K&N oil filter made in Korea
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
Might as well get use to it...world wide economy. Who ever makes it cheaper will get the contract. John Wayne isn't going to riding over the hill to save us anymore. The world as we knew it doesn't exist anymore.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
A most poignant reminder of the state of affairs we are in, that I have heard expressed in a while.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 35
From: Southern Maryland
south korea manufacturing does have its stand outs. electronics being one of them. cars....not so much but they are coming along. i see a lot of companies trying to bring business and manufacturing back to the U.S.. lets hope they have success. it is a global market. i try and look for the "made in" lable...getting harder and harder to find "USA" on them....and the Harley trinket and clothes rack is one of the WORST offenders. jmho
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 827
Likes: 3
From: NW Florida
My Uncle Adley worked in Korea a few years back. Of course it was for the Army and a war was going on!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
K&N used to be a family run company, designing and making their filters at their Riverside California facility. They have an in house dyno set up there, so they can try different configurations to adjust prototype designs and determine hp and torque improvements. I have taken several Vipers there for them to take measurements. They always have sent me a free intake system as a thank you for bringing over a car.
Their founder (Jerry Mall) lives in Temecula and was active in racing. We went to the Silver State Challenge several times together. He is a great guy, and gives back to the community.
Several years ago, the company went public, and I imagine it was difficult for him to continue to justify the high cost of production in California. With the volumes they now produce, the difficulties with EPA and Government burdens most likely caused them to look to Asia for production.
They also now serve a world wide market, so producing in a region closer to their customers also makes sense.
Other filter competitors took advantage of K&N's high production costs, and began to undercut them on price. The only way for them to survive was to go offshore.
Jerry is as all American as they come, but also a pretty sharp businessman. Imagine the decision to expand in business unfriendly California or go offshore was pretty compelling.
Believe most of us would have done the same thing.
Their founder (Jerry Mall) lives in Temecula and was active in racing. We went to the Silver State Challenge several times together. He is a great guy, and gives back to the community.
Several years ago, the company went public, and I imagine it was difficult for him to continue to justify the high cost of production in California. With the volumes they now produce, the difficulties with EPA and Government burdens most likely caused them to look to Asia for production.
They also now serve a world wide market, so producing in a region closer to their customers also makes sense.
Other filter competitors took advantage of K&N's high production costs, and began to undercut them on price. The only way for them to survive was to go offshore.
Jerry is as all American as they come, but also a pretty sharp businessman. Imagine the decision to expand in business unfriendly California or go offshore was pretty compelling.
Believe most of us would have done the same thing.