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Model maker Airfix has gone into administration.
The company dates back to 1949, and has its origins in a firm founded in London
by Hungarian-born Nicholas Kove, which made cheap rubber toys filled with air.
Following an emergency review of parent company Humbrol, administrators
from Grant Thornton made 31 redundancies out of a total workforce of 41.
Staff blame the decision on Heller, a French company.
Heller made the plastic models and paints packaged as Airfix products, and fell
into receivership earlier this year.
The company has refused to hand over the tools and mouldings vital to allow the
production line to continue.
Chris Rumball, a sales representative from the Humber-based firm, commented:
"This is a sad day. It's a brand I have grown up with and I can't believe that
other people won't have the chance.
"The French wouldn't release any of the tools to us and now it has just brought
us down with them."
The dwindling appeal of the kits has been blamed on the popularity of computer
games and the Internet.
Humbrol, which has suffered trading losses for several years, brought in a new
management team during December 2005 to restructure the business.
Keith Hinds, one of the administrators, said that Humbrol, which also owns
Plasticine and Young Scientist, had suffered trading losses for several years.
He commented: "The brand names and intellectual property of the business were
potentially very valuable.
"We are looking to sell these to a potential investor who may be able to invest
in and develop these iconic brands"
Source:
RedAlert
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