Sidebar 1: Peter Comeau on IAG in China
I asked IAG Director of Acoustic Design Peter Comeau about the split of Wharfedale and IAG activities between the UK and China. He wrote back by email from Shenzhen.
"When I joined IAG in 2009, the R&D center and factory were on the one premises, here in Shenzhen. After some years, it transpired that the Shenzhen local government was intent on clamping down on heavy industry within the city and, as we make nearly everything from speaker chassis to cabinets and metalwork, IAG decided to move the factory to Jiangxi, Ji'an county.
"China R&D remained in Shenzhen and, last year, a new R&D center and suite of offices, including demo, listening, and test rooms, were opened as a complete refurbishment of the premises for both Hi-Fi and Pro Audio. In addition, we are in the process of extending and refining our R&D test facilities in Huntingdon, UK, to expand our parallel development work there.
"In Huntingdon, we also have a production facility for loudspeakers and are currently manufacturing the Wharfedale Dovedale there as well as models from other brands that we consider can benefit from UK manufacturing. The Diamond 12i range, EVO, Denton, Linton, Super Linton, and Elysian ranges are made in our Ji'an factory in China."—Jim Austin
I asked IAG Director of Acoustic Design Peter Comeau about the split of Wharfedale and IAG activities between the UK and China. He wrote back by email from Shenzhen.
"When I joined IAG in 2009, the R&D center and factory were on the one premises, here in Shenzhen. After some years, it transpired that the Shenzhen local government was intent on clamping down on heavy industry within the city and, as we make nearly everything from speaker chassis to cabinets and metalwork, IAG decided to move the factory to Jiangxi, Ji'an county.
"China R&D remained in Shenzhen and, last year, a new R&D center and suite of offices, including demo, listening, and test rooms, were opened as a complete refurbishment of the premises for both Hi-Fi and Pro Audio. In addition, we are in the process of extending and refining our R&D test facilities in Huntingdon, UK, to expand our parallel development work there.
