SnowNews

Völkl Shifts Ski Production to China

After the consolodation between Quicksilver and Rossignol and Atomic and Salomon it seems that Völkl is the latest ski manufacturer to be affected by globalization.

Völkl management has long threatened the workforce with a move of production to China, now it is carrying out its promise. Forty nine will be fired in the first move with more job losses to follow. According to boss Christoph Bronder Völkl "must make savings, in Austria costs are 27% less compared to Germany".

The move follows failure by Völkl to negotiate greater flexibility with the workforce including overtime and weekend work. Völkl currently employs 530 in its Straubinger in Bavaria. The parent company K2, already manufacturers 60,000 pairs of ski annually in China.

posted by davidof @ 3:32 PM