Marzocchi to stop production

[GasGas]

Alarm bells have begun to ring at the Marzocchi factory in Bolonga, Italy with news filtering out that the company is set to close

Recent talks with FIOM-CGIl ? the Italian workers union who represent those employed in businesses engineering ? have indicated that Marzocchi ? owned by US multinational Tenneco ? plan to cease trading at the Bologna plant*.

A date when this is due to happen has not yet been revealed, but it does come as a major source of worry for the 100-plus workforce.

In July 2013, the company had 40 redundancies while employees saw an average reduction of 35% in hours.

With ongoing market difficulties being one of the major factors involving the uncertainty of the company?s future, it looks like Marzocchi face some tense times ahead.

In the off road motorcycle industry, Marzocchi are currently OEM?s for Gas Gas and Beta.

Since 2008 all bicycle forks have been manufactured in Taiwan.

Marzocchi ? an Italian suspension manufacture ? was founded in 1949 by brothers Stefano and Guglielmo Marzocchi but in 2008 the company was acquired by American automotive parts Tenneco.

Trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Tenneco recorded a full-year revenue of $8.4 billion in 2014.

Tenneco own 11 different brands and employ 26,000.

*Source - www.ilrestodelcarlino.it

[Simmo737]

Interesting, the gasgas Europe factory race team are using KYB ( you can tell by the axel lugs, top cap and the seal housing at the base of the upper tube) they have disguised them with carbon fibre protectors and tape around the seal housing. One guy is using wp cone valve 52mm and tax shock ( I suspect he owns them). I would say gg will use kyb next year.

If they start making the pfp fork in Taiwan, by all reports it will be better quality, the marzocchi bike forks improved when they went there.

Sad for the Italian workers though.

[Jakobi]

I'm not sure I agree re the KYB. I assume you've scrolled through the pics here. http://www.gasgasmotos.es/en/news/60...r-the-201.html

I'll go and compare my KYBs to the Marzocchis, and report back.

[Simmo737]

Go to the gg us facebook site, there are better pics. Looks like the lugs off husky or yz250. Def. not mz.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by GasGas

Alarm bells have begun to ring at the Marzocchi factory in Bolonga, Italy with news filtering out that the company is set to close

Recent talks with FIOM-CGIl ? the Italian workers union who represent those employed in businesses engineering ? have indicated that Marzocchi ? owned by US multinational Tenneco ? plan to cease trading at the Bologna plant*.


*Source - www.ilrestodelcarlino.it

Is this the money quote? I was reworking a set of Zokes today and thinking how much I'd miss the PFP fork if they go away. Not that I'd be super excited to have Taiwanese forks, but then again ...

[Jakobi]

Got pics? I'm not seeing it...

[Simmo737]

https://www.facebook.com/30547689001...095019/?type=1

Gold top caps, seal housing with double bump, square axel lugs.

Looks like the gold forks in the link below on the right painted black

https://www.facebook.com/SdsProrace/...503628/?type=1

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Simmo737

https://www.facebook.com/30547689001...095019/?type=1

Gold top caps, seal housing with double bump, square axel lugs.

Unless you've got some sort of super-magnifier I'm not sure I'd agree with the assessment ... the caps aren't the same color as the hubs for instance, and it appears that the current lower fork guards bolted right up.

Not saying they aren't KYBs, just that by looking at that photo I couldn't say they aren't Zokes either.

[Simmo737]

The big pointer for me is the shape of the axel lug, have a look at a pfp fork and tell me it's not different.

[Jakobi]

I admit I was doubting it.. but after looking into a few other pics it's hard to dispute.

https://www.facebook.com/30547689001...type=3&theater

Makes me wonder if Gas Gas aquired a few other bits and pieces from Husky, other than just the engines. Sure would make sense.