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| Young Chang had four manufacturing facilities as of 1999, three producing pianos and the fourth a ] producing wood for export from the United States. The sawmill was located in Tacoma, Washington and was established in 1991. Piano manufacturing took place in plants in ] and ], South Korea, both established in 1964, and ], China, established in 1995. The company also maintained a research and development facility in ]. The company's Tianjin manufacturing site is run through subsidiary ''Tianjin Young Chang Akki Company, Limited'', while the Tacoma sawmill is managed through subsidiary ''Young Chang America Timber, Incorporated''.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|E–8}}<!-- citation covers entire paragraph --> | |||
| As of the late 1990s, Young Chang, at the time known as ''Young Chang Akki Company,''<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|3–1}} was among the largest of the word's manufacturers of pianos, alongside ], ] and ],<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|xiii}} and one of five ] producing pianos.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|3–1}} Young Chang reported sales in the United States, China, Canada, Korea and the European Union under its own brand.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|5–14}} | |||
| The company also produces pianos for other companies. For instance, it began producing Cline pianos for ''Cline Piano Company'' of ] in 1992; and began producing Knabe pianos for ''Music Systems Research'' of ] in the late 1990s.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|E–8}} Young Chang produced pianos for ] of ], Japan until 1998; the units were modified by Nakamichi before export to the United States.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|E–9}} The company had at one time produced ] pianos for United States-distribution by ''Baldwin Piano & Organ'', but this relationship was terminated prior to the late 1990s.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|E–9}} | |||
| The company also markets under an alternative brand, Weber, held by subsidiary ] established in 1986. This brand was established specifically for English-speaking markets where a Korean brand name, as opposed to a German or American name, might be a disincentive to purchase.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|E–9}} | |||
| ==History== | |||
| Young Chang was founded in 1956 as a ] of ] pianos for Korea and other parts of Asia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite report|url=https://www.usitc.gov/publications/docs/pubs/332/pub3196.pdf|title=Pianos: Economic and Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Industry (Publication 3196)|last=Lundy|first=David|last2=Dominque|first2=David|date=May 1999|publisher=U.S. International Trade Commission|issue=|doi=|volume=|pmid=|id=Investigation No. 332-401|last3=Pogany|first3=Peter|last4=Sastrum|first4=Carl|last5=Watkins|first5=Ralph|access-date=21 July 2018|format=PDF}}</ref>{{Rp|E–8}} The company was founded by three brothers, Jai-Young Kim, Jai-Chang Kim and Jai-Sup Kim, as South Korea emerged as a major economy and producer of high quality goods. The first Young Chang factory was built in Seoul in 1964.<ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Robert |editor-last=Palmieri |title=Piano: An Encyclopedia|date=2003|publisher=Routledge|location=New York |isbn=0-415-93796-5|page=442|edition=2.}}</ref> | Young Chang was founded in 1956 as a ] of ] pianos for Korea and other parts of Asia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite report|url=https://www.usitc.gov/publications/docs/pubs/332/pub3196.pdf|title=Pianos: Economic and Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Industry (Publication 3196)|last=Lundy|first=David|last2=Dominque|first2=David|date=May 1999|publisher=U.S. International Trade Commission|issue=|doi=|volume=|pmid=|id=Investigation No. 332-401|last3=Pogany|first3=Peter|last4=Sastrum|first4=Carl|last5=Watkins|first5=Ralph|access-date=21 July 2018|format=PDF}}</ref>{{Rp|E–8}} The company was founded by three brothers, Jai-Young Kim, Jai-Chang Kim and Jai-Sup Kim, as South Korea emerged as a major economy and producer of high quality goods. The first Young Chang factory was built in Seoul in 1964.<ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Robert |editor-last=Palmieri |title=Piano: An Encyclopedia|date=2003|publisher=Routledge|location=New York |isbn=0-415-93796-5|page=442|edition=2.}}</ref> | ||
| During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Young Chang manufactured ] ] and ] for ], and also manufactured acoustic, acoustic/electric, electric guitars and basses under their own "Fenix" brand.<ref>Blue Book Of Electric Guitars 9th Edition Zachary Fjestad, Edited by S.P. Fjestad {{ISBN|1-886768-57-9}}</ref> However, because of the similarities to |
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Young Chang manufactured ] ] and ] for ], and also manufactured acoustic, acoustic/electric, electric guitars and basses under their own "Fenix" brand.<ref>Blue Book Of Electric Guitars 9th Edition Zachary Fjestad, Edited by S.P. Fjestad {{ISBN|1-886768-57-9}}</ref> However, because of the similarities to thted {{US$|32 million}} to establish a subsidiary in ], ''Young Chang (America) Timber'', to cut and process North American ] and ] for export to its Asian manufacturing sites.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|3–5}}{{Rp|6–11}}{{Rp|E–8}} | ||
| In 1986, the company established ], which sells pianos under the Weber brand name, which it had purchased rights to use after the demise of the Aeolin Piano Company in 1985. Young Chang subsequently sold this subsidiary to ] America in 1987.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|E–9}}<!-- citation covers this short paragraph --> | |||
| In 1988, Young Chang established a ] for production of ] in ], China, to supplement production of this key component, also produced in Korea. The success of this facility was one factor leading to the 1995 establishment of a piano manufacturing facility in Tianjin.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|E–9}}<!-- citation covers full paragraph --> | |||
| In 1990, Young Chang purchased ], a maker of high end electronic and digital musical instruments. | |||
| In 1991, Young Chang invested {{US$|32 million}} to establish a subsidiary in ], ''Young Chang (America) Timber'', to cut and process North American ] and ] for export to its Asian manufacturing sites.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|3–5}}{{Rp|6–11}}{{Rp|E–8}} | |||
| In 1995, Young Chang opened a new {{US$|40 million}} factory in Tianjin.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|2–11}}{{Rp|5–5}} The Chinese facility allowed Young Chang to start serving the low-end markets, part of a long-term strategy involving shifting production from Korea to China.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|4–12}} The quality of pianos produced by this new plant was initially high, but dropped sharply after technicians who had helped set up the production returned to Korea, which had a significant impact on their ability to complete sales.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|4–15}}{{Rp|6–12}} | In 1995, Young Chang opened a new {{US$|40 million}} factory in Tianjin.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|2–11}}{{Rp|5–5}} The Chinese facility allowed Young Chang to start serving the low-end markets, part of a long-term strategy involving shifting production from Korea to China.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|4–12}} The quality of pianos produced by this new plant was initially high, but dropped sharply after technicians who had helped set up the production returned to Korea, which had a significant impact on their ability to complete sales.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|4–15}}{{Rp|6–12}} | ||
Revision as of 12:49, 7 September 2019
Young Chang was founded in 1956 as a distributor of Yamaha pianos for Korea and other parts of Asia. The company was founded by three brothers, Jai-Young Kim, Jai-Chang Kim and Jai-Sup Kim, as South Korea emerged as a major economy and producer of high quality goods. The first Young Chang factory was built in Seoul in 1964.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Young Chang manufactured Squier electric guitars and basses for Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and also manufactured acoustic, acoustic/electric, electric guitars and basses under their own "Fenix" brand. However, because of the similarities to thted US$32 million to establish a subsidiary in Tacoma, Washington, Young Chang (America) Timber, to cut and process North American spruce and maple for export to its Asian manufacturing sites.
In 1995, Young Chang opened a new US$40 million factory in Tianjin. The Chinese facility allowed Young Chang to start serving the low-end markets, part of a long-term strategy involving shifting production from Korea to China. The quality of pianos produced by this new plant was initially high, but dropped sharply after technicians who had helped set up the production returned to Korea, which had a significant impact on their ability to complete sales.
Joseph Pramberger, a former vice president from Steinway & Sons (head of manufacturing) and an experienced piano designer, joined the company in 1995. Pramberger brought many innovations to piano design, including the "Platinum Touch Action" and the patented asymmetrically tapered soundboard. The Pramberger Platinum series, introduced in 2001, was Young Chang's top-of-the-line for three years. These models incorporated some German materials including Renner action parts. Joseph Pramberger died in 2003, and the following year, his estate sold the Pramberger name to Samick, but his patents and innovations are still exclusive to Young Chang.
The year following the opening of the Tianjin, China factory, in October 1996, Young Chang entered into bankruptcy, emerging in August 1998. Young Chang has more than 2,000 full-time workers, designing and building its upright and grand pianos, and also the electronic Kurzweil Music Systems. Hyundai Development Company acquired Young Chang in 2006.
See also
References
- ^ Lundy, David; Dominque, David; Pogany, Peter; Sastrum, Carl; Watkins, Ralph (May 1999). Pianos: Economic and Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Industry (Publication 3196) (PDF) (Report). U.S. International Trade Commission. Investigation No. 332-401. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- Palmieri, Robert, ed. (2003). Piano: An Encyclopedia (2. ed.). New York : Routledge. p. 442. ISBN 0-415-93796-5.
- Blue Book Of Electric Guitars 9th Edition Zachary Fjestad, Edited by S.P. Fjestad ISBN 1-886768-57-9