SWM HISTORY 7

In this way, we came at the 7° and last chapter of the SWM history. Last year we had left with the presentation of the 48° edition of the “Salone del Ciclo e Motociclo” (International bycicle and morotcycle show) of Milan (1983), and since there we share.

In the big stand of the fair in addition to the motorbikes already in production, the TL Jumbo, the S1 GS and MC, the MK RBS/GS/MC, the XN, the moped LA and the motorbikes for the children, were exposed 2 grand prix motorbikes, a 125 and a 250, resulting by the initial collaboration with Bimota that, then retire itself, had however cast the basis for a new development of subsequent prototypes. Were also presented a series of endurance prototypes that included: the new version of the endurance XN with mono-shock-absorber, in double preparation, one more road named XP and another clear Dakar imprint named Sahara. To these motorbikes of 300 and 500cc four-stroke followed two 125 enduring named XPM and XPT, were two endurance-roads with mono-shock-absorber and former disc brake; the first one was more economic and used a Minarelli motor with air cooling, the second was more sophisticated and used a TAU motorization with water cooling. It followed then, the prototype of a 350/500 4-times of reliability with mono-shock-absorber, disc brake and superstructures similar to smaller S1 of 125 and 250cc. To finish a prototype of a custom motorbike 4-times of 350 and 500cc, with electric start, double shock-absorber, disc brake and alloy wheels, with very nice line and cured that recived much attention from the public.
The troubled participation at the 48° exposition in Milan, because of the frenetic last minute construction of some prototypes for the famous disagreements that had gone to create in the experiences department, proved fruitful and the interests and there were orders. Sore was unfortunately the advertising depliant distributed in occasion of the fair that reported many models not in photograph but with some drawings obtained by some prototype sketches, because these motorbikes were ended on the morning of the fair and so exhibited at the last minute.
Unfortunately, the economic situation, that in those years had forced the closure of many national companies and that had contributed to create a strong trade resistance in Italy, hit also SWM that was preparing to a corporate restructuring to overcome the momentary crisis of the sector.
In SWM is envisaged the reduction of a part of the production workers and of the administrative one that would have also been transferred completely from Palazzolo Milanese to Rivolta D’Adda, to eliminate unnecessary expenditure management. In the meantime, thanks to the public funding, those were materializing, was ending the project of SWM-SOUTH that would have raised the market thanks to the production of the new models of complete SWM’s construction, engines included, that would be directed more and more towards a road and maxi-motorbike production.
Unfortunately after the fair the skilled workers occupied the company, because they did not liked the dismissal of a part of employees, whom were made redundant. Sure this did not help the already difficult economic crisis of SWM that, falling to produce could not even cope with debts, an absurd, because out of the staked gates by the workers were also the dealers that couldn’t enter to bring the motorbikes that the market continued to ask.
Like always happens in the history the decline of the situation is due to a strange chain of adverse events and this happened also for the Swum; in the major estate of development of the company were made important investment and in consequence debt to realize the new shed, but, unfortunately was also a market place that required even more road motorbikes; is also true that this in SWM it was already guessed and there was therefore target to this sector with the production of 124 Rz and the GTS Racing, unfortunately 2 unluckily models, the first because of the poor performance and of the line not very successful, the second because maybe another time forward with times, so didn’t understand, and also for some defects at the wiring, consumption and the low-end speed. The rest in all the business productions and with many models there may also be the black sheep, where the cost of investment have to be supported by the driving production that at that time certainly did not lack in SWM, thanks to the newborn and lucky production of the XN series 4-times and to trial.
Surely did not contribute favourably at the economic crisis of SWM the block of the production, initially created by the workers, but then blocked definitively some problems of liquidity already existed before of the 1983, but is also true that were addressed to solve with a plan of return that provided the payment of some suppliers with lots of motorcycles that lay unsold in the stores not by creating some of the liquid. They preceded also the reduction of the management expenses, combining all the activities in Rivolta D’Adda, eliminating the internal management of the expensive races departments, and unfortunately eliminating a part of the staff seeing that the actual production was temporarily decreased.
This last condition did not like to the unions, which supported that SWM wonted to transfer his production in South Italy, using the government incentives and delete the workers in North Italy.
After 3 months of inoperative and lack of back wages some employees asked for the failure of SWM, because defaulting against them. At this point at the administration of SWM did not remain other choice that deliver the accounting books to the courts to avert the failure, that punctually was not granted because did not exist the assumptions, but forcing the company controlled administration.
At this point the damage was made, because the dealers of SWM after 3 months of inoperative were past all competition instituted, whereas the suppliers, already realizing the ill parade, did not want to provide the materials and the same Rotax seeing cancel all of a sudden all the production of SWM was linking with other partners like Aprilia, Kram-it and Sezzito maintain steady his structure. It came as a result, the formal arrangement with creditors and liquidation of the company but not failed because the equity was sufficient to remedy the debt. At this point, what he had failed to destroy the man she did the state bureaucracy thanks to the incompetence of his legal frameworks. After that, many persons in the course of the years had pressed their advantage what remain of the heritage SWM. In 1998, SWM was declared insolvent and closed permanently as creditor. As creditors the banks did not recived anything were made under certain guarantees at the time worked and so this way at the end of 2000, after 20 years closed defined the history of SWM.
use and tarnish their Swums.