Can Gemini survive without JC?

[LorenzoLommus]

Let say if one day Gemini ditched JC, that means GJ would have to find another factory or even open its own factory and retool all the moulds. Currently JC owns all the moulds but they're manufactured by a 3rd party factory in China.

Someone has asked a question about Gemini moving the operation back to the States over at DAC months ago due to the tariff issue. Just think if Gemini moves everything including manufacturing to the States, how much it would cost them to design all the moulds from scratch + the manufacturing cost, including opening a factory, hiring workers, getting permits, logistics etc.

Avid GJ fans, what's your take? Would you each like to donate $10 to GJ to help them move the operation?

 

[CalAviator]

I am by no means an avid GJ fan, but I think GJ has spoken about this a few years ago. I would have to find the video somewhere, but I remember watching that Elliot Epstein (GJ President) said it would be a logistical nightmare to move manufacturing elsewhere. There would be a substantial amount of regulations regarding each part of the manufacturing process (diecasting, painting, and even packaging) if it was done in the US, compared to their operations in China where there are less regulations and it is all done within the same factory.

I believe GJ has also said they considered moving production to the Philippines many years ago, but factories there are not as experienced or well equipped as the ones in China. In other words, it would not make any financial or logistical sense to move operations to the US or out of China for that matter, given how established diecast model aircraft manufacturing is in China.

Again, I would have to find the video or article where GJ talked about this, but they have talked about this previously and is definitely an interesting topic.

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

You would have to pay workers in the U.S. a livable wage to produce those models which would probably be north of 50k-60k a year (just guessing) ... For a small business like Gemini Jets which primarily deals with distribution rather than manufacturing, would be a colossal undertaking with enormous price increases on their products and raw materials, overhead and benefits for employees. I don't know about you, but I don't want some high schooler who has no skin in the game in terms of the quality output being paid $15 an hour to make my precision diecast models.

 

[LorenzoLommus]

I am by no means an avid GJ fan, but I think GJ has spoken about this a few years ago. I would have to find the video somewhere, but I remember watching that Elliot Epstein (GJ President) said it would be a logistical nightmare to move manufacturing elsewhere. There would be a substantial amount of regulations regarding each part of the manufacturing process (diecasting, painting, and even packaging) if it was done in the US, compared to their operations in China where there are less regulations and it is all done within the same factory.

I believe GJ has also said they considered moving production to the Philippines many years ago, but factories there are not as experienced or well equipped as the ones in China. In other words, it would not make any financial or logistical sense to move operations to the US or out of China for that matter, given how established diecast model aircraft manufacturing is in China.

Again, I would have to find the video or article where GJ talked about this, but they have talked about this previously and is definitely an interesting topic.

Philippines makes a lot of hand crafted mahogany models, if Elliot Epstein would like to go that route