[QuadList] recortec--Why (were) they so expensive/What happened to Recortec and Elcon/Who's still standing

[Ted Langdell]

On Nov 5, 2011, at 11:30 PM, Shai Drori wrote:

> Hi guys
> Looking at the cleaner transport I don't understand the role of the blue chamber in the middle. It looks like a vacuum coulomb but if the tape is vacuumed at the two towers on both sides than why this chamber? Does it have to do with tape tension of a buffer of sorts? Why were these gizmos so expensive? Two motors, a vacuum, transport, and electronics? Is it a matter of production scale or a really smart machine?
> shai
> 
> Puzzled
> Shai



The Recortec uses the vacuum column in the middle as part of a tension servo.

Why were/are cleaning machines so expensive: 
The R&D time (= money) necessary to try out various ideas—including ones that lead to dead ends
On the Recortec, a vacuum device, sensors and electronics to make a safe and practical servo system within the vacuum column.
On other machines, the servo system and related 
Any sensors, electronics, hardware/software involved in tape condition reporting and metadata collection/output
Where equipped, mechanisms for mounting and rotating cleaning tissues at a constant speed
Two motors that can handle the mass of 14" reels of 2" tape under precise control so tapes aren't shredded
Well thought out electronics (and testing) to ensure safe, effective operation
The precision work necessary to mill, machine, assemble, test and adjust the system
Development of a manufacturing process including parts sourcing, ordering, warehousing, distribution during production, assembly steps including personnel, time and equipment needed, testing and adjustment processes for consistent, effective and safe standards of operation
Cost of manufacture: Including the facility, personnel and equipment necessary to make the machine along with the parts and the precision work necessary to mill, machine, assemble, test and adjust the finished product to consistent and safe standards of operation.
Marketing expense (including information sheets, handouts, websites, advertising, giveaways, trade shows, demonstrations, etc.) to get people aware of and interested in the product(s) and to develop a desire to contact the company's sales 
Sales cost: Taking that interest and facilitating a purchase, including the overhead of staff and the equipment and paper-producing equipment necessary to create a contract that can be signed.)
Delivery costs
Installation and customer training
Maintenance of service and repair capability including personnel, equipment and parts
Sufficient consistent income above expenses— profit—so the company can stay in business through lean times and develop new products while providing an incentive to do so, and to return more than invested to people who put money into the business so they don't want to take their money out of the company and cause a problem with staying in business.
The same applies to videotape recorders and a host of other electromechanical systems.

> Is it a matter of production scale or a really smart machine?

It's both.  

The more you make, the lower the price can be—IF—you are confident you can move a specific number of machines and that actually proves to be true over time.

If the market (either one that already exists or one you can make) is not large... and could be saturated with a small number of machines, your quoted price and actual selling price (what the customer pays after any negotiation) will have to be higher to cover your costs and get a return on the investment.

There's a reason companies that used to make reel-to-reel videotape cleaning machines don't anymore... a combination of market saturation, coupled with lack of demand and resulting ability to sell machines at a price that enabled a profit.

RECORTEC is still in business—under other owners. It jettisoned the tape cleaning line years ago and no longer has any info about its former line of products.

Some info about Recortec's help for the Bay Area Video Coalition's tape migration efforts for half-inch reel to reel is recounted in this 2002 seminar about tape preservation and recovery:
http://www.imappreserve.org/pdfs/Educate_Train_pdfs/LookingForward/PhysicalPreservation.pdf

ELCON in Canada morphed into Tapeography and expanded into making Softblend® epilators for hair removal.

The company tells exactly why it bailed on two pages of its still existing website:
http://www.sofblend.com/profile.html
Our original core business was to supply and maintain videotape cleaning and inspection equipment for the professional user, as well as to provide custom design and manufacture of professional electronic equipment for other applications.  In April 2002, the company discontinued manufacture of videotape cleaners due to reduced demand and the ever-increasing cost of low-volume production.

http://www.sofblend.com/
After more than 20 years in business, we regret to announce the closing of Tapeography, supplier of Videotape Cleaning equipment and the Sofblend range of Epilators.
Worldwide demand for both these products has fallen to a level that makes the business no longer viable.

Contact Richard Baker (R.I. Baker Electronics) regarding cleaning tissues for the Elcon/Tapeography videotape cleaners.  email ribaker at sympatico.ca or call +1.905.895.3445

Richard Baker is the former Engineering VP of Elcon and Tapeography.

As someone else pointed out, RTI sells only remanufactured 1" and 2" cleaner/evaluators.

BOW Industries makes new equipment, primarily for the data tape user, but applicable to audio and video.

And there are people who'd make equipment to meet customer specifications if there's enough money to fund the project.

Hope this is helpful.

Ted

Ted Langdell
Secretary



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