13.02.2018, 20:55
Yes, especially for low grade type I cassettes, where few customers really cared. They had to work reliably, that was enough. Better cassettes for critical customers, mostly type II and above, were continued to be imported from the tape companies' original production, because these were not as price sensitive, and customers would pay the import taxes to get the best quality.
Similar things were beginning to happen in the mid-1980's for the EU and US tape markets, too: FIrst, low grade models like Fuji DR, Scotch BX/CX, Denon DX1, Sony EF, JVC FI and GI, Philips FE-I, That's RX, Maxell UR and the likes were imported from Korea (Saehan, SKC), Singapore, Indonesia and other places where standard tapes could be OEM-made in decent quality at low cost. Even BASF had their Ferro Extra I for America made by Saehan at some point. Some years later, more and more models of the line-up were outsourced to be made by OEM's, leaving only top range models to be made by the original tape company. I think Fuji is the best example to study all stages of the process.
Best regards
Martin
Similar things were beginning to happen in the mid-1980's for the EU and US tape markets, too: FIrst, low grade models like Fuji DR, Scotch BX/CX, Denon DX1, Sony EF, JVC FI and GI, Philips FE-I, That's RX, Maxell UR and the likes were imported from Korea (Saehan, SKC), Singapore, Indonesia and other places where standard tapes could be OEM-made in decent quality at low cost. Even BASF had their Ferro Extra I for America made by Saehan at some point. Some years later, more and more models of the line-up were outsourced to be made by OEM's, leaving only top range models to be made by the original tape company. I think Fuji is the best example to study all stages of the process.
Best regards
Martin