Fw: A Visit to Hradec Kralove (the Petrof factory)

[Cy Shuster]

Found this on rmmp; thought it would be interesting.

--Cy Shuster--
Bluefield, WV

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank Weston" <frank@weston-american.com>
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.piano
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 4:05 PM
Subject: A Visit to Hradec Kralove


> I haven't visited here for a few years, but I thought some of you might
find
> this report interesting.
>
> While visiting the Czech Republic earlier this month, my wife and I
stopped
> by the Petrof factory in Hradec Kralove.  We had the wild idea that we
might
> get a factory tour.  The folks at Petrof weren't expecting us, and tour
> permission had to come from a member of the Petrof family, but the
> receptionist seemed to like us and got Ivana Petrofova on the cell phone.
> Madam Petrof showed up at the factory five minutes later and gave orders
for
> a tour.  She chose the plant manager as our guide.  He spoke good English
> and certainly knew all the details of the operation.
>
> Some facts and figures:
>
> Since the fall of Communism, Petrof ownership has reverted to the Petrof
> family.  Improvements and additions made to the factory during the period
of
> state ownership were sold to the Petrof family under a loan agreement.
>
> Petrof maintains a wood lot containing about $30 million U.S. worth of raw
> lumber.
>
> The waste rate for wood used in piano assembly is 7%.
>
> Workers at Petrof build an action in about 1.3 days, using custom Renner
> made parts.  Under previous "management" it took them 7 days.
>
> Workers at Petrof can string a piano in about 30 minutes.
>
> It takes about 8 months to complete a grand piano.
>
> Every piano is serialized and every part of every piano is tracked through
> every step of assembly.  Records now go back 100 years, and if a customer
> ever needs any replacement part, Petrof can review the old records and
make
> an exact replacement.
>
> The monitoring of wood moisture content is meticulous.  Soundboards go
> through numerous stages of drying and moisture control, depending on the
> stage of assembly.  All is computer controlled to very fine tolerances.
>
> Petrof soundboard ribs are CNC cut to a precise radius...crown is built in
> with the ribs.
>
> It takes about 3 minutes to glue up a complete grand piano soundboard from
> individual planks.  Soundboards are tapered from edge to center (think
> diaphragmatic).
>
> All cuts in the inner rim for the soundboard shelf and slots for posts and
> ribs are made with CNC machinery.  The final fit is extremely close.
>
> Outer rims on grands consist of inner and outer laminates with a
semi-hollow
> inner core.
>
> Petrof makes many parts and even whole pianos for other well known
European
> names, including Bechstein.
>
> The small foundry that makes plates for Petrof also makes plates for
> Bosendorfer, Schimmel and Fazioli... to name a few.
>
> To allow inner stresses of casting to be relieved, plates must age for a
> minimum of six months before they are prepared for a piano.
>
> Petrof uses very precise CNC machinery to drill plates for agraffes and
> pins.  Sensors actually detect plate height and drill and thread holes for
> the agraffes so that all agraffes are at exactly the same height
regardless
> of irregularities in the plate.
>
> Petrof now employs about 800 workers, down from 1200 a few years back.
>
> Pianos are tuned and voiced by a staff of blind tuners who work in
> soundproof rooms.  Petrof maintains a school for training these blind
> technicians.
>
> All-in-all, the Petrof factory impressed me as extremely well managed,
> modern, and efficient.  The methods and controls they employ to build
their
> pianos are state of the art, but the proof is in the playing.  Although
I'm
> a die-hard Mason & Hamlin fan (I only own three at this time), the sound
> that comes out of Petrofs I've tried recently is certainly among the most
> pleasing to my ears of all modern pianos.  If you're looking for a new
> piano, I'd certainly give them a try.  BTW, the price is right and very
> competitive.
>
> Disclaimer:  I don't work for Petrof, I don't own a Petrof, I don't own
> stock in Petrof, and I get no advantage monetary or otherwise from saying
> nice things about them.
>
> Frank Weston
>
>