Lego breaks ground on first US manufacturing facility

Post by haunter » Sun, Apr 23, 2023, 6:35 PM UTC

routerl wrote: post #92

anchochilis wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One major draw of Lego is their licensing of expensive creative IP. Look at the Harry Potter, Star Wars, DC, Lord of the Rings themed sets. Smaller competitors likely can not afford the same offerings. And Lego probably has deep enough pockets to ensure exclusive deals. There's also something to be said for having such a dominant, established brand. Lego is a cultural icon, beloved by multiple generations. Picking up…

> One major draw of Lego is their licensing of expensive creative IP. This is the real genius beyond the manufacturing (which other comments are correctly praising). Lego was/is the only brand that gets to make, e.g. both Mikey Mouse and Bugs Bunny, both Marvel and DC, etc. By making Lego versions of those properties, they've convinced those enormous IP holders that this does not compete with other products; Disney c…

Post by bobthepanda » Sun, Apr 23, 2023, 6:44 PM UTC

bombcar wrote: post #34

obblekk wrote: post #6

Interesting learnings for me from this article: - Lego operates multiple $1B+ factories around the world - they are not just a design and marketing company - 1400 manufacturing jobs in Virginia expected - not just an automated thing. Anyone know what changed economically to justify the high US labor costs? Particularly compared to MX - 100% Carbon neutral via on-site Solar in Virginia (not particularly sunny). No off…

It’s highly automated but you still need people to watch the machines. Many Lego factory videos are available. If this lets them source much of the plastic locally, it will save on millions of boxes being shipped across the ocean. That’s a huge reduction in carbon, even if the local manufacturing costs a bit more.

Post by vendiddy » Sun, Apr 23, 2023, 6:53 PM UTC

AnonymousPlanet wrote: post #112

vendiddy wrote: post #101

What is motivating companies like Lego to bring manufacturing back home?

Keep in mind, Lego is a Danish company. This is an investment in a foreign country.

Post by simplotek » Sun, Apr 23, 2023, 7:05 PM UTC

arcanemachiner wrote: post #128

munificent wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As opposed to those serious Guiness records like "farthest eyeball pop", "loudest purr by a domestic cat", "most face flesh tunnels", "most tennis balls held in the mouth (by a dog)", "most eyebrow waxes performed in eight hours by a team", and "longest head massage chain". Guiness has always been a half-commercial silly enterprise. It's literally founded by a beer brand to resolve pub trivia arguments.

The point still stands: By no reasonable definition is Lego the largest manufacturer of tires.

Post by zeristor » Sun, Apr 23, 2023, 7:07 PM UTC

skybrian wrote: post #35

It will be the first US Lego factory in a while, but here is some history: > The first LEGO factory in Enfield opens in 1975 – a packing facility for LEGO DUPLO® bricks. The elements to be packed arrive from factories in Billund, Denmark, and Baar, Switzerland – transported to the US in container ships. > The Enfield factory is constructed as a “conversion ready” building with open steel structures which can quickly…