Tis a sad day for us

[truckian]

Roco, a large Austrian model railroad-manufacturing firm with products in HO and N scales, has declared bankruptcy. For many years Roco’s main operations were in Salzburg, Austria, but it recently moved its operations to a new factory in Hallein (in the Salzburg area, 370 employees). Roco also has facilities in Gloggnitz, Austria (200 employees), and in the Czech Republic (230 employees).

The European train market has been in a slump since the German economy weakened, and several of Roco’s competitors are now offering lower-cost items made in China. The German train market has declined from sales of 204 million Euros in 2002 to 181 million in 2004. Germany is Roco’s largest market (approximately 65 percent of Roco’s sales are in Germany). The firm, which according to Austrian sources has debts of approximately 24 million Euros and losses of approximately 5 million Euros per year, will remain in operation under receivership. Leopold Heher will serve as receiver. Employees have not been paid their wages for June or their vacation pay as of today, July 15. Substantial layoffs are expected as the firm reorganizes.

That is a direct quote from Trains.com. So people, if you want any vehicles from Roco for TTTT's, Buy them now, before it's too late.

[arch2b]

wow, bad news indeed.

the only upside is shortly you should be able to pick up discounted stock in bulk cheaply for future project but the downside is no more new items and certain difficulties finding kits after a certain point.

[arch2b]

has anyone seen shops trying to unload quantities of remaining rocco kits?

[truckian]

I haven't seen any discounts. This news however, doesn't mean Roco will stop making their products luckily, it just means that they will possibly be on hiatus while they reorganize their finances. It unfortunately means that there will be major layoffs there though.

[akura2]

I've heard from several sources that they are just restructuring behind the bankruptcy.... they can still be contacted here and they are talking about bringing out new models throughout 2005 and 06

and this one is new....and beautiful