Chainsaw Repair

Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Husqvarna => Topic started by: Cut4fun . on February 27, 2014, 02:26:20 pm

Title: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: Cut4fun . on February 27, 2014, 02:26:20 pm
Interesting.

Husqvarna to Invest U.S. $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility

http://rermag.com/supply-side/husqvarna-invest-us-159-million-chainsaw-production-facility

Husqvarna Group this week said it will invest in a new production facility for manufacturing of chainsaw chains in Huskvarna, Sweden, where the Group already manufactures professional chainsaws, brush cutters and trimmers. The Group will also invest in expanded capacity for manufacturing of cylinders for two-stroke engines for chainsaws in its facilities in Nashville, Tenn., and in Huskvarna, Sweden.

Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: alsled on February 27, 2014, 02:30:09 pm
Good, and I hope they improve the quality of the consumer saws.   I see one more  455 with carb trouble,,,,,,,,
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: farmboy on February 27, 2014, 02:32:28 pm
I haven't had any trouble out of mine.  Probably cause I have 2 NIB carbs in carb drawer. LOL
Shep
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: aclarke on February 27, 2014, 02:38:16 pm
Strictly chain correct?
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: SawTroll on February 27, 2014, 02:51:12 pm
Good, and I hope they improve the quality of the consumer saws.   I see one more  455 with carb trouble,,,,,,,,

Husky doesn't make any carbs.
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 27, 2014, 02:55:14 pm
If you read closely the announcement HVA released it appears that:

Husqvarna will insource the manufacture of cylinders, does not say anything about pistons,
Husqvarna will begin making saw chains itself instead of purchasing Husqvarna branded products from other manufacturers,
Lastly it also states the investment will also enable us to grow our offering in the replacement part market.
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: tlandrum on February 27, 2014, 07:11:47 pm
as a Husqvarna dealer this is good news for the future. competition in the market benefits us all. 
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 27, 2014, 08:33:37 pm
as a Husqvarna dealer this is good news for the future. competition in the market benefits us all. 

Agreed Terry! It will employ more Americans!
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: SawTroll on February 27, 2014, 08:47:45 pm
Strictly chain correct?


Well, they do have a bar factory as well, but that is another and much older story (and another location, in Norway). The Techlite bars are made there, and many of their regular laminated bars.

A lot of their bars are rebranded Oregons though, a some have been GB in the past. We don't know if they are going to make all their chain at the chain factory - time will tell.....
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 27, 2014, 09:17:14 pm
Back in my motocross days, Husqvarna were the absolute masters of pressure cast non-ferrous metal manufacture. HVA made the most beautiful complex engine components around. I, for one am hoping that they revive and enhance their dominance in this area!
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: 166 on February 27, 2014, 10:06:44 pm
If they do their own chain I would guess it would be sold in the European markets first?
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: sharkey on February 28, 2014, 06:47:13 am
Back in my motocross days, Husqvarna were the absolute masters of pressure cast non-ferrous metal manufacture. HVA made the most beautiful complex engine components around. I, for one am hoping that they revive and enhance their dominance in this area!

If I can respectfully disagree and I know Im showing my age, even from the perspective of riding Husqvarna automatics, Maico was king!
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 28, 2014, 08:15:20 am
Don't feel bad about age, I remember those times too, started in 68 on Husky 360 Cross for Malcolm Smith K&N motorcycles, then for Edison Dye and finally the Husqvarna factory in 1971. The 73 400 CR in my avatar is actually my 73 season practice bike. It is still owned by a close friend of mine and that picture is recent!

Maico, made fine motorcycles. Not discussing the merits of individual brands only manufacturing techniques. HVA was one of the pioneers of pressure cast non ferrous metals outside the military/aerospace arena in the mid to late 60s. I am sure Lockheed Martin had the technology at the time but chainsaws probably would have been in the stratosphere in pricing were they to have made Stihl cylinders instead of the SR-71.
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: SawTroll on February 28, 2014, 09:15:20 am
If they do their own chain I would guess it would be sold in the European markets first?
I would think so....
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: SDB777 on February 28, 2014, 11:59:06 am
Didn't notice a place where this is going to happen at(or maybe my old unrevised eyes just missed it)....[edit: just noticed in was in Sweden]
Husqvarna already has a plant in SW Arkansas(Nashville, AR to be exact), wonder if they are think the low cost work force here in Arkansas(yes, we are 48-49 out of all the states as far as income per capita-unfortunately) will be able to fill this investment?



Scott (rank higher if you use the Obama state count) B
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 28, 2014, 12:10:01 pm
Didn't notice a place where this is going to happen at(or maybe my old unrevised eyes just missed it)....[edit: just noticed in was in Sweden]
Husqvarna already has a plant in SW Arkansas(Nashville, AR to be exact), wonder if they are think the low cost work force here in Arkansas(yes, we are 48-49 out of all the states as far as income per capita-unfortunately) will be able to fill this investment?



Scott (rank higher if you use the Obama state count) B

Investment in chain manufacture will be in Sweden, however and I quote
Quote
The Group will also invest in expanded capacity for manufacturing of cylinders for two-stroke engines for chainsaws in its facilities in Nashville, Tenn., and in Huskvarna, Sweden.
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: Philbert on February 28, 2014, 12:19:30 pm
I can see the potential benefit for their OEM lines, but not sure about the aftermarket stuff.  Big box stores are very price concious (look at Home Depot and Tri-Link), and pro-saw users are picky and more knowledgable - they will not buy a replacement chain just because it says 'Husqvarna' on it.

If you look at Husqvarna's branded offerings in catalogs like Bailey's, they are always priced significantly higher than Oregon or similar ones. This suggests to me a higher markup or price structure that they will have to address.

I see them making a lot of low-kickback chain due to their product mix, but it only takes swapping out a drive link to make a green chain into a yellow one, so they could have a full line covering all of their saws.

Something else to watch!

Philbert
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 28, 2014, 12:25:38 pm
Agreed, Philbert! However what interests me is the in sourcing of cylinder manufacture. Would be nice if they would consider replacing hard chrome bores with nikasil. Doing so in both the Sweden and USA facilities would allow for cross pollination of the US and world markets.
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 28, 2014, 01:51:12 pm
The announcement is a year old (February 2013) so who knows when they will invest or when we will see any fruit from the investment!
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: Philbert on February 28, 2014, 03:21:30 pm
Quote
However what interests me is the in sourcing of cylinder manufacture. Would be nice if they would consider replacing hard chrome bores with niksil. Doing so in both the Sweden and USA facilities would allow for cross pollination of the US and world markets.

Again, interesting that they are investing in these locations, versus China, Mexico, etc.

Had to look up the difference between nikasil and  chrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikasil.  Sounds like a cost issue?

Philbert
Title: Re: Husqvarna to Invest $159 Million in Chainsaw Production Facility
Post by: SawTroll on February 28, 2014, 03:43:56 pm
Quote
However what interests me is the in sourcing of cylinder manufacture. Would be nice if they would consider replacing hard chrome bores with niksil. Doing so in both the Sweden and USA facilities would allow for cross pollination of the US and world markets.

Again, interesting that they are investing in these locations, versus China, Mexico, etc.

Had to look up the difference between nikasil and chrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikasil.  Sounds like a cost issue?

Philbert

It likely is to some degree, but I have no idea how large the cost difference is. Of course not all "nikasil" really is as good as the original Mahle Nikasil, even though the patent has expired.

Prices on OEM cylinders have more to do with price policy than with production costs anyway!