dem heutigen Tag Insolvenzantrag zu stellen. Interessierten Kapitalgebern wird somit der Zugang zu EPL ermöglicht. Dadurch besteht nach Auffassung der Eigentümer die Möglichkeit, die Tradition des 125-jährigen, weltbekannten Familienunternehmens fortzusetzen und die Auslieferung der von den LGB-Kunden heiß erwarteten Neuheiten für das Weihnachtsgeschäft sicher zu stellen. Insolvenz bei ERNST PAUL LEHMANN PATENTWERK Das ERNST PAUL LEHMANN PATENTWERK (kurz: EPL) in Nürnberg, Hersteller der weltbekannten Lehmann-Gross-Bahn (LGB), zählt zu der traditionellen Nürnberger Spielzeugindustrie. Das Familienunternehmen feierte im Juli 2006 sein 125-jähriges Bestehen. Seit März 2005 befindet sich EPL in einer intensiven Restrukturierungsphase. Durch die anhaltende negative Umsatzentwicklung der Modellbahnbranche, mussten die bereits von den EPL-Eigentümern im Jahr 2002 begonnenen Maßnahmen zur Kostensenkung nochmals drastisch verstärkt werden. Auch die ca. 150 Mitarbeiter unterstützten den Restrukturierungsprozess durch die Erklärung eines schriftlichen Lohnverzichtes. Mit der engen Verbundenheit an den Standort Nürnberg und der hier gefertigten Qualität, wurde 2004 die Fertigung bei der EPL-Tochterfirma in Tschechien aufgegeben und nach Nürnberg zurückverlagert. Der Erhalt der Arbeitsplätze in Nürnberg hatte Vorrang. Trotz dieser positiven Faktoren wurden durch die Finanzierer am 01.09.2006 nicht nur die Konten von EPL gesperrt, sondern auch ein Verkauf der Sortimentsartikel untersagt. Die Umsatz- und Auftragsabwicklung für das Gesamt-Jahr 2006 liegt im Plan. Auch wurde die verlustträchtige amerikanische Tochtergesellschaft LGB of America an ein amerikanisches Unternehmen, mit umfangreichen Vereinbarungen zur langfristigen Weiterführung der operativen Partnerschaft, verkauft. Trotz der dadurch erheblich generierten Liquiditätszuflüsse blieben alle Bankkonten von EPL blockiert. Der Druck der Banken auf die persönlich haftenden Eigentümer stieg stetig und wurde letztlich so immens, dass sich die Eigentümer entschlossen haben, mit dem heutigen Tag Insolvenzantrag zu stellen. Interessierten Kapitalgebern wird somit der Zugang zu EPL ermöglicht. Dadurch besteht nach Auffassung der Eigentümer die Möglichkeit, die Tradition des 125-jährigen, weltbekannten Familienunternehmens fortzusetzen und die Auslieferung der von den LGB-Kunden heiß erwarteten Neuheiten für das Weihnachtsgeschäft sicher zu stellen.
Well, I may wrong here, but this looks like its all German Have not had to translate in a while...the gist is that LGB is quitting business?? If so, that is awful John
Google Translation: Quotation: Insolvency with ERNST PAUL LEHMANN PATENT WORK ERNST PAUL LEHMANN PATENT WORK (short: EPL) in Nuremberg, Hersteller of the world-well-known Lehmann large course (LGB), ranks among the traditional Nürnberger toy industry. The exempt private company celebrated in July 2006 its 125-jähriges existence. Since March 2005 EPL is in an intensive restructuring phase. By the continuous negative sales development of the model course industry, already the measures begun of the EPL owners in the year 2002 had to be drastically strengthened for reduction of costs again. Also those approx. 150 coworkers supported the restructuring process by the explanation of a written wage renouncement. With the close solidarity to the location Nuremberg and the quality manufactured here, was given up 2004 the manufacturing at the EPL subsidiary in Tschechien and back-shifted to Nuremberg. The receipt of the jobs in Nuremberg had priority. Despite these positive factors 01.09.2006 not only the accounts of EPL became closed by the Finanzierer to, but also a sales of the assortment articles forbids. The turnover and job execution for the whole year 2006 lie in the plan. Also the loss-pregnant American subsidiary LGB OF America was sold to an American enterprise, with extensive agreements for the long-term continuation of the operational partnership. Despite the supplies of liquidity substantially generated thereby all bank accounts remained blocked by EPL. The pressure of the banks on the personally responsible owners constantly rose and became in the long run so immense that itself the owners decided to place with the today's day insolvency request. The entrance to EPL is thus made possible for interested financial sources. Thus in the opinion the owner exists the possibility, the tradition of the 125-jährigen of continuing world-well-known exempt private company and of placing the distribution of the novelties expected hot by the LGB customers surely for the Christmas business. Insolvency with ERNST PAUL LEHMANN PATENT WORK ERNST PAUL LEHMANN PATENT WORK (short: EPL) in Nuremberg, Hersteller of the world-well-known Lehmann large course (LGB), ranks among the traditional Nürnberger toy industry. The exempt private company celebrated in July 2006 its 125-jähriges existence. Since March 2005 EPL is in an intensive restructuring phase. By the continuous negative sales development of the model course industry, already the measures begun of the EPL owners in the year 2002 had to be drastically strengthened for reduction of costs again. Also those approx. 150 coworkers supported the restructuring process by the explanation of a written wage renouncement. With the close solidarity to the location Nuremberg and the quality manufactured here, was given up 2004 the manufacturing at the EPL subsidiary in Tschechien and back-shifted to Nuremberg. The receipt of the jobs in Nuremberg had priority. Despite these positive factors 01.09.2006 not only the accounts of EPL became closed by the Finanzierer to, but also a sales of the assortment articles forbids. The turnover and job execution for the whole year 2006 lie in the plan. Also the loss-pregnant American subsidiary LGB OF America was sold to an American enterprise, with extensive agreements for the long-term continuation of the operational partnership. Despite the supplies of liquidity substantially generated thereby all bank accounts remained blocked by EPL. The pressure of the banks on the personally responsible owners constantly rose and became in the long run so immense that itself the owners decided to place with the today's day insolvency request. The entrance to EPL is thus made possible for interested financial sources. Thus in the opinion the owner exists the possibility, the tradition of the 125-jährigen of continuing world-well-known exempt private company and of placing the distribution of the novelties expected hot by the LGB customers surely for the Christmas business.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I have plans to jump to G scale within the next 20 years (that sounds silly but I have a garage to build and landscaping to do first. LGB is the workhorse for outdoor modeling. This stinks
Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk Official Statement September 19, 2006 Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk today announced that it was taking strong, immediate steps to prevent a hostile takeover of the family firm. Those steps include legal moves that should enable Lehmann to continue providing its quality products and services around the world. "We do not believe that a hostile takeover financed by international bankers is in the best interests of our employees, representatives, retailers and consumers," said Rolf Richter, Managing General Partner of Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk. "Lehmann has been operating profitably, despite the severe problems in the model train industry, and we believe our family atmosphere is a very important reason for our success." To preserve that family involvement, Lehmann has taken the legal step of asking the German courts for protection from its financing banks. "We feared that the largest of our financing banks, an international bank forced upon us after the dissolution of our local bank, sold its loans to Lehmann to a third party without our knowledge," said Richter. Richter also emphasized that these moves will enable it to ship product and provide services during the crucial holiday sales season. "We are going to ship a large volume of popular standard items, like track, and exciting new items," said Johannes Richter, Managing General Partner and production manager of Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk.
Man, I hope so too. My best friend (who was my high school sweet heart), asked me to help with a possible garden railroad. This has been a decades old dream. I figured over the winter we could come up with a plan. Hmmm.
Perhaps I'm missing something but I've only been involved in the large scale portion of this hobby for seven years (after 30 years in N scale) and apart from a few turnouts and about 40 feet of track I have nothing from LGB - and I don't want any. As a relative newcomer I looked into all the major manufactures quite extensively before opening my wallet, and bank account, and I found LGB products wanting on several levels. A. They were toy like at best. B. They were seldom, if ever, North American in outline, and C. They were far and away more expense than the competition with out a single degree of extra quality. As a result, I run primarily USAT engines and rolling stock with a few Aristo cars, and a number of switches, thrown in. They worked wonderfully outside, in all weather, and they work flawlessly indoors as well. A single problem with one old engine was imeadiatly repaired, free, by the manufacture. No questions asked. Could I ever ask for more? On any product. So LGB is in financial trouble? I wonder why. Dave at www.wvrr.ca
I have some limited G Scale, mostly for Christmas time. I have looked at the LGB equipment at swap meets and in the stores and wondered why it commanded such a high price. It would seem that LGB may be in for a rude awakening if they don't figure out how to compete in a world market.
Perhaps this is why they sold the LGBoA portion of the buisiness... to clear up some cash to forstall the impending doom....
To get the facts please visit www.mylargescale.com. Twentythree pages re LGB's predicament, its not all bad, so don't jump to any conclusions, also check www.gscalemad.co.uk for a British perspective.
