EKWB cutting ~25% of staff as sales plummet

TangoEchoAlpha

TangoEchoAlpha

TangoEchoAlpha

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Sad news for all effected staff -

https://www.tomshardware.com/uk/news/ekwb-watercooling-sales-workforce-reduction

In a statement and interview provided to TechPowerUp, watercooling specialist EK Waterblocks has announced a severe, 25% cut to its workforce. Citing lower than expected sales volume for watercooling components, around 60 of its current 200 employees based in Slovenia, the company's home base, will be dismissed. In addition, the company's 1Q2022 report outlines a 20% reduction to its quarterly earnings since October 2021, a far cry from the company's 30% growth between 2020 and 2021.
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Probably would have been way more successful if they didn't charge so much for their FE blocks. I recall and i think they still are £250 for the block and another £250 for the active backplate block on the Founders Blocks namely the Quantum blocks. I remember being really excited for them and then completely shocked at the price and decided in the end to go with something else.
 
There prices have got stupid when more and more competitors are come into the market and undercut them.

If I went water today looking at the market I didn’t think I would have any EK parts in the system
 
Wing-Man said:
There prices have got stupid when more and more competitors are come into the market and undercut them.

If I went water today looking at the market I didn’t think I would have any EK parts in the system
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This post sums up EK.

Feel sorry that the staff pay the price for EKs' greed
 
As much as we want to hate on ek and yes their prices are stupid, this is likely just a result of the slowing PC hardware market - we already know from other data released that PC sales are now dropping, it was inevitable, hardware companies and stores had to hire in the boom time and now the boom is over
 
The problem is that WC is becoming a niche hobby - the results you got from overlocking on water are not there anymore.

The prices of their latest stuff has been eyewatering - its not a good combination. Esp with the prices of everything else nowadays.

GPU waterblock resale value is close to £0, you actually better fitting the original HS if you sell the card. Cant justify the £250+ for their FE blocks.
 
Water cooling is almost purely noise and asthetics, there is very little if any performance to be gained, which is where the main interest came from, faster, cooler and quieter. Now that the faster bit has gone I very rarely recommend anyone go custom WC, and it used to be a regular occurrence.
 
Journey said:
Water cooling is almost purely noise and asthetics, there is very little if any performance to be gained, which is where the main interest came from, faster, cooler and quieter. Now that the faster bit has gone I very rarely recommend anyone go custom WC, and it used to be a regular occurrence.
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Tbh even noise is not a problem nowadays - most people wear headsets now when gaming, and GPU heatsinks are doing very well even under load. When not gaming most PCs are silent if they have spent even 5 mins tuning the fan curves.

Throw in a sound dampened case like a Fractal Design and your golden.
 
ballj said:
Tbh even noise is not a problem nowadays - most people wear headsets now when gaming, and GPU heatsinks are doing very well even under load. When not gaming most PCs are silent if they have spent even 5 mins tuning the fan curves.

Throw in a sound dampened case like a Fractal Design and your golden.
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Depends what headphones, active noise cancelling is not common in gaming headsets and many headsets leaks ound like crazy especially if it's open back which you'd want because open back is way better for games
 
Sad news for those losing their jobs.
EKWB does some products that I really like but nowadays most of them are too expensive without any reason.
The reluctance to release compatible waterblocks for some 6800 cards, was disappointing.
The price for the FE cards waterblocks also was a mockery. They clearly tried to exploit the fact that most people were only able to get their hands on FE 3080/90 cards, either because of availability or price.
As the market for gaming desktops slowly declines, allied to cost of living and the actual need for such cooling solutions, the company is doing what is needed to stay alive, but a little mentality change would be good too.
 
EKWB

The Bad

1.The issue is they are focusing products for the "Elite" builders.

Example - EK-Quantum Momentum² ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme D-RGB - Plexi (Aprox £170) on top of a Motherboard that costs £700

2. Brand/Manufacture Bias

Examples.
Monoblocks on website - Intel 5 Platforms vs 2 for AMD
https://www.ekwb.com/news/ Again Intel /Nvidia No new AMD Products

3. Slow to Release new products

Example - EKWB Quantum Surface Radiators first announced Computex 2021! Shown off again at CES 2022, replies on Youtube comments saying April and still no sign, EK Support is a standard "wait for the newsletter" as mentined in numerous forums after a google search

The Good

1. Trying to introduce build standards across manufactures

Example - The new Matrix7 concept to help system building easily and extremely clean for the perfect tubing runs.

​

It's sad times when someone with a Home CNC machine is making more innovational products than the "Big Players" such as Radikult

Like imagine Matrix7 version of this https://www.radikult-custom.com/product-page/twin-360 or this https://www.radikult-custom.com/product-page/evo-d
 
Hes deffo making some nice stuff, almost ordered the twin 360 for my O11. Went with a rad in the end cause the distro is effectively tied to the case (and they are not cheap). More guys doing what hes doing can only be a good thing.
 
ballj said:
Hes deffo making some nice stuff, almost ordered the twin 360 for my O11. Went with a rad in the end cause the distro is effectively tied to the case (and they are not cheap). More guys doing what hes doing can only be a good thing.
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I would love the Dual res distro for the O11D Evo. But Its aprox £350+ including shipping and import charges. EKWB could be pumping these out for £200-250. Then the issue is if you have issues getting a replacement becomes very hard etc

These big companies need some sort of forum put their best 10 " coming soon" products up for a public vote to decide what the market wants first .
 
If you message him privately hes willing to do a deal on the shipping - still worked out to about £300 though. It is also a bring-ur-own pump solution, so thats another £100 worth of pumps.

Luckily not much that can go wrong with it - unless it arrives damaged or you overtighten a fitting and crack it.
 
Always sad when people lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

With regards to sales being down, that isn't surprising. custom Watercooling is more niche than ever. For the average person an AIO is sufficient.
 
Think EK must have some quality control issues somewhere too, the amount of B grade blocks etc is very high, if your item isn't absolutely perfect i'm not surprised people are returning them with the premium they charge for them for what is essentially a piece of copper/nickel shrouded in acrylic most of the time.
 

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