Max Factory
(
53)
Sat 2007/12/29 23:29
Want a quick tour of the Max Factory factory in China?
I was due to go with Good Smile to visit the factory in November but couldn't get the time - will go next year and bring you back more detailed photos - but in the meantime enjoy these pics which I stole from Max Watanabe-sans blog.
Below: First up is the outside of the factory - located in Guangzhou. We were due to fly into Hong Kong and have the factory folks come to pick us up by car - would then be a few hours ride.
Below: Some figure samples being made during pre-production.
Below: Ignis being put together.
Below: Can you name this figure?
Below: Bits of Gunsword Van. I just heard Wendy call out "Van!" in my head.
Below: These machines inject the PVC/ABS into the molds.
Below: Time for some lunch for the staff.
Below: Bits n pieces coming out of the molds.
Below: All figures are created from a metal mold and this is where they are made. Average age of staff is 20.
Below: Then a computer controlled machine refines the metal mold by cutting away at it.
Below: The data needed for the cutting machine is created here.
Below: This is the painting area. The floor is full of a few hundred people during busy times - all equipped with an airbrush.
Some figures require hundreds of layers of paint - the Shuraki Shall one is an example.
Below: The paint area with nobody around. Paint is sucked through the vents and goes outside - hope there is a filter in between somewhere ^^;
Below: The sample inspection room to check the quality of the figures.
Thats it for now - expect my photos and video from the factory next year.
I was due to go with Good Smile to visit the factory in November but couldn't get the time - will go next year and bring you back more detailed photos - but in the meantime enjoy these pics which I stole from Max Watanabe-sans blog.
Below: First up is the outside of the factory - located in Guangzhou. We were due to fly into Hong Kong and have the factory folks come to pick us up by car - would then be a few hours ride.
Some figures require hundreds of layers of paint - the Shuraki Shall one is an example.
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The World Hobby Festival 17 was held yesterday at Tokyo Big Sight and Tok...(more)
Tue 12/25 01:14 comments (87)
Good to know how our figures are made. I'm glad to see that the factory looks up to spec and not like the old factories in China that look like they would break at any moment.
(ID #68149) Posted on 2007/12/29 23:07
so the factory is in HK ?
(ID #68150) Posted on 2007/12/29 23:34
Graphic Designer/Angry drunk
Wow, that seems like a great place to work. It reminds me a lot of the Ferrari factory in Europe, though I'm sure Ferrari has better benefits than Max Factory. I'm not sure if they feed their employees at Ferrari though.
(ID #68152) Posted on 2007/12/29 23:43
Graphic Designer/Angry drunk
Is that Satoko from Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni being assembled?
(ID #68153) Posted on 2007/12/29 23:46
It's a side of the figure industry I always wanted to see. Many thanks to you then! No wonder why they called themselves "Factory" when you see this. lol.
(ID #68154) Posted on 2007/12/29 23:53
Engineer by weekdays, Hikki by weekends
Hmm.. New factory visits pics/contents. And yeah, most figure factory are in China. Hope they wont cheat the materials unlike some other companies ;__;
(ID #68155) Posted on 2007/12/29 23:54
So thats how things are mass produced in China~ What if one of the works steal one??
(ID #68158) Posted on 2007/12/30 00:30
五〇一軍团 TK8316 Singapore Garrison Public Relations Officer
@Sam, no the factory is not in HK, it's in Guang Zhou. it's about 120km northwest of Hong Kong http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangzhou
(ID #68159) Posted on 2007/12/30 00:36
I want to take a tour at the factory. I don't see the airbrush workers wearing face masks.
(ID #68160) Posted on 2007/12/30 00:40
Is that a tiny Henrietta figure with her AMATI violin case that I see in the corner of the last screenshot there? Very cool photos, Danny; I appreciate the virtual tour and getting to see a bit of what the working conditions are like.
(ID #68161) Posted on 2007/12/30 00:57
Even tho I am not really into figures I would love to visit the factory. Seems like an amazing place to me :D
(ID #68162) Posted on 2007/12/30 01:03
alida (Registered on 2007/12/28 09:54)
oo - there's Henrietta factory looks pretty gloomy - but after I saw "average age is about 20" - I thought maybe it might not be so gloomy after all...
(ID #68163) Posted on 2007/12/30 01:19
McMaster Engineering Level I
Visit? Yes. And maybe take a few "samples" on the way out :D
(ID #68164) Posted on 2007/12/30 01:39
Service desk support
Well, it's not quite the simpsons take on factory conditions, but then they were doing animation and the factory was in Korea, complete with military men and whips! So I see Van, Satoko from Higurashi and Henrietta from gunslinger girls just lying around... hmm... Must be boring as heck putting on hundreds of layers of paint on the same figure day in, day out! I couldn't do that. I like my variety!
(ID #68165) Posted on 2007/12/30 01:56
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Oh yes, it would be interesting to to go for a visit. Nice of Watanabe-san to invite you to come along. I have a feeling he is an interesting individual to talk with. Interesting to see lots of young guys in the factory. So often one sees young women doing painting. Surprise no one is wearing mask in the paint area. ^^;
(ID #68166) Posted on 2007/12/30 01:58
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
Reminds me of Command & Conquer. "Building.... Unit Ready" "Building.... Unit Ready" "Building.... Insufficient funds!"
(ID #68167) Posted on 2007/12/30 02:08
Procrastinator Extraordinaire
of course i'd like to make a comment about how the words factory and China being together brings to mind a picture of a dirty, polluted, place chock full of human-rights and environmental abuse cases. HOWEVER, this ruins my perception. the factory looks neat, great and really professional.
(ID #68168) Posted on 2007/12/30 02:28
Wow, so its like the one shown before. People hand paint them instead of machines (like hand assembling bikes). Like said, it does (somehow) reminds us (some) of a RTS type of games ^_^;; IE: - Command & Conquer - War Craft III - War Hammer 40K: DoW "EXECUTING YOUR ORDER! SIR!" - Imperial Guards
(ID #68170) Posted on 2007/12/30 02:56
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Great to know that in Chinese factories employees are given treatment like how normal humans should be treated. But is this the norm there? I do hope so ^^ Anyway, speaking of Guang Zhou, I know a little bit about the city, they have great hospital that can cure severe cancer where the cancer has spread throughout the body. My uncle had his severe cancer healed in Guang Zhou. Now if only China would stop counterfeiting stuffs...
(ID #68171) Posted on 2007/12/30 03:46
Student
Wow. Factory conditions there are pretty good. I guess it makes sense though, seeing as MaxFac makes a ton of money off figures. Though, I wonder how much their salary is?
(ID #68172) Posted on 2007/12/30 03:53
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
200 USD per month if I am not mistaken.. It's also already been increased from around 150 USD per month recently. My memory is pretty faint, I remember reading it in newspaper but not really sure if I remember it correctly ^^
(ID #68173) Posted on 2007/12/30 04:03
Wow the factory looks pretty damn clean and well organized. It's a lot better than i imagine what a factory in china would be =p. However, those workers should really wear a respirator, since those vacuum vents are not good enough when they are holding the figures so close to themselves.
(ID #68174) Posted on 2007/12/30 04:25
well at least the painter is quite an artist i think i will ruin the figure if i do painted it. anybody proficient with airbrush?
(ID #68175) Posted on 2007/12/30 04:30
cool!!! they check the quality of every figure they made. i love u max factory
(ID #68176) Posted on 2007/12/30 06:08
animefreak222 (Registered on 2007/05/27 13:58)
btw anyone knows what kind of paint they used? watched the vid on goodsmile website but they did'nt metioned what paint was used. wuld be great if someone could tell me what paint was used thx ^^ll
(ID #68178) Posted on 2007/12/30 06:30
VF-25 Pilot. Universariate Scholar.
that completely changes my perceptions of china's factories.
(ID #68179) Posted on 2007/12/30 06:33
anime/cosplay events organizer
i would love to visit the factory and see how figures are made and mass produced ^__^ i wonder if there's a figure factory here that i don't know about lulz XDD
(ID #68180) Posted on 2007/12/30 06:34
Student
Well now that I know how its done, I'm more willing to spend so much on figures! ^^ Very impressive environment.
(ID #68182) Posted on 2007/12/30 07:00
Lowlife
So that's why these damn things cost so much. They sure put a lot of work in.
(ID #68183) Posted on 2007/12/30 07:03
Reminds me of my D&T days in school =.=; the machines and floor look so familiar.. so there's where my money flew to...?
(ID #68184) Posted on 2007/12/30 07:18
I think its fantastic that they are still hand painted. The quality difference shows Im sure. Im also amazed at how open and clean the factory is. Im a little disappointed to not see masks being worn by the workers painting, but Im pretty bad at that sometimes too. I wouldnt mind working at a place like this. Especially if I got a discount... maybe when I was younger.
(ID #68188) Posted on 2007/12/30 07:43
wow, a lot of process and quality control as well. GOod.
(ID #68194) Posted on 2007/12/30 09:07
Student
No wonder some of the figures costs so much. Now I understand why. The production pipeline must really be a strict one in order for the best quality to be churned out.
(ID #68195) Posted on 2007/12/30 09:15
Still Student (I Think)
thanks.. I always wondering how those figures were painted. Impressive. and wow... thats so different from other factories..
(ID #68196) Posted on 2007/12/30 10:50
Student and full-time otaku
Really cool, would like to go there
(ID #68197) Posted on 2007/12/30 11:00
@Edward and DRAGUN: I also find it odd that they don't wear masks... Better be ashamed than being critically sick decades after... I would impose rules on that, myself. Yup, I'm a bit annoying. @DRAGUN: Good to see you again. I missed your crazy comments for quite a bit and the blog has been too quiet lately. lol.
(ID #68198) Posted on 2007/12/30 11:58
while a mask could help you out its probably not needed since the setup is like a lab hood. if you blow the paint towards the hood there should be no issues from the fumes. protective eyewear and gloves, i would say, are a must. just my guess, but theres a chance theres no a/c so a mask could be unbearable depending on how hot it gets.
(ID #68201) Posted on 2007/12/30 13:21
Factory of dreams, uhm... Great article, good see the figures before the finish product, thanks Danny.
(ID #68210) Posted on 2007/12/30 14:44
Thanks for this article! I was always wondering how figures were being made, and now I know. The factory looks very clean (probably because top brass was visiting) and very professional.
(ID #68211) Posted on 2007/12/30 14:48
hahaha, in Guangzhou??? I believe the factory is in somewhere far away from the city center, otherwise i will definitely know where is it and I will probably visit it frequently, maybe to steal/plunder all the figures, hahah .. It's really appreciated that this post exposed some kinda positive side of my country. Since china is a mammoth world factory, ... much bigger than you can image, you will never see the big picture of this place by reading one or two pieces of report.. I know many people here are working on this business, but some of them make both genuine and faked one... and the actually cost of this figure is lower than you can image too.. that's why the factory owner want desperately to reduce the cost, and therefore exploit on the young labors and degrade the qualities, it finally image of made-in-china.. Anyway, thank you for your picture, danny. I will find where the factory is one day... and take my "special action" :)
(ID #68223) Posted on 2007/12/30 15:40
@D_Blade, good to be back! Also, my comments arent "crazy" per se.... But then again, what crazy person ever realizes they are crazy? Okay, thats all I have to say so you can stop reading now. .... seriously, Im done.... you are still reading this arent you? Sigh. Well.. I have nothing left to say, so staring at the computer screen isnt going to help..............................................................................................................................................................BOO!
(ID #68225) Posted on 2007/12/30 16:18
That was a great article Danny! I love seeing how these figures are produced. Though i wonder: The machines they use, and tech people they employ to write the code/algorithims for the machine, must be very expensive. I have 6 years of experience w/ manufacturing/shipping business, and i know how much even the most simple piece of machinery can cost. Sadly, the low wages of the non-tech skilled employies must help balance that out. Business is very evil in that way.
(ID #68234) Posted on 2007/12/30 20:01
would i like to visit the factory? HELL to the YEAH!! i really admire how anime figures are made it's amazing Thanx Danny for this article this is the very first time that i see how the figures are made
(ID #68244) Posted on 2007/12/30 21:59
4th Year Business Economics Student
It's really nice to see how the figures are made and how the facilities and staff look like. ^^ And I gotta admit, the factory looks decent and professional.
(ID #68246) Posted on 2007/12/30 22:47
gee, i would love to work there even with minimum wage.
(ID #68371) Posted on 2008/01/01 07:38
Very nice. The Japanese sure are neat. I myself have visited the Trumpeter factory in China (Trumpeter is a scale model company) and it looks very similar to those pictures except that it isn't as orderly as the Max Factory......uhh......factory. We were even given access to the R & D department.
(ID #68407) Posted on 2008/01/01 15:47
Much as I love modelling, this is one job I'll pass. It looks so dull...
(ID #68412) Posted on 2008/01/01 17:04
Nice post on demystifying the anime figure production process. I personally visited several factories in another industry in China last summer, and the labor was similarly divided.
(ID #68525) Posted on 2008/01/02 22:42
the quality of pvc/abs toys has really gotten much better over the last few years I think because of the new techniques and the expanded use of computers. just to think resin models were the order of the day when it came to a precision representation of your favorite anime character some 7 years ago.
(ID #68878) Posted on 2008/01/07 03:18
Web Designer
ic ic... that's why if we look at the box and the figure stand, there is "Made in China".
(ID #68948) Posted on 2008/01/08 04:14
How do the workers know where to paint? Or is one person/team assign to paint one type of figure to simply production?
(ID #70194) Posted on 2008/01/20 05:15
Working Otaku mom
That is pretty neat knowing how the figures are made and all the custom work they go through!:D Would like to visit the factory someday!:D
(ID #265434) Posted on 2008/08/14 16:47
Schoolkid
One of the guys working on it looks like Lanzer. O.o [/randomness]
(ID #391559) Posted on 2008/11/30 01:57
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