then and now photos of the merlin factory
In 2011 i visited the old Merlin factory in Fornells de la Selva , Girona ,Spain. I have contacts who used to work there and they enabled the access.Here are photographs from my 2 visits there. On my 2nd visit there i video'd the factory as i walked around..This video is at the bottom of this page.
This factory was occupied by Merlin from 1982 untill 1988 when it was sold to GasGas.In part of the same building was the clothing company called "Remoto". This company was again started by Narcis Casas and Josep Pibernat. Later this name changed to "Hebo".
In approximetely 2005 GasGas moved out and went to their purpose built factory in the centre of Girona's industrial park.
This factory was occupied by Merlin from 1982 untill 1988 when it was sold to GasGas.In part of the same building was the clothing company called "Remoto". This company was again started by Narcis Casas and Josep Pibernat. Later this name changed to "Hebo".
In approximetely 2005 GasGas moved out and went to their purpose built factory in the centre of Girona's industrial park.
Merlin and GasGas are closely related
merlin factory visit 2011
Outside of the Merlin Factory, Salt,Girona When Merlin went bust , GasGas moved in and took over, starting off with the engines ,left behind |
merlin factory visit 2011
A ground floor assembly room
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merlin factory visit 2011
A ground floor corridor leading with the cleaning room on the left |
merlin factory visit 2011
The first floor storage room(amazingly with Merlin still on the walls) GasGas never got round to painting it over. The room had ovens for heating engine casings prior to dropping the bearings in. |
Photo taken in 2011. Nothing has changed since 1984 as the photos below show.
rare 1984 merlin factory photos - thanks to josep argerich for these
The Merlin factory back in 1984
The Merlin factory back in 1984
merlin factory visit 2011
One of the ground floor storage and assembly rooms.
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merlin factory visit 2011
Attached next door to the Merlin factory was clothing company Remoto. When Gas Gas moved in then bought the clothing side and it was rebranded Hebo.
GasGas have since sold it off and it a seperate concern. |
merlin factory visit 2011
On the first floor , the actual floor was lined with steel sheeting. There was this slope that rode to a higher level. Im told that this was not a production area |
merlin factory visit 2011
This used to sit in front of Jordi Tarres's GasGas when it was on display. It was being used as an obstruction to stop people going up a dangerous staircase.
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merlin factory visit 2011
On the first floor there was a lower level that used to lower down to the ground floor |
merlin factory visit 2011
This first floor room was next door to the sales and admin ladies office. The boxes contain brochures , posters and other literature for GasGas |
merlin factory visit 2011
This was the parts managers office on 6the ground floor |
merlin factory visit 2011
In the same room as above are GasGas trophies , certificates and other bits and bobs |
merlin factory visit 2011
This was the internal jet wash and cleaning room for bikes and gear on the ground floor near to the side access , where the race arctic trucks would reverse in |
merlin factory visit 2011
This is a photo taken from the ground floor looking up into the huge upstairs room as pictured above |
merlin factory visit 2011
This is another assembly room at the Old Merlin factory. Hebo now use part of the room for R and D on their cylinder barrells they sell
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merlin factory visit 2011
Seperating the clothing business from the motorcycle business was small door that was always open when the 2 companies were under the same umbrella. This is the sign that GasGas employees put up by the door as a joke to the hebo guys. |
exclusive merlin / gasgas factory video tours 2011
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