Games Workshop unveiled plans for a new fourth factory to help meet the demand for their miniatures and rulebooks.
You may have seen some issues if you’ve been following the hobby recently and trying to get new releases. Basically, everything sells out immediately.
So, if you want a new release, you better be near the computer within the first few hours when the pre-order goes live or get to your local store early and hope you can get in on their allocated numbers.
Plus with the recent changes to ordering, stores might not even know 100% how much stock they are even getting anymore
Games Workshop Unveils New Factory Plans
If nothing else, it seems like GW understands the issues, as they talk of another factory opening up. GW’s CEO even said they would continue to sell out of everything not that long ago, so let’s take a look at the new factory plans and how they could help with recent product issues.
Games Workshop hit it big in the first half of the 2023-24 fiscal year, raking in a whopping £95.2m in profits, up from £83.6m, and even upped their dividends by 14p! The release of Warhammer 40k 10th edition in June 2023 was a total game-changer, breaking records for sales in a single month and driving the company’s impressive financial performance.
But hey, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Games Workshop has been struggling to keep up with the demand for new releases. The launch of Warhammer: The Old World saw products flying off the shelves on pre-order day (seriously, the Bretonnians disappeared in a blink!), and the frenzy even managed to crash the Games Workshop webstore.
Plus, with so many products being exclusives, there was just no other place to get them. Talk about a wild ride!
Site Plans For A New Factory
Games Workshop is cranking things up a notch with their plans for a brand-new factory. This isn’t just any factory—this is their fourth Factory (F4), and it’s going to be a whopping 62,893 square feet (5843 sq. meters)!
As of June 4, they’ve officially submitted their planning request to Nottingham City Council. So, what’s this factory going to be all about? Factory 4 will consolidate the packing operations currently split between Factory One (F1) and Factory Two (F2).
This means all the packing waste streams from F1 and F2 will be moved to F4, not adding any new waste but simply relocating it. It’s like tidying up your workspace by shoving everything into one drawer—neater and more efficient
Here, you can see the proposed site next to the current F2 and bordered on the west by the Beeston Canal. Warhammer World and the HQ building are located next door across the River Leen.
More Than Just a Factory
The plans for F4 include much more than just a big building. We’re talking about an extension to an existing tool store, internal links connecting the new and old factories, a private access road, car parking, and even some chill zones for employees.
The extension will also add 1,980 square feet of tool storage, doubling the current capacity at the location above and barreling to the left of the image. “Tools” in this context are most likely the steel and silicone molds used to cast miniatures.
Yep, it’s going to be a miniature-making paradise.
Don’t Expect the Factory Right Away
While hobbyists eagerly await expanded production capabilities to alleviate product shortages, Games Workshop remains cautious.
So, when can we expect this new factory to start rolling out miniatures? The determination deadline for this application is September 3, 2024. Until then, we’ll wait with bated breath to see if the plans get the green light.
Current Manufacturing Landscape
Image Credit: Hikrobotics
Games Workshop currently manufactures all its “core products” at three factories located in Nottingham. The company’s half-year report highlights the successful implementation of efficiency improvements, breaking numerous manufacturing output records. The three factories collectively employ 361 people, with a payroll of $7.5 million (£6 million) for the six months ending June 2023. Notably, some of these costs are attributed to temporary staff expenses.
Games Workshop has been dealing with some serious tech issues – their ancient IT systems from 20 years ago are giving them a hard time with launch-day sales and getting orders out to third-party sellers. They need to sort out these old systems to keep up with the high demand for their cool stuff.
And speaking of tech troubles, those robots they rolled out in 2021 have caused a ruckus in the US. On the bright side, more robots are now doing the packing hustle in the Memphis, Tennessee distribution hub.
North America
Additional robotics have been purchased (increasing from 45 to 70 robots) to further increase pick capacity. IT systems
here are less complex than those at EMG (although both warehouses are using the same technology and robotics
solutions), and they are meeting agreed KPIs and milestones.
So, it’s no surprise they need to update legacy systems.
Games Workshop Expansion Plans
Games Workshop is upping its game! In response to growing demand, they’ve got big plans to expand their manufacturing capabilities. They’re looking to build new facilities in addition to their Nottingham operations to boost production.
By investing in top-notch tech and modern facilities, Games Workshop is making sure hobbyists won’t be left high and dry when it comes to their products.
What do you think about the plans for a new Games Workshop factory?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures. Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including the Adepticon Team Tournament and American Team Tournaments, and is on a first-name basis with almost every major company in the space.
He’s all gaming all the time. With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. He advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1908s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
