Welding isn't the only process. There's cleaning, powdercoating, or anodizing the frames..each comes with high yield of chemical, toxic byproducts.
Most manufacturing processes produce quite a bit of toxic byproducts and waste. But with proper care they can be dealt with effectively and of course mandated by EPA regulations to protect our environment here in US. In Asia there aren't enough law for the toxic waste and even if there are no one will enforce it. This is why I would like to support US product as much as possible not just because it keeps money in OUR economy but also good for the environment. Asia is still on the same planet you know. But like one comment, for one of me there are 1000 that simply want to pay less. Nothing wrong with saving money but we also need to look a little further down the road.
While I can't comment on all of Asia - you know, the name Asia covers many countries - but I can tell you that the society and industry of Japan is a more environmentally aware than the US is, on average. So if you're going to pick on Asia, you should specify the country.
I've been all over the world working and installing thermal oxidizers. And I can tell you that every one of those (3rd world) countrys are pretty bad. But then again so are some in South America. Heck, I know many many right here that are not doing the right thing. And these are not mom and pop shops either. Japan is hardly a 3rd world country.
I use a screw machine shop in FL a lot. Not because they are so cheep. Because the anodizer down the street is less then half what I pay here. Even with freight I'm ahead. Here I pay $0.25 per part. There I pay $0.14. Over 10,000 parts that's 1,100 bucks. It's hard to do biz in CA.
I don't know if it has been ignored, but nobody here has mentioned that although the costs of overseas manufacturing may (or in some cases may not) be cheaper, one real reason that outsourcing occurs is that our labor here is best spent doing something else. A bike company that designs and manufactures their bikes here, especially on the small scale, is likely not utilizing its employees greatest assets to their full potential. If you are the guy who designs the bike (limiting the example to an extremely small scale), you possess a great deal of knowledge about how the bike works, it's physical properties, and of course how it will act when complete. Compare that to welding, which although still a difficult task, can be taught to someone much quicker, without the years of experience that the knowledge of a bike's engineering would require. By sending the welding tasks overseas, you leave the engineers and designers free to do what they do best, engineer and design, regardless of what costs what, etc. My two cents. Oh and someone above mentioned Hope, they are all designed and manufactured in the UK.
But the last Nite Rider battery pack I rebuilt said "Made in China" on it right inside the plastic that said "Made in the USA."
I think that's something Alank was alluding to. Just because it says made in USA, doesn't mean it was made in the USA. I don't understand what it takes for something to be able to be called "Made in USA". Are there actual laws regarding that, or does is vary by vendor? If I look at a bike that's made in the US, but all of the tubes come from Asia, 90% of what I see is made in Asia. Same deal with the battery pack. 90% of the volume, and at least 90% of the weight was made in China. I assuming that because they make and slap on the housing in the US, that makes it "Made in USA"?
Yes, there are very specific laws regarding "Made in.." vs. "Assembled in..." and so on. I don't know them, though.
Yes, the EPA has lots of tentacles out there but so does your friendly OSHA office. Twenty years ago, we'd be lucky to have our shop inspected by city, county or Feds more than once in five years. I'm currently in Santa Fe Springs which has a VERY proactive inspection department. We are inspected twice a year by SFS, once a year by loss prevention from our insurance, and we usually get a surprise from OSHA, LA County Water or someone else too. (We're NOT supposed to wash our delivery trucks in our yard :?: let's waste gas and drive to a truck wash...) I'm all for the health & safety of my employees and me, but the constant inspections and disposal rules do put most US companies in a bind. Twenty years ago, I spent maybe 2 hours a year on OSHA/Hazmat/safety and now I spend a minimum of 10 hours a month. It all comes at a cost that you just pass along to the consumer. Chevron & Shell/Aera demand that if I am to do business with their companies, I must document training in Hazmat, Asbestos, Confined Spaces, do a random pee test etc. Yep, I pass along the costs right back to 'em and they charge me/us more at the pump. I also deal with a major beverage company here in So Cal. The maintenance guys are pushing for their own sandblaster to help clean parts. They asked which machine I used. Before I answered that, I reminded them that in Cali, 99% of spent blast media is considered HAZARDOUS material and must be contained and disposed of ($$$$$) properly. Oppps, someone just lost a sandblaster sale...... Yes, it is a cost of doing business that I share with the majority of "clean" Cali companies, but it does put a dent in our competitiveness with overseas companies. My fav's.............. The Chinese Hard Hat The non-OSHA approved dust mask The standard in cheap labor scaffolding
Japan maybe the only exception compare to rest of Asia. But like us they have lots of money to send the dirty work else where. I was born and raised in China and I know my peps.....Represent yo!!!!! :bang:Unless no one reads the news or brows the internet everyone should know how bad the environment is right now in China and India which makes up a big chunk or Asia in terms of area and population. We ship all of our old TV and Frig and anything EPA will make the cost of recycling sky rocket there. I've read they smash open a TV/monitor tube and separate the parts by hand without mask or anything. Why do you think China is working so hard on cleaning up BeiJing for the Olympic? My sister just quit her job in Beijing and moved south because she just got too sick from the air and she sits in an office all day. Dateline or some other reporter took those picture of Idian ship salvage yard. would anyone of us work there for couple of bucks a day?:?:
I'm late tuning in (as usual!) Siren Bicycles (that's us) are made her in sunny So Cal. Idyllwild, to be specific... not by little elves. Also, to confirm, Intense Cycles are indeed made 100% in Temecula.
