White's is closing

[Carl-NC]

Important Information from White's Electronics

June 18, 2020 To our valued White's Dealers- This is a very difficult message to write, but the time has come for retirement from White's Electronics. We are suspending manufacturing operations at our Sweet Home facility while we re-evaluate the future of the company. It is never easy to make these decisions, however, we are faced with the reality of intense competition in the industry and ongoing counterfeit instruments coming from China. Lastly, there have been critical material shortages since the Covid 19 shutdown that we now find insurmountable. All of us here in Sweet Home are grateful for your service. We consider each you part of the White's extended family. Sincerely, Ken White

[Carl-NC]

Although this says they are "suspending manufacturing" it probably means they are done. Perhaps they will look for a buyer but I think that is a tough sell.

I've always assumed that White's would eventually fold but thought they could coast another 5 years. White's had a lot of problems, but I gotta say that in all the jobs I've had the past 40 years, the 6 with White's was by far the most fun.

[Kev]

Bad news Carl, there will be more demand for machines as the global economic situation runs away.....

Just about every good idea or innovation I discover, I later find that Whites has a patent on it, yet they never seem to use most of them, they just tie it up so others can't use it.
This has made me very angry at times.

So I wonder in a situation where Whites follows Tesoro, does the patent belong to the inventor or the Assignee?

Would they likely sell their IP in a final strip-down scenario?

[Elliot]

Very sad to hear. I suspect the cost of manufacturing in the USA hasn't helped.

[WM6]

, does the patent belong to the inventor or the Assignee?

Interesting question:

https://help.patsnap.com/hc/en-us/ar...-and-Assignees

[Carl-NC]

I suspect they will attempt to sell the assets, including patents. If not, the family will continue to own the rights. The only patent I believe that has any value is the one I wrote on truncated half-sine. Others either have little value, are easily circumvented, or are near expiration.

Cost of manufacturing hasn't really been an issue for White's. Their labor market is exceptionally cheap and they do most everything in-house. What has hurt them the most is sales/marketing. They hung onto the distributor/dealer model for too long, and when they finally decided to go online & big-box they just didn't have the people and structure to do it right. The second thing that hurt them was engineering turnover. It created huge gaps in products and in the ability to continue innovating.

[Kev]

I suspect they will attempt to sell the assets, including patents. If not, the family will continue to own the rights. The only patent I believe that has any value is the one I wrote on truncated half-sine. Others either have little value, are easily circumvented, or are near expiration.

Cost of manufacturing hasn't really been an issue for White's. Their labor market is exceptionally cheap and they do most everything in-house. What has hurt them the most is sales/marketing. They hung onto the distributor/dealer model for too long, and when they finally decided to go online & big-box they just didn't have the people and structure to do it right. The second thing that hurt them was engineering turnover. It created huge gaps in products and in the ability to continue innovating.

I also had high hopes for the other you were part of, Eric's one using CC and a short sharp HV initiated blip pulse to quantify ground response.
That would've made an excellent prospecting machine, incorporating Eric's new ground exclusion strategy, while maintaining maximum target signal response.

[6666]

Been using their gear since 1975, sad to see them go.

[eclipse]

Pulse induction wise nothing exciting has come up from whites. Having patents but no real competitive innovative products *pi* is not that great for business. Covid is just no good reason to crack. At the end there are lots of other successful manifacturers and its hard to keep the boat floating.

[WM6]

I also had high hopes for the other you were part of, Eric's one using CC
and a short sharp HV initiated blip pulse to quantify ground response.
That would've made an excellent prospecting machine, incorporating
Eric's new ground exclusion strategy, while maintaining maximum
target signal response.

Only Trumps "America first" is possibly able to save USA MD production.

China is counterfeiting all possible technology and even knowledge.

The End of Western supremacy on the horizon.

[profesor]

I love whites detectors.
whites 6000di pro sl and eagle spectrum is a legend.
spectra vx3 is a complete fiasco.

[kt315]

nothing new for me. The Degradation matter.

[Qiaozhi]

Although this says they are "suspending manufacturing" it probably means they are done. Perhaps they will look for a buyer but I think that is a tough sell.

I've always assumed that White's would eventually fold but thought they could coast another 5 years. White's had a lot of problems, but I gotta say that in all the jobs I've had the past 40 years, the 6 with White's was by far the most fun.

Very sad to see a family firm go under, but not totally unexpected.

[ivconic]

I had dozen of White's models so far. Mostly older models.
I loved each of those the same. Very good machines.
What i respect mostly at White's is high quality made.
I really like those square Alu enclosures with a lot of space inside.
Old models like Spectrum, XLT, DFX ... are very efficient and competitive even today on the sites.
But as they noted; it is very hard to prevail today in "modern" world where there are no rules anymore.
Number of small md manufacturers literally exploded in last 10-15 years.
Today seems just anybody is producing metal detectors.
Obviously new era is started. And good old times finished.
I will miss Tesoro and White's.
They always been in my life as some references.

[ivconic]

I love whites detectors.
whites 6000di pro sl and eagle spectrum is a legend.
spectra vx3 is a complete fiasco.

Yes, sadly Spectra was total miss.
Despite the splendid design and outlook.
Performances are under huge question.
DFX was the last White's model that really rocks.
Now with these sad news i am more than tempted to obtain one DFX in mint state for my collection.
I had one in the past and was stupid enough to sell it after a while.