Metz in insolvency

[AgX]

The still family-run business was founded in 1938 as a producer of electrical components, but soon they successfully turned to high-frequency electronics. First in the war effort, later for consuming goods as radios and tv's. In the 50's they added photographic electronic flashes and for a short time even a 35mm SLR.

Now it seems that the tv-market got the company in trouble. Flashes make about 15% of their revenues.
Business is said to go on for the time being.

 

[AgX]

In the past Metz was positioned in a niche with high-end tv-sets only sold via specific audio-video dealers, not the large electronics outlets. Lately they changed that concept, stabilizing their sales again. This process though is said to have cost their reserves and lead int the current insiolvency.

I doubt that a maybe-investor would accept a ongoing of combining photo and tv business.

 

[miha]

Sad news. I have several Metz flashes. It appears that even their latest mid- to high-end units were made in Germany (although this term is somehow stretched now).

 

[Steve Roberts]

I remember my father having two small Metz 'Mecablitz' flashes when I was first getting into photography in the 1960s. They were rechargeable, using NiCad cells, but the capacity of the cells wasn't that great to start with and fairly quickly diminished. With the two flashes he would be using one whilst the other was on charge, though of course it was possible to use them straight off the mains within the constraints of the mains cable length.
Steve

 

[AgX]

Sad news. I have several Metz flashes. It appears that even their latest mid- to high-end units were made in Germany (although this term is somehow stretched now).

Yes, Metz strongly emphasize that they develop and manufacture in Germay.


But meanwhile one gets cautious seen quibbling employed by other companies. Maybe their statement does not exclude that part of the work is done abroad.

 

[AgX]

impressions from the plant:

http://www.br.de/mediathek/video/se...rnsehhersteller-metz-insolvenz-100.html#&time=

 

[AgX]

I meant visual impressions. (That's the way we use that term over here.)

In all those discussions on the cause for their financial trouble and their fate only the tv-business is talked about anyway.



Interesting to know that another german manufacturer of flashes, Multiblitz (one of the first manufacturers of electronic flashes), got into insolvency too in 2013, but finally was bought by a german photo-trading company.

 

[munz6869]

That's a shame - I have a set of four Metz 50 AF-1's and two Metz Mecalight 480's that I use for fairly much every commercial job ever. Robust little reliable flashes, and work splendidly with the Pocket Wizard eTTL triggers. I hope they sort out their financial woes.

Marc!

 

[analoguey]

That's sad. I have one of their flashes and it's a top rate performer! I hope they do resolve it and continue to do well!
Such expertise and experience developed over the ages shouldn't be lost!

 

[AgX]

In a german forum there is quite some criticism on their recent models not having features in trend now.

I hardly can argue on this as I'm still stuck in the times of the 60-CT and 45-CL...

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Sad to hear. I have a Metz AF 48, it had lots of features for a flash in that price range a few years ago. Engineering was solid and it worked well. It even has a mini USB port for firmware upgrades to be compliant with newer cameras. I guess if they don't come out of this my flash and many others alike won't have upgrades in the future.

 

[analoguey]

In a german forum there is quite some criticism on their recent models not having features in trend now.

I hardly can argue on this as I'm still stuck in the times of the 60-CT and 45-CL...

I have read some criticism of the next version of the model I have (58Af1), so I understand - of course some things available only on Nikon or Canon systems, but fwiw, I have rarely felt the need for SB-8/900 or 910. Plus I got mine fairly cheap!

 

[AgX]

The search for investors is going on...

The daily business commences, as the losses. (I'm not sure how the latter works in a insolvency procedure.)

A 5th of the employees has been asked to leave the company by means of a intermediary company that should prepare them for a new start somewhere else.

 

[John Bragg]

Sad news. I have 3 metz flashes, but rarely use any of them. I am all about natural light these days. Metz 45 flashes were great with a brolley stand, as the low power setting gave more control than a "proper" mains flash.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Great products. I sold many of them but never owned one. I hate to see them in financial trouble.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I've got a CT36-3 that I picked up in ugly but perfectly functioning used condition about 15 years ago. Has worked flawlessly ever since. With a standard generic, Nikon and Contax adapters. Terrific flash.

 

[AgX]

Metz has been rescued

The company is going to be split.

-) the tv-department has been sold to a chinese tv-manufacturer

-) the flash and plastics department has been sold to a german manufacturer of ergometers and electrical driven running belts (Daum), already located near the Metz plant.


Both buyers stated to keep on production at the Metz plant for long term, with the majority of the Metz employees.
(It seems those who will not be taken over are those I hinted at in post #14, though this is not quite clear.)



Furthermore it seems not clear what a manufacturer not related to photographic flashes or even the photo sector will begin with that department:
Start a new product segment/make an investment or use the production facilities for their current field of electrical/electronic fitness appliances?
Daum has not yet made a statement on that.

But as it was seemingly the tv-sector that brought Metz into financial trouble and the flash sector seemed to go better, the latter might just go on as before.

 

[craigclu]

I bought a flash (Metz 26 AF-1) as a fill flash (Fuji-X) back when announced at the end of last year. It was listed at B&H for Feb 1 delivery and that didn't seem too bad a wait as there was a decent rebate included. That date came and went with a message from B&H that the delivery was pushed back to April 20th. I wasn't desperate for it (I'm mostly a film shooter and the Fuji-X stuff isn't used too much) and decided to just be patient. On April 21, B&H let me know that the date was now going to be June 30th... I can only assume that there is some chaos with new products/suppliers/bills, etc going on. I had been re-assured that the rebate would still be honored but can only assume that could take awhile, too! This little anecdote is on a small item on something not critical to anything but I can imagine it takes some time to build up customer confidence for bigger purchases, making recovery slow to occur.

http://tinyurl.com/p78u4gk

 

[AgX]

All what was published on the insolvency situation indicated that the production was going on. But with employees made reduntant obviously something was going on. Also it is likely in an insolvency situation that suppliers will no longer deliver and stocks will run out.

The plant has been sold.
But actual take-over is sheduled only for June 1st.



The idea behind an insolvency procedure actually is to save as much as possible of a company.

But a take-over to the extend indicated so far still is the exception.
Of course only the future will tell what really is behind this take-over.

 

[miha]

I wish them well.

 

[AgX]

The company is going to be split.
...

-) the flash and plastics department has been sold to a german manufacturer of ergometers and electrical driven running belts (Daum), already located near the Metz plant.
...

it seems not clear what a manufacturer not related to photographic flashes or even the photo sector will begin with that department:
Start a new product segment/make an investment or use the production facilities for their current field of electrical/electronic fitness appliances?

...

Meanwhile a new company has ben installed : Metz Mecatech

Basically this company will go on with flash manufacture as did Metz before.
Though any attempts of the past to transfer production abroad will be cancelled and all activities centered at the mother plant.

Furthermore Metz Mecatech will do toll-design and -manufacture in the fields of flashes , SMD-assembly and plastic-moulding.

 

[baachitraka]

Good news.

 

[AgX]

new flash introduced

Well, new... upgraded.



Mecablitz 44 AF-2 digital

http://www.metz-mecatech.de/en/ligh...litz-44-af-2-digital/product-information.html

 

[Sirius Glass]

Good news.

 

[wiltw]

As a multiple decade Metz user who has grown to expect it's reliable and dependable flash units having great exposure automation, I am pleased to hear of the continuity of the flash lineup!