No USA HK plant after all?

[Nightfall]

Seems like HK might be dropping the new US plant. Courtesy of hkpro.com -

Army Contract and 500 New Jobs Up in the Air

It was almost 2 years ago when Heckler and Koch made the announcement it was coming to Columbus.

There was talk of million dollar investments and the possibility of 500 new jobs being created. But those economic dreams are being rudely awakened.

Pete Simons, President of Heckler and Koch Defense, says plans have changed. The company thought it was a shoo in for a now $32 million contract to build combat rifles. It bought land and a building in the technology park hoping to make a manufacturing center.

But now, the army has now opened up that contract to bidding meaning Heckler and Koch has to scale back it's plans.

Now the company is bringing it's distribution center here from Virginia, creating about 40 jobs.

The army will make it's decision on who gets the combat rifle contract sometime after this November.

Boy, the future of the XM8 isn't lookin' good.

 

[Langenator]

No, that's HK playing politics. Threatening the loss of the potential jobs to pressure the local politicos into lobbying for their rifle.

Rumor has it that FN played some dirty pool with their entry into the SCAR competition, as well.

 

[Kaylee]

Feh. Someone is going to be building rifles whether it's HK or not, so the "500 new jobs" bit ... I agree, politics.

Besides, if HK would get off their high horse about selling to civvies, I'm sure they could make a go of it selling semi clones of their whole ubertactical line to the peons. Nobody's stopping them from building any factory they want.

-K

 

[BigSlick]

Similar story with Steyer according to one of the guys who used to be their importer.

Looks like domestic Augs aren't going to happen...

BigSlick

 

[Owen]

FN played Dirty Pool? Like providing a bid for 100,000 rifles for a SOCOM competition?

Insisting on a competition for the next Army rifle?

 

[El Tejon]

Domestic HKs und Steyr AUGs a pipe dream? Go figure.

Of course, if you had read THR you would know that this stuff wasn't ever going to happen.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Of course, if you had read THR you would know that this stuff wasn't ever going to happen.

That's because the Austrians and Germans are anti-gun and are secretly plotting against us.

 

[thereisnospoon]

Black Helicopters

Skunkabilly,

The black helicopters hovering above your house are no danger to you, please go about your business as usual, nothing to see here...

 

[El Tejon]

Skunk, where do you get your carbon fiber tinfoil?

If you listen you can hear the hearts of mall ninjas breaking throughout the land.

 

[patent]

If you listen you can hear the hearts of mall ninjas breaking throughout the land.​

Dude, I never knew I was a mall ninja.

I'll still be hoping for the FNs. My heart will survive the rest of them.

 

[Langenator]

Rumor has it that FN (who also supplies DoD with the M16A4, M249, and M240 weapons) delayed shipment on some weapons to pressure decisions makers on the SCAR.

I don't have any sources, but it's out there.

 

[jason10mm]

This is why essential war material should be produced domestically.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Skunk, where do you get your carbon fiber tinfoil?

I actually use titanium foil. Carbon fiber isn't flexible enough and titanium has almost as much CDI.

This is why essential war material should be produced domestically.

isn't this why HK is trying to open up a US plant? Or do you mean we should keep the stuff within US-based companies?

 

[El Tejon]

patent, me too! No way for a blizzard of reasons this is going to happen though. Too bad if I was director of marketing HundK would make a mint of money. Of course, we would have to go forward with a daring new corporate philosophy--the purpose of a gun company is to . . . make money! Shocking I know.

Skunkysan, so, you use Ti-foil--sounds Cantonese.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Skunkysan, so, you use Ti-foil--sounds Cantonese.

El T., Ti-foil? Actually it's Thai.

Har.

 

[Feanaro]

This is why essential war material should be produced domestically.

HK's particular brand of politiking couldn't be used by a U.S. company but there is more than one way to skin a cat. Delayed weapon shipments, "losing" parts, and all kinds of other little nastiness. But because the company is U.S. that won't happen, right? Right...

 

[tlhelmer]

I hope this is not to OT, but having a plant in the US matters. All manufacturers that do not have a plant in the US were excluded from our last weapon consideration. I was told that there is an executive order that states American products must be given primary consideration for use by the Indiana State Police.