Case Labs Closing Doors.

[Xzibit]

https://www.owler.com/company/calfab
Probably not remotely accurate. Not sure where Xzibit is getting his info but probably more accurate.

Wrong location. This is their location for both CFC and CL. 7901 Alabama Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91304

 

[Bones]

Tt is better known for it's air coolers, of which I have a few.

Koolance wasn't seen as being towards the top of the ladder related to water blocks, in fact several models they had back then were plagued with problems because of issues with leaks coming from the transparent tops they were using due to cracking and that's why I didn't run one.

Instead I bought an OCZ Hydroflow block that's still being used today and yes, still works great with no leaks.

 

[eidairaman1]

Thermalright never did any water cooling. They had 1 waterblock ever.
You're probably thinking Thermaltake. TT and Koolance were both minor league compared to DD and Swiftech.
Koolance is a better company now compared to back then. TT is still pretty much minor league as far as water goes.

Its been years bro, some things are getting a little foggy. TR was a big name in coolers, at one point I wanted one of those Koolance cases.

I guess I forgot that thermaltake had water cooling systems too.

 

[newtekie1]

I guess I forgot that thermaltake had water cooling systems too.

I remember I wanted a Thermaltake Tai-chi so bad, but could never afford it...

 

[R-T-B]

lets not make this politcal.

I mean, the tariffs were implemented directly by Trump. Caselabs is directly laying their blame on the tarriffs.

If we can't discuss that what can we discuss?

The tarrifs are up to 25%

For tech components. The former tariffs on steel are probably more relevant here, and may be higher?

EDIT: Ok, they are not. Far be it for me to praise the tariffs, but there is clearly more going on here.

And Caselabs touted being American made all this time. Were they just using shit Chinese product this whole time and jacking up the price?

It probably was made in the USA... from foreign steel.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Case Labs only works in aluminum which had a maximum tariff of 10% (think it ended up being around 6%). It wasn't Trump's tariffs that hugely upset the market; it was the Russian retaliatory tariffs of 25-40% on alumina (the step between bauxite and aluminum) that caused a major disturbance. Companies that mined bauxite (namely Rio) could no longer afford to sell it to Russian refiners (have facilities all over the world for processing it) which constrained aluminum supply.


The electronics tariffs going in effect on August 23 are actually Chinese tariffs which won't have much impact consumers outside of China. The last round of US tariffs went into effect on July 6 which was mostly targeted at manufacturing related products; the Trump administration avoided adding tariffs that would impact consumers directly (like computers, toys, etc.).

 

[rtwjunkie]

I mean, the tariffs were implemented directly by Trump. Caselabs is directly laying their blame on the tarriffs.

If we can't discuss that what can we discuss?

We have been for a couple pages, and the consensus is it isn’t political. It’s easier for CaseLabs to blame the tarrifs than the fact they suck at business.

 

[StrayKAT]

You'd think if any extenuating circumstances tanked a tech company, it would have been 10 (and 20) years ago. It's why there's a graveyard of American companies, as it is... sadly. It's actually remarkable that they managed to do themselves in, despite surviving the other events.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

I mean, the tariffs were implemented directly by Trump. Caselabs is directly laying their blame on the tarriffs.

If we can't discuss that what can we discuss?

If it cant be helped so be it, just dont want this to be all about Trump bashing. Laying blame is as easy as pointing fingers, they could have blamed
RandomPerson_1 if they wanted to, it doesnt make it a fact or the truth tho.

 

[newtekie1]

Case Labs only works in aluminum which had a maximum tariff of 10% (think it ended up being around 6%). It wasn't Trump's tariffs that hugely upset the market; it was the Russian retaliatory tariffs of 25-40% on alumina (the step between bauxite and aluminum) that caused a major disturbance. Companies that mined bauxite (namely Rio) could no longer afford to sell it to Russian refiners (have facilities all over the world for processing it) which constrained aluminum supply.


The electronics tariffs going in effect on August 23 are actually Chinese tariffs which won't have much impact consumers outside of China. The last round of US tariffs went into effect on July 6 which was mostly targeted at manufacturing related products; the Trump administration avoided adding tariffs that would impact consumers directly (like computers, toys, etc.).

CaseLabs never said it was the tariffs implemented by Trump, they just said tariffs. Others tried to blame it on Trump.

The fact is tariffs are to blame for the destabilization of the metal supplies and costs world wide. And an 80% price increase in material costs in a single year is extremely hard for small businesses to handle.

It probably was made in the USA... from foreign steel.

Foreign steel/aluminum or not, the cost for made in the USA steel/aluminum still follows the global market. If the global price goes up, it goes up in the USA too. You just save the 10% by buying local and avoiding tariffs.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

CaseLabs never said it was the tariffs implemented by Trump, they just said tariffs. Others tried to blame it on Trump.

The fact is tariffs are to blame for the destabilization of the metal supplies and costs world wide. And an 80% price increase in material costs in a single year is extremely hard for small businesses to handle.




Foreign steel/aluminum or not, the cost for made in the USA steel/aluminum still follows the global market. If the global price goes up, it goes up in the USA too. You just save the 10% by buying local and avoiding tariffs.

I suspect they were importing pre-stamped parts, I really dont see a company that small producing so many cases without outside help. The building pic from @Xzibit's post shows the building just not that big, more like an average joe machine shop.

 

[R-T-B]

We have been for a couple pages, and the consensus is it isn’t political. It’s easier for CaseLabs to blame the tarrifs than the fact they suck at business.

Indeed and I commented on that. As I said far be it for me to agree with the tariffs but color me surprised that this thread worked out that way. I'll fully admit I expected something else.

 

[INSTG8R]

Its been years bro, some things are getting a little foggy. TR was a big name in coolers, at one point I wanted one of those Koolance cases.

I guess I forgot that thermaltake had water cooling systems too.

Still using a TT Kandalf LCS that was put out for the P4
https://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00000082
I just put a AC Kyros block on it to keep it “current”

 

[StrayKAT]

Indeed and I commented on that. As I said far be it for me to agree with the tariffs but color me surprised that this thread worked out that way. I'll fully admit I expected something else.

Same here. It really is surprising. Techpowerup deserves a cookie

 

[hat]

Or maybe the mods are working overtime to keep the thread clean...

Either way, it's been good to see some of the topics lately that have been somewhat political in nature not flare up into a full on shitfest.

 

[Xzibit]

I think it has to do more on the people who are participating along with the subject matter.

Same here. It really is surprising. Techpowerup deserves a cookie

Don't pat yourselfs on back prematurely. This week is ripe with us vs them news. They will show up in other threads.

 

[micropage7]

I remember I wanted a Thermaltake Tai-chi so bad, but could never afford it...

Haha.. I want to buy caselabs but never got it since it will dry my wallet in second but i have to say i like their case, less bling-bling

 

[Bones]

We have been for a couple pages, and the consensus is it isn’t political. It’s easier for CaseLabs to blame the tarrifs than the fact they suck at business.

You know.... It doesn't really matter who's "In office" or if tarrifs happen to go up, down or even sideways - If you suck as running a business the you suck at it, plain and simple.
A recipe for failure is just that and that's the end result you can expect from such, expectation of anything else with that is foolish.

 

[newtekie1]

I suspect they were importing pre-stamped parts, I really dont see a company that small producing so many cases without outside help. The building pic from @Xzibit's post shows the building just not that big, more like an average joe machine shop.

They were a fabrication company. And they didn't make that many cases. They were not a mass producer, they made custom cases in low volume.

The building doesn't look that big from the street view. But it actually is, it is over 7,000 Sq. Ft. It isn't huge, but certainly big enough for a fab Shop. Xzibit's post only shows the small front entrance of the building.

 

[Xzibit]

They were a fabrication company. And they didn't make that many cases. They were not a mass producer, they made custom cases in low volume.

The building doesn't look that big from the street view. But it actually is, it is over 7,000 Sq. Ft. It isn't huge, but certainly big enough for a fab Shop. Xzibit's post only shows the small front entrance of the building.

The unit is a front office attached to a 2 garage door unit with parking plus fenced off addition parking/access area. The office and parking/access take up half. Google view the address.

As for the inside

 

[FordGT90Concept]

No wonder they couldn't fill orders. Probably takes them a week to make a single case.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Thanks for the pics @Xzibit.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

seems I forgot to add a few words in my OP, meh it all worked out anyway.

 

[Frick]

Definitely vulnerable when it comes to suppliers.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

No one has mentioned how difficult it is to run a manufacturing business in California. High taxes, rules, regulations and an overall anti business attitude from the government are causing many businesses to fail or relocate to a friendlier location like North Carolina.