Studio flash manufacturer Bowens is going to be liquidated

[AgX]

After 94 years that British firm will be closed.
They hve cancelled production of their flashes in Britain already in 2010, laying off 50 employees, and transferred manufacture to a chinese subsidiary.
Meanwhile they had been acquired by the Calumet Holding. That holding, or rather their assets (Calumet Europe and Bowens) had a year ago been bought by a german investment firm who today stated to close Bowens.

 

[bdial]

That is disappointing news.

 

[ozphoto]

This is rather sad, I have a couple of kits from them that I purchased in the early 00s. Their kits were extremely popular here in AU, with my local store selling them in huge numbers for at least the first 10 years of 2000's.

I note though, that they were suddenly stocking Chinese kits and I guess the $$$ started talking - price vs. quality; not sure how after sales service is for the cheaper stuff, but I guess photographers here are happy to buy a new kit if the old one fails.

I grew up with Bowens and was saddened to read this yesterday via the PDN website. Great gear, wonderful service from their UK office - not sure what I'll do should the gear I have fail. Guess I'll need to look forward to another reliable product that I feel confident in taking on a 6-12 weeks shoot, rather than one that simply ticks the "cheaper" price box.

 

[AgX]

I note though, that they were suddenly stocking Chinese kits and I guess the $$$ started talking - price vs. quality; not sure how after sales service is for the cheaper stuff, but I guess photographers here are happy to buy a new kit if the old one fails.

The Bowens flash manufacture had been shifted to continental China years ago.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I have a whole bunch of their studio flashes - two Calumet-label 2400 W/S packs with five heads and a whole bunch of accessories. Looks like it's time to move over to Broncolor or Profoto, because my kits aren't getting any newer, and they'll likely be unserviceable in the not too distant future.

 

[AgX]

Calumet, who in the past owned Bowens, stated to offer services for Bowens flashes.

(Bowens is going to be liquidated, they are not in insolvency. That means that obligations as from warranties have to be dealt with in future. Though in practise that may be dificult for someone with a broken good...)

 

[ozphoto]

The Bowens flash manufacture had been shifted to continental China years ago.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. The Bowens gear (regardless of country of manufacture) virtually vanished from their shelves to make way for cheaper non-Bowens, Chinese imports.

A number of photographers I know have purchased the Chinese manufactured Bowens kits with no problems at all. I was more pointing out that cost these days has become the #1 consideration, the brand seems to be less important. As a result, this must have had some impact on the decision to close and liquidate; if they aren't selling enough units to be profitable why continue to manufacture?

 

[wiltw]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. The Bowens gear (regardless of country of manufacture) virtually vanished from their shelves to make way for cheaper non-Bowens, Chinese imports.

A number of photographers I know have purchased the Chinese manufactured Bowens kits with no problems at all. I was more pointing out that cost these days has become the #1 consideration, the brand seems to be less important. As a result, this must have had some impact on the decision to close and liquidate; if they aren't selling enough units to be profitable why continue to manufacture?

Cost is the #1 driver, along with features like TTL flash automation and high shutter speed flash capability (e.g. HSS). Buyers do not care at all about the total lack of post-warranty service or parts. The disposable product attitude is "I can buy five of the (brand X) for the price of one (name brand), so if it breaks after the warranty is over, I throw it away and buy a new one!"

 

[AgX]

Bowens however aimed at commercial photographers. One may take on a job one or two spares of a camera-mounted flash, but with the large studio sets Bowens offered failure and repair gets into another dimension.

 

[ozphoto]

Cost is the #1 driver, along with features like TTL flash automation and high shutter speed flash capability (e.g. HSS). Buyers do not care at all about the total lack of post-warranty service or parts. The disposable product attitude is "I can buy five of the (brand X) for the price of one (name brand), so if it breaks after the warranty is over, I throw it away and buy a new one!"

And that is it in a nutshell - spot on, Wiltw!