Birkenhead Vittoria dock

[James Curry]

News snippet about a steel prosessing plant based in Birkenhead docks. They have just gone into administration with the loss of 40+jobs. Sad for those who have lost their jobs.
The plant was based in Birkenhead docks, East Float, Vittoria Dock. A name that will bring back memories from those of us who sailed for Blue Funnel line or Clan Line.

Vittoria dock Birkenhead.jpg

You can see the old Clan line ware houses on the left of the photo, the Blue Funnel berth was opposite .

[happy daze john in oz]

Happening in many parts James.
Cheap steel from China and others will kill much of the home market in such.

[Doug Hardie]

#1&2 I worked for Davy McKee for a few years ,they used to design and fit AGC systems (automatic gauge control systems ) they sold a lot to China for retrofitting to many old screw down mills the bought from UK after Maggie presided over the big industrial Jumble sail in her drive to shift the UK industrial economy to one based on invisible earnings (Banking insurance etc) this enabled China to build a strong Steel industry which is subsidised and they invested heavily in Equipment and plant. India followed suit then bought over a lot of the big steel Mills in the west, South Africa and some in USA. The steel we buy now is not cheap it is expensive . If you go to buy structural steel today the stockist only hold the prices for 2 days the prices are rocketing. This means economic activity is greatly constrained.Very astute businessmen from these places with long term strategy and unlimited patience. This means we are all bent over the barrel beng sxxxwed without the benefit of an orgasim
Doug

[vic mcclymont]

Doug you'll find the rot set in 1975, when Harold Wilson signed the UN sponsored Lima agreement.
The agreement was that rich countries would export jobs to poor or developing countries.
Vic

[Tony Taylor]

#1&2 I worked for Davy McKee for a few years ,they used to design and fit AGC systems (automatic gauge control systems ) they sold a lot to China for retrofitting to many old screw down mills the bought from UK after Maggie presided over the big industrial Jumble sail in her drive to shift the UK industrial economy to one based on invisible earnings (Banking insurance etc) this enabled China to build a strong Steel industry which is subsidised and they invested heavily in Equipment and plant. India followed suit then bought over a lot of the big steel Mills in the west, South Africa and some in USA. The steel we buy now is not cheap it is expensive . If you go to buy structural steel today the stockist only hold the prices for 2 days the prices are rocketing. This means economic activity is greatly constrained.Very astute businessmen from these places with long term strategy and unlimited patience. This means we are all bent over the barrel beng sxxxwed without the benefit of an orgasim
Doug

I did a lot of business with Davy McKee Stockton in the 80s, most notable were Tata Iron and Steel in India (emergency oxygen lance withdrawal systems) and two or three blast furnaces in Korea (tap hole drill controls). Also the Redcar blast furnace reline in late eighties.

[James Curry]

Well Vic, you never fail to get a dig in at some Labour PM. Was Wilson the only western leader that signed the Lima Agreement?
So Thatcher had nothing to do with the deindustrialilation of the UK during her time in office?

[happy daze john in oz]

If I recall Thatcher engaged in a group of industrialists to assists her with national planning.
It was a sound idea, pity more govs did not use industry rather than some of the 'consultants' they use

[Doug Hardie]

#4&6 In my rambling post I was not trying to be Political ,I was in my mind only trying to draw attention to the long term strategy of the West ,for want of a better word, to change from an industrial based economy to a financial based service economy .
Whether this was a wise Doctrine /strategy or not should be viewed with a certain amount of scepticism base on the Harvest we are now reaping . I believe that all Governments viewed a finance based economy as a measure of control over the vast manufacturing resources throughout the 3rd world without the need to get involved without the need to adhere to Governance and manufacturing regulations which are the norm in the West. Much the same strategic approach was the root cause of the demise of the Merchant Navy.
Doug

[vic mcclymont]

Well Vic, you never fail to get a dig in at some Labour PM. Was Wilson the only western leader that signed the Lima Agreement?
So Thatcher had nothing to do with the deindustrialilation of the UK during her time in office?

Ffs Jim grow up, I wasn't having a dig I was merely pointing out the facts.

Vic

[John Arton]

Used to load chemicals at the berth right up at the top of the docks, handy for a pint or three in the pubs within a five minute walk.
Rgds
J.A