Thailand Floods knock out Nikon SLR factory

MikeAUS

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I didn't realise so much was manufactured in Thailand. Expect a shortage of Honda cars, Western Digital hard drives and Nikon SLR cameras ...

Camera manufacturer Nikon's situation is just as bad; the Ayutthaya factory that produces 90 per cent of its SLR cameras is partially submerged under two metres of floodwater.
''We still have difficulty to grasp the overall damages of our equipment and facility since access to the premises continues to be prohibited,'' the company said.
Shipment of SLR cameras into Australia has already been severely affected. National product manager at Ted's Cameras, Mark Allister, said the company had been told Nikon's stock levels are down 80 per cent and would not recover before the end of the year. ''It's not looking good for Nikon at Christmas, let's put it that way,'' Mr Allister said.
Some models had already sold out, and it was likely the shortfall would affect retail prices, he said.
''Certainly it'll affect supply, so you would expect the price would [rise],'' he said. ''When you go into a store and ask for a discount it's going to be harder to get one because there'll be less stock around.''​
 
As bad as it is for those companies that manufacture in Thailand the Thai people are suffering far worse. I could live without a new body or lens for Christmas, no big deal.

Bob
 
A picture of the Nikon factory ...
nikonfactory_mini.jpg
 
Thanks for the photo Mike. I've removed my previous posts, and my heart goes out to the safety of Gregory's family during these floods, and to the families of the nearly 400 people who have already died from the flooding.
 
As bad as it is for those companies that manufacture in Thailand the Thai people are suffering far worse. I could live without a new body or lens for Christmas, no big deal.

Bob

Don't you think that this refrain is getting a bit old. Not that you are wrong, but how many times must folks post the same thing that has been posted time and time again. Yes.. we all know this. Discussing production in Thailand does not mean that we don't know that it is a human tragedy. One, that has played out in this area for thousands of years.
 
You should see the supermarkets here. It's like a zombie movie. In some there's barely anything left on the shelves. Many people in Bangkok are panicking and overstocking their homes with supplies.
 
I have two friends who work(ed) at that factory.....

The situation here is really bad.....and it's only going to get worse.......

cheers, michael
 
Michael - What area do you live in? I'm in Wongwian Yai. It's still dry here but I know it won't be for long. Are you staying in Bangkok or evacuating to another province?
 
I am in Bangkapi, right next to Ramkamhang Univeristy....I live right next to Klong San Saep (soi 65) and my area is notorious for flooding during the rainy season......things are going to get really bad tonight when the high tides come in......the latest plan is to divert large amounts of water through Klong San Saep and Klong Tan tonight.......my street looks like a war zone....sand bags and recently built cement walls are in front of all the shops, restaurants, ATM'S, apartments etc.....

I have been living in this area for 4 years and have endured heavy flooding during the monsoons in the past......but I have never seen it like this.....all the local people on my street are worried.....as I am too....as far as evacuating goes......I finish work at 2:30 pm tomorrow and then I have a week off....I was supposed to go to Myanmar but those plans got cancelled due to problems at the embassy......

I am going to try and get out of here tomorrow after work, but I am not sure where I will go or how I will get there...the bus stations are crazy, the roads leading out of Bangkok are bumper to bumper traffic and most of the flights that I have been looking at are fully booked.....

it also depends on what happens to my neighborhood tonight and tomorrow morning.......I stocked up on goods and all, but I don't really want to hang around here if it is flooded.....I have a week off of work and would like to get out of town.....all of my friends and 90% of my students have already left....

the thing that worries me is "How long will the water remain in the city?"
so many people have already lost everything (including their lives) and I have a feeling that it is just going to get a lot worse in the next 24-48 hours......I really hope I am wrong, but from what I have been reading, the situation does not look good......
it's really sad.....

cheers, michael
 
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the thing that worries me is "How long will the water remain in the city?"
cheers, michael
From Reuters:
"If things go on like this, we expect floodwater in Bangkok to recede within the first week of November," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on national television.

Good luck Michael and stay safe ...
 
From Reuters:
"If things go on like this, we expect floodwater in Bangkok to recede within the first week of November," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on national television.

Good luck Michael and stay safe ...

Thanks a lot Mike, I appreciate it.......

I read that quote earlier today, and I really hope she is right.....but if you look at was has been said by her and others in the last week or two.....nobody really knows what will happen.....the story changes everyday, but I really hope she is right this time

I am lucky, I have the means to leave (money, passport etc...)....but there are so many people that can not....

yesterday I went to skateboard at my local skate park (wanted to get a last session in before it gets flooded) and discovered that it had been turned into a flood relief center and there were hundreds of flood refugees living at the park......I was stunned and speechless.... these people were from the country side and were just as stunned to see a foreigner roll up on a skateboard.....when I started to speak to them and other people heard that I was speaking Thai, people came up to me and asked me some questions and then I started asking them some questions too.......I heard some really sad stories....
I picked up my board and walked home......it was sad to say the least....

cheers, michael
 
Don't you think that this refrain is getting a bit old. Not that you are wrong, but how many times must folks post the same thing that has been posted time and time again. Yes.. we all know this. Discussing production in Thailand does not mean that we don't know that it is a human tragedy. One, that has played out in this area for thousands of years.

No, I don't think so especially on a gear centric forum. Too easy to forget the human side. It has indeed gone on for thousands of years which makes having sympathy for these companies all the harder. After all they must have known then that catastrophic flooding of this nature takes place on a regular basis so why not build manufacturing plants on what amounts to a floodplain.

Bob
 
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