Yellow Technic Parts

[Technic-Kobaltz]

One issue that gets my wick is the different shades of yellow parts in one set.

It is an issue that has annoyed me since sets such as 8421 and 8275. Last night I started to assemble 42006 and hoped TLG would have came up with a solution for this but before I even got the packets open I could see that the issue still persists.

Some parts are more a lemon yellow shade while others are a more mustard yellow shade.

I can understand that different batches of parts will be slightly different, but it is quite an obvious difference. At least use parts from one batch per set so all parts match.

Unless I have missed something, does it bother other peeps?

Edited January 6, 2014 by Technic-Kobaltz

[jantjeuh]

Yep, it also occurs with red Technic parts (and also with non-Technic parts). Quality has been steadily dropping over the years, unfortunately. Might have something to do with the outsourcing of brick production to China.

[nicjasno]

The what...? Are you saying lego is producing parts in china? Where can i complain?

[Junpei]

Yup. At least for CMF's, but have a look at the new versions of the engine crankshaft piece (in 'yellow')- they look orange and are nearly see-through.

Lego uses non-colored ABS pellets instead of pre-dyed ones now, they outsourced production to Flextronics.

TLH

[nicjasno]

ffs... makes me want to quit lego :(

[CisFran]

The what...? Are you saying lego is producing parts in china? Where can i complain?

yup, haven't you heard?

[nicjasno]

I am deeply dissapointed. Untill now i was sure lego produced only in europe and north america. I was wondering why the quality of the plastics dropped in the last years. I think i am done buying new lego sets.

Sadly i still need to order individual parts for lego engines and my projects.

Is there an email where one can voice their concern to lego?

[legolijntje]

I beleive Lego only outsource production of minifig parts and some other misc parts in China.

The reason for the color problem is, like stated above, that Lego now uses uncolored abs instead of precolored abs.

[cgg199]

Here you are nicjasno https://service.lego.com/en-gb/contactus/contact-us-email

[nicjasno]

I really hope they do not make parts in china. Let's see what (if) they answer me.

[allanp]

I think they did make some stuff in China but moved some of it back. But still I think the PF stuff is made in that hell hole which cares not a thing about the health and safety and wages of it's workforce no matter how many audits they have. There's a reason why they produce stuff so cheap. And yes, Lego is becoming more multi coloured even without the colour vomit but as others have said I think its because of the new (cheaper) way parts are coloured. For every 100 or so clear pellets you get 1 coloured one, which is enough to colour the rest. But those billions of pellets can't be counted out individually so you will get variation in opacity and so on.

Edited January 6, 2014 by allanp

[sunnykoomos]

Some says lego PF are made in China since it was developed......lego quality has been nerfed.

[N-4K0]

Is the non-colored ABS they use now, colored during the production process, or after the parts have been made?

[NevynPA]

From what allanp said, it sounds like it's being mixed in as part of the manufacturing process at ~1% "color rate." This allows them to color the batch for manufacture, but still save costs as they're using a LOT less pre-colored plastic.

[DrJB]

From what I read, most lego parts are made in China, Mexico, and the Czech Republic. Then, all parts are shipped to Denmark and put together into sets. Of all three, I am sure those parts made in China would have the hardest of times keeping 'consistent' as those rely on local suppliers as well. Such is the price we have to pay for globalization and cost reductions.

Edited January 6, 2014 by DrJB

[cgg199]

I really hope they do not make parts in china. Let's see what (if) they answer me.

Keep me updated please!

[nicjasno]

Will do. I sent them a polite email asking for clarification.

[Gee]

I must admit that this is something that has interested me since I've come back to Technic. I don't remember any colour discrepancies in the old 80s and early 90s sets that I had as a kid, but the new ones, especially the yellows as has been pointed out, do have.

I guess it comes down to this: Affordability, High Quality, European Production. Pick 2, because you can't have all 3 at once.

[Kronos]

I read somewhere, here or http://www.briskset.com, that TLG was building a new, or adding onto an existing facility in Denmark.

[Technyk32231]

I think they did make some stuff in China but moved some of it back. But still I think the PF stuff is made in that hell hole which cares not a thing about the health and safety and wages of it's workforce no matter how many audits they have. There's a reason why they produce stuff so cheap. And yes, Lego is becoming more multi coloured even without the colour vomit but as others have said I think its because of the new (cheaper) way parts are coloured. For every 100 or so clear pellets you get 1 coloured one, which is enough to colour the rest. But those billions of pellets can't be counted out individually so you will get variation in opacity and so on.

In some factories in China that produce batteries, there is cadmium dust everywhere. Nobody wears any kind of protection. My dad has even found several dead bugs in some packs for a company that DeWalt was looking at. I don't think Legos should be produced in such a hellish place.

[DrJB]

I knew I've seen it before ... I just checked, and here it is.

On the US version of the Unimog 8110 box, Look at the top side of the box, and you can read the following:

Components made in DENMARK, CHINA, HUNGARY, MEXICO, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC ...

[NevynPA]

To be fair, the plastic bags the parts come in are 'components' too by those standards. I'd agree that it's more likely they are referring to physical parts, but one can hope...

[legolijntje]

Yes, there is Lego made in China, but as far as I know, this only includes minifg parts and other misc parts, such as ropes, rubber parts and things like that.

[zux]

rubber parts and things like that.

so you mean that tyres, maybe even most of them come from China? Actually there is no wonder about it. I have several tyres that have proper shape, but visually tyre sides are a bit distorted.

[Eigenbroetler]

Yes, there is Lego made in China, but as far as I know, this only includes minifg parts and other misc parts, such as ropes, rubber parts and things like that.

so it could be just the tires from the Unimog thats made in china then?