Samick takes over Bechstein (was Re: Knabe)

Brian Lawson lawsonic@bdmail.co.za
Tue, 24 Dec 2002 21:09:10 +0200


Translated from google.com  its a computer so its nto thaat correctt

Brian
Piano farmer


 Berlin (dpa). The steeped in tradition citizen of Berlin piano farmer
Bechstein is in the future by the majority in Korean hand. The Samick company
from Seoul takes over 60 per cent of the Bechstein of portions of the past
chief partner, the family Schulze. This took over in response 15 per cent at
Samick, which to the piano farmers leading world-wide and manufacturer of
music instruments belongs. Bechstein finance executive committee Karl-Heinz
Geishecker spoke on Tuesday of a large chance particularly for the marketing
of Bechstein pianos of the upper preisklasse in the USA and Asia. There expect
it a turnover doubling in each case.

To monthly beginning an appropriate declaration of intent had already signed
quoted C Bechstein Pianofortefabrik AG. The over cross participation has a
value of approximately 4.2 million euro according to enterprise data.
Bechstein wants to bring the total selling of all lines into the partnership
apart from know-how also in Germany and Europe. The asiatic partner again will
make production for an inexpensive instrument line in Europe and the Bechstein
selling possible in the USA and Asia.

In particular with wings and pianos of the upper preisklasse hope Bechstein
for more business, said Geishecker. So the US conversion is to be doubled up
to the year 2004 on approximately four million euro and the conversion in
Asia, which concentrate so far on Japan, on approximately two million euro.
The past structure from Bechstein remains. Production in Germany, under it the
work in the Saxonian Seifhennersdorf, is removed.

Samick is beside the Japanese manufacturers Yamaha and Kawai as well as the
Korean enterprise Yong Chang a prominent industry enterprise of the world. The
Koreans employ according to the data 3000 coworkers in Korea, Indonesia and
China. In addition come a comprehensive marketing company in the USA Samick
convert with the sales of approximately 45,000 pianos and wings, 12,000
Digitalpianos and 500,000 guitars 270 million US dollar.

C Bechstein Pianofortefabrik AG, which celebrates its 150-jaehriges firm
anniversary in the coming year, noted in the freiverkehr, belongs to the
prominent German industry enterprises. In the first nine months 2002 Bechstein
had a profit sunk around ten per cent on 620.000 euro obtained with a turnover
plus of scarcely a per cent on 14.3 million euro. For 2003 with the profit a
one-digit growth was last only aimed at. So far Bechstein with approximately
230 persons employed had focused two digit growth rates with profit and
conversion.

PICTURE: Piano farmer Tilmann strong one is busy in the citizens of Berlin
piano manufacturing firm Bechstein with tuning at a new instrument. The
citizen of Berlin piano farmer Bechstein is taken over by the Korean music
instrument manufacturer Samick. PHOTO: dpa



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