Magma Engineering

[358156 hp]

It looks like we're going to lose Magma next. The owner has pulled their website down and is only filling orders from stock on hand. He has been having trouble with parts and component availability and long-term shortages of skilled labor. If you need any parts or anything, now's the time to buy.

https://www.magmaengineering.com/

 

[fiver]

they've always been a small family outfit.
i really hope i don't need anything from them in the future i am pretty invested in their stuff.

 

[358156 hp]

Powder coating has gutted the sizer market now. I kept my Star, and would even buy another one for some reason. A friend and I talked about trying to buy the Star sizer line but I imagine there aren't a lot of people lining up for one anymore.

 

[KeithB]

Surely somebody will buy the rights or something?

 

[Rick]

 

[JonB]

I had bought a second Star sizer about 6 years ago, just so I could run a second lube, things changed for me a couple years ago with that plan, so I was planning on selling the second Star, but now I suppose I gotta keep it as a back up, if the first one breaks. Even with PC lessening the Market for a Star, if they quit makin 'em, the prices are gonna go up about as fast as a S&W revolver.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Surely somebody will buy the rights or something?

There are likely no rights to buy, and don't call me Shirley. (for fans of the movie Airplane)

Any patents that protect that product, if there are any, probably expired long ago. And if the people that currently possess the tooling and know-how can’t make a profit, chances are good that another company would have the same problem.

And there’s the real possibility that they attempted to sell the operation and couldn’t find a buyer.

 

[JonB]

The boys that ran Ballisticast into the ground, tried to build and sell the similar Mark VI lube sizer, with some automated options. I haven't heard anything beyond their joining with Northern Industries (Fargo ND) about 6 years ago.

 

[358156 hp]

I remember Ballisticast well. I've always wondered what the "intellectual" rights to H&G may have been, diagrams? IIRC, Ballisticast didn't have rights to the H&G name, so what did they actually buy?

 

[fiver]

mold designs and the casting machine prints.
they tried too hard for the upper end of the market but couldn't take enough market away from the proven magma equipment.

you know if they go under, the cast bullet commercial market is gonna take a massive hit.
their stuff is good but it won't last forever, and everyone runs their stuff.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

mold designs and the casting machine prints.
they tried too hard for the upper end of the market but couldn't take enough market away from the proven magma equipment.

you know if they go under, the cast bullet commercial market is gonna take a massive hit.
their stuff is good but it won't last forever, and everyone runs their stuff.

If there's a demand for it, someone will fill that demand.

I don't know that the loss of the Star lubersizer from the market will have the same impact that the loss of Magma automated molds will.
On the positive side, most of the Star lubersizer, other than the casting, is fairly easy to duplicate.

 

[fiver]

the commercial guys don't use a regular star sizer.
they run a supersized version that's automated.

i don't know if some will fill the void or even try to take over the business.
you'd need someone like Keith that's maybe 30 years old to be able to handle the machinery and have the drive.
then they gotta have 4-5 others willing to make the parts and pieces all day long, and 1-2 other to work the phones with enough knowledge of the parts and pieces to help a customer.

i'm sure a lot of guys call them and say stuff like i need the little arm with the slot that has two holes on the back of the machine,,, that doesn't translate into part number -27 too easily if your not familiar with the equipment.

 

[JonB]

Magma has been reborn down-under.

posted today, by atfsux (at the other forum)

UPDATE: Magma has been bought out and reborn,...in Australia.
You can keep tabs on them here at their new Facebook page.

Magma Engineering

Magma Engineering . 8 likes · 13 talking about this. Manufacturers of Bullet Casting Machines

www.facebook.com

Here is their announcement on that Facebook page:
"After 50 years of manufacturing the original owners of USA based Magma engineering have decided its time to go fishing - hope you catch plenty Eric.
Fortunately for all there is light at the end of the tunnel
We are now in the process of transferring all the information to our manufacturing facility based in Melbourne Australia.
This will be by no means an easy or fast process but rest assured we will get there.
As yet no website or email address have been set up however, we are working on this and all updates will be posted here.
While we get ourselves sorted, we will be focusing on parts and molds before tackling full machines.
We look forward to this adventure and hope you join us for the journey."

While there may be people here upset about future Magma products originating from overseas, the good news about that is the exchange rate between the Australian and U.S. dollars is 0.65 -to-1.0;...which is to say that 10,000AUD is equal to $6,500! So while prices on materials and everything else has shot up since 2020, when Magma last sold Bullet Masters made in Arizona for $12,500,...if it will cost the new reborn Magma Bullet Master produced in Australia 17,000AUD, that will equal about barely over $11,050,...just as a for instance.

As more develops, we in the Magma commercial equipment community will likely update you here.

 

[fiver]

except the shipping on a 900 lb. machine from half way round the planet ain't gonne be cheap,, nor get through customs easily... in either direction.

 

[Rick]

No mention of the Star Lubricator though. Interesting.

 

[Creeker]

If you are running their machines much of the things that break can be purchased elsewhere.

 

[358156 hp]

No mention of the Star Lubricator though. Interesting.

I'm wondering it Magma owned the rights to the Star to begin with. I already have one, as do most people who want them so it's no big deal to me. I also have access to machine shops. both professional and hobby. One missing piece of the puzzle is if the company in Australia has global rights to the designs, or just Australian rights. Like Lynn said, much of the breakable things can be purchased elsewhere. I saw mention of heating elements being an issue for Magma, Lyman used Tempco for their pots and Tempco is definitely still in business if it helps anyone. I suspect their "onesy-twosey" pricing may be a bit stiff though. They appear to be sold as straight elements to be bent into shape using normal tubing benders. My Lyman spare is 800 watt.

 

[Rick]

Yes, Magma did own the Star. They bought it from Star Mfg. in San Diego, CA. Star is a commercial irrigation company and the Star lubrisizer was a side business for them.