Background.
In June of 1997, GOEX, Inc. closed the Moosic, PA black powder plant that they had operated since 1972.Construction had previously started on a new plant near Minden, Louisiana.
Start up of the new plant was delayed until March of 1998.So there was a period of about 8 months where GOEX was out of production.
Through contacts with the Swiss black powder plant, management from GOEX was introduced to the management of a black powder production facility in Slovenia.GOEX then began to purchase black powder from the plant in Slovenia for importation into the U.S.
Known as KIK D.D. According to a powder can. KIK Kamnik d.d., Fuzine 9 1240 Kamnik Slovenia - Europe
This plant is no longer in operation. (2009)
This company being part of Kemijska industrija Kamnik d.d.
The black powder plant dating its origin back to 1852.
This paper had been prepared in 2002. After GOEX brought in the container of KIK “rifle “powder in May of 2000 that appeared to be the end of GOEX’s relationship with the powder plant in Slovenia. Which proved to be the case. But in importing the KIK powder into the U.S. GOEX set the stage for something that would cost them some of their profits. GOEX had long supplied Estes Industries with black powder for use in model rocket motors. GOEX claims that all of the black powder they had imported from KIK, in Slovenia, had been sold to fireworks powder customers. No doubt Estes had been shipped KIK powder while GOEX was trying to get the black powder plant near Minden, LA up and running. In 2002 we again see containers of KIK made black powder arriving in the U.S. and Estes was not the only company importing it. 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 None entered the U.S. from Slovenia. November June May August November January January April 33,000 pounds at $2.85 per pound, landed duty paid value. 34,375 pounds at $2.88 per pound, landed duty paid value. 34,375 pounds at $2.67 per pound, landed duty paid value. 34,045 pounds at $2.76 per pound, landed duty paid value. 29,414 pounds at $3.54 per pound, landed duty paid value. 34,375 pounds at $2.49 per pound, landed duty paid value. 36,401 pounds at $2.54 per pound, landed duty paid value. 23,971 pounds at $4.00 per pound, landed duty paid value. The November 2004 container and the April 2007 container were imported by Western Powder Company. One of GOEX’s master distributors. These two containers were rifle powder packed in tin cans at the KIK plant. The other containers represent bulk packaged powder ordered by Estes Industries for in-house use in model rocket motors. The January 2006 shipment to Estes was their last order to the KIK plant in Slovenia. GOEX recovered that business by lowering the price of their powder to Estes Industries. In the data we see a pattern. GOEX brought in the container of KIK rifle powder in 2000. Western Powder brings in a container in 2004 and then again in 2007. When it takes you 3 to 4 years to sell a container of black powder to black powder shooters it does not speak highly of that particular powder. Especially when one considers that it is sold at a price below that of GOEX powder. 16
