24 replies to this topic

[sonic boom]

Does any body know what is happening at binbrook this year after panda sold
the stock and land.Last year the people who bought it said everything had been sold
and they brought there own brand in (spooks)
any info would be nice

[David]

To expand this slightly- does anyone know what the current situation is with Panda? Apparantly they were bought out by (or rather the brand name was sold to ) different company? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, I've never heard of Spooks fireworks.

Panda was a brand I never really got "into". A few years ago it was marketed alongside Bright Star. I've seen bits of it by-the-by - generally decent, but nothing really stood out. I think they drew some flak (no doubt deliberatly) with a firework "Shock and Awe" that had artwork looking very similar to 9-11.

[Spyrotechnics]

If I recall correctly the remaining Panda stock was sold to one company (Bulldog ?) and the actual site sold to another company (Spook?) - but I cant recall exactly.

We have stocked Panda for the past couple of years, some really pokey pieces, alas the phone number we have for Binbrook is not being answered so I have not been able to find out wether or not there is any stock left/being imported this year.

As for a Panda firework that looked like a Porche, I must have missed that one?

[David]

From what I've heard, apparantly Panda are still active as a brand name, but being run by a totally different company. I don't know if that means they will stick with the same range, or bring in totally new lines. My guess is that the range will stay the same.

[Spyrotechnics]

Most (if not all) of last years Panda items has been around for quite a few years and a large proportion wont comply with the new regulations.

[David]

Oh yeah- thats a shame. It was a good brand for nice, colourful noisy stuff.

[Firework Crazy]

Just so you guys know what happend. (as i know it anyway)

Panda have pulled out of the European market whilst they concentrate on the building of new facilities in China. Panda are one of the biggest firework manufacturers in China and alot of fireworks that are shipped to the UK (under different brands) originate from Panda factories.

We have stocked Panda for a couple of years and both us and our customers have been very pleased with the quality of the fireworks.

We are infact importing several of our own items this year which have been produced by Panda in China.

[sonic boom]

has any one heard anything about the fireworks from binbrook
i know they had a lot of stock left near 5th nov last year as i had a stock list off them
tried the number again today it looks like it's been cut off

[spectrum]

[quote name='David' date='May 5 2008, 09:37 PM' post='44794']
To expand this slightly- does anyone know what the current situation is with Panda? Apparantly they were bought out by (or rather the brand name was sold to ) different company? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I had the dubious pleasure of being the first point of contact for Jackson Zhao, the owner of Panda fireworks when he first came to the U.K.

We had expanded our factory licensing magazines on neighbouring land in the process and, having been told of me, Jackson came to visit to negotiate acquiring them to accomodate his fireworks. Being new to the west he asked me to support and advise him and help him settle in. We became friends and ended up finding accomodation for the Panda employees, professional assistance - accountants etc. I booked their first stand at Harrogate at very short notice and tried to advise them on what the U.K. was about, who to deal with and who not, how to go about things.

They were incredibly naive and this was a real hinderence. The biggest problem was the attitude of arrogance and superiority held in particular by the guy running the show, a fat guy called Wayne. He was absolutely dreadful to deal with, thought he knew everything, took offence at being corrected and did not accept any advice. I was invited to visit them at the factory in China just weeks before it blew up.

Having worked in the pyrotechnics industry all my working life I do have a thing or two to say where factory ops / safety and efficiency are concerned and their place was a nightmare. On one hand they wanted to know things, they pumped me for compositions - in the U.K. I showed them some strobing stars at our factory and they were VERY interested - but when you started to explain whatever it was they were interested in they would interupt and explain that they ALREADY knew this and were, in fact, the best in China! I must have heard this a thousand times. Needless to say I tried to offer advice on certain operations thet were conducting in the factory, elementary things but they simply could not grasp what I was saying and didn't want to learn. 5 or 6 weeks after I left the factory it blew up with disastrous loss of life - all completely avoidable.

I have to say this has coloured my opinions on Chinese manufacture massively and on dealing with the Chinese in general - I'm sorry if that irritates or offends but that is how I am.

Back in England - I need only say that when Bright Star / Binbrook came up for sale they showed an interest and, again, against my advice they decided to go into business with Nigel Jackson / John Mathers. I don't need to go into the soap opera which followed but the results are demonstrated by the fact that they are no longer around.

[David]

That was a really interesting read- thanks for posting.

Edited by David, 20 June 2008 - 12:15 PM.

[Spyrotechnics]

Shame they didn't listen to your advice regarding choice of business partners,

[nimrodmr4a]

I have to say, that i was not that impressed with some of their products. I bought some fireworks for new year from a local fireworks shop, and was told they were all reduced by 75%, because there supplyer (panda) had left binbrook, and this was all the stock, and they wanted to get rid of it ( i now know why) because of complaints. Being skint at the time, i brought as much as i could afford, £35 worth, and i was pleased with it. Come that night, 15 of the 40 rockets failed to lift any higher than 20ft, causing quite a bit of noise. And the multi shot barage was leathal, it started fine, but then continued to fire all-over the place, and even being 40m away, some people got hit. I was not best pleased with my purchase, but have to say it could have been an old batch, so they might have been duds, but im never going to buy anymore. On a lighter note, their big rockets were wonderful for sounding in the new year, certainly louder than any others ive seen. So it comes as no surprise they left, they probably had financial difficulties, but im not sure

[David]

Personally I have used quite a bit of Panda stuff and I've never had a mis-fire.

What was the name of the cake that misfired?

[nimrodmr4a]

I cant remember actualy, the box was blown to bits. I do know it cost me £2 at the reduced price, so i suppose i couldn't expect great results.

[sonic boom]

i have had the full range of panda and the only thing that didnt work
propley was 1 ghost rocket this was out of about 30 packs with 4 in each
it didnt take off and was a double burst NO DAMAGE DONE THOUGH AND NOBODY INJURED