Two questions to the community, anyone with experience in acquiring/making blanks in Sweden? Plus do we have the need for a small scale shaping industry in Sweden to get away from bad Asian imports?

Cost too high..

ErikG skrev:
Cost too high..

blanks costs or shaping costs in total? Blank costs not very high, around 50 to 60 euros from several european dealers, if you combine several blanks plus the material the transport costs get diluted. Now shaping in terms of a business can be expensive, but a lot of variables involved. Just think that 4000 to 5000 kr for the asian CNC pieces of junk available in Sweden is to much (good profit margin!!).

Just the whole cost of everything in Sweden too high, volumes way too low. If you want to make a living out of that in Sweden best of luck.
Whats wrong with the asian made boards?
Plus theres lots of imports from Europe too.
Last of all don't forget most of the market would cater to beginners/intermediates etc.
Its a tough thing to do in Sweden other than as a hobby.

Another thing is also who in Sweden would splash out that much money for a board made in Sweden by some unknown guy? When You can get a Pukas, Lost or Al Merrick board instead!

Cost of living, rent, transport wages etc etc.

Sorry if I sound negative...
There are positives of course with boards made locally, close to the waves they will be surfed on etc. I just dont think the market is quite there in Sweden.

I don' t want to go into some kind of discussion what works what doesn't, maybe someone just wants to be a backyard shaper in the weekend and bring some friends to shape in Sweden quality handmade boards. If people want to buy Olatu boards or made in Thailand or China mass produced boards with almost no lamination fine, I will stick to Almond, Fowler, a good price Hanel, Kim Kim , or top quality Hall, Hess and Maren. South europe is full with excellent quality shapers that will produce a board that will fit you for a price almost the asian ones.You can get a Matta for around 230 euros!

Yeah but Your first question was if its viable with a small scale shaping INDUSTRY in Sweden, wasn't it?

I think most people in Sweden never heard of those brands/shapers. I might be totally out of touch myself, mostly go on surftrips to the canaries, Ireland, Norway, Indo and other places outside of Europe Im sure there are good shapers in southern Europe.
I don't think they have the high costs, taxes etc that You find in Sweden.

Go ahead with Your ideas! Only one way to find out if it works or not. I think a good idea is to start out small/backyard

ErikG skrev:
Go ahead with Your ideas! Only one way to find out if it works or not. I think a good idea is to start out small/backyard
230 euro for a board is incredibly cheap..

ErikG skrev:
ErikG skrev:
Go ahead with Your ideas! Only one way to find out if it works or not. I think a good idea is to start out small/backyard
230 euro for a board is incredibly cheap..

It's' a good price. You can get better ones around 300 400 euros.
By small industry I was meaning backyard

Then I'm part of that industry. At least I'm totally back...ways.. yard!?

I make my blanks together with my friend Max. We call them MAX blanks. They are computer cut from locally made very good EPS. We are making new blank models each time we need for our own personal use, but when we don't have anything better to do we say to ourself that we should start produce them for local backyard shapers or whoever wants to buy them. No real money and no time, but it is a fun project in our minds! With stringer they would cost 5-600 SEK, and there would be no transportation cost (or pollution) from England or France, or even US (like american blanks from sea base). But my honest forecast is that it will not materialize, but it is a fun talk when we go for it. Check my thread:

surfsverige.se/index.php/forum/2-surfforum/95184-eight-08-smagalet-projekt

/JB

PS: I totally like the "support your local shaper" logic, but I do not at all agree with that Asian boards are all bad. Well, Firewire is made in Asia and they are super strong. Surftechs lasts forever and when it comes to longboards - I like the feeling of them. Then of course it is kind of cookie to choose shape from volume diagrams etc. and fall for on big corporations' marketing of their "new latest superior model". Even if they actually could be darn good boards!

Hej Jesper,

Thanks for your answer. Nice backyard business concept you have, will read in more detail your thread and get back to you, by computer cut you mean cutting the big block eps to a blank surf shape? (atuacores are doing that). Happy with eps and epoxy?

Now, asian boards, of course there is good quality also from asia, what I don't like it's that some shapers and surf shops are making a "quick dollar" by massively producing boards and people assuming they are buying a personally shaped one, interesting that we don't get a made in sticker in the boards! Also what kind blanks and resins they use, how they dispose them in the environment? lot of questions...

Almost everyone with volume does CNC today, it's the norm in the industry and reduces a lot of costs and hours if you have a good demand volume, Calvani at Bing does it but they control the production, are people who understand the industry and still build all in-house. Talk to you soon