Forged Composite

[IceBuckeye88 0]

1. Every company does things differently. I know for a fact that Bauer, Easton and Warrior do their own R&D and tell their factories what they want made.

2. Congrats on knowing someone who owns one of the smaller companies. I think everyone on MSH does, or so it seems.

I don't feel it's appriate to drop the name of the company or owner. As for me, I own a small company in the industry that has many dealers/distributors throughout North America and Europe. But my business is not sticks, so I go by the word of some people I know. The company I was talking about has been around a couple decades and their sticks didn't come from a factory that claims to make sticks for Bauer (it's one of the other big guy's). I have no doubt that Bauer, Easton, and Warrior do their own R&D. But I also know the factory's work on new technology's as well. I've only been involved in hockey for a couple years (from a business standpoint) and am always looking for more info on how the other companies conduct business. I also don't doubt your 'inside' knowledge and am not looking to get into an exchange of insults. Bottom line is I believe you are correct in stating that the big companies do their own R&D. I also believe I'm right that the small to medium sized company's depend on the factory's to manufacture 'competitive' equipment for them.

[WSjo22 1]

Just did a quick google search for hockey stick OEMS for shits and giggles, turns out Bauer has about 40 different OEMS

[IceBuckeye88 0]

First of all, every factory in China will tell you they produce sticks for Bauer. I've exchanged emails with a few and they all tell the same lies. In most cases the sticks they sell as being "the same as the major brands" is nothing of the sort. It's funny at the trade show to actually ask the guys selling brands you've never heard of what factory they use. Most of the guys at the small companies can't tell that the sticks aren't what they've been told they are.

The lack of R&D by the small guys is the major difference between the big names and the small guys.

Oh, by the way, don't question Sublitwill when it comes to manufacturing. He knows far more than just about anyone on this site, some of us have learned a lot from him over the years.

The company I'm refering to has been in business for decades and their sticks were not made in a factory that manufactures for Bauer (it's one of the other majors). I'm not challenging Sublitwill's information, but I do own a small company in the industry and have some pretty good contacts. However, I don't know everyone or everything and am always interested in learning more. All I'm saying is that the factory's have to do their own R&D when they adapt new technology's to making a product like a hockey stick. What can be and can't be done certainly play's a role in the final product.