Contact: Stephen T. Pelkey, President

2008
Recently there have been national reports that night skies during the Fourth of July will feature fewer fireworks displays due to a rash of unfortunate incidents in China. Atlas PyroVision Productions, New England’s largest producer of fireworks displays assures everyone “Their shows will go on”.

Since the International Olympic Committee announced China would host the 2008 Summer Olympics, Atlas has been busy preparing for the inevitable outcome of supply and demand on a collision course with time and logistics. Many Atlas customers have chosen to sign multiple year contracts to allow the Jaffrey (NH) based company to purchase larger quantities since 2006 to help counter the 24 to 30 percent price increases over the last two years. Due to careful planning by staff and management, Atlas is fully stocked and prepared for both professional displays and their 6 NH consumer retail stores for the 2008 season.

Atlas staff members travel each year to China to visit factories, negotiate with shipping companies and to meet with quality assurance representatives. Atlas has also assisted other companies who have fallen short in supplies to meet their contract commitments with customers this spring. Although Atlas is fully booked with over 325 shows during the busy 4th of July week, Atlas has still been able to assist several communities who were afraid they were going to miss their celebrations. “One of the greatest advantages we have is our relationships with 12 different manufacturers in 6 different countries.” quotes Stephen Pelkey, President of Atlas. “Each year we evaluate where the potential problems are and shift our product purchases accordingly”

Since January of this year, China has been faced with one unimaginable disaster after another:

Special Note: Due to the manufacturing timeframe for companies in Europe which usually takes place from June through September, China fireworks factories are overwhelmed with the not only the U.S. production schedule, but also attempting to fill this same time period for Europe to meet the factory and shipping closures on July 20th.

January 2008 – Central China paralyzed by 100 year winter storm. Millions of families stranded at airports and train stations only days before the Chinese New Year.

February 14, 2008 – The Sanshui / Nansha port (just north of Hong Kong) is China’s largest warehouse area for fireworks shipments which handles 65 percent of all China shipments had a fire which destroys 20 buildings and over 100 container shipments. Due to the tight production schedule, many of those containers will not be replaced for the 2008 season. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the 3am fire was caused by a security guard’s errant cigarette.

March 2008 – The ports of Shanghai and Beihai are trying to pick up the slack of the Sanshui/Nansha port closure. With nearly 120 days remaining until the 4th of July, there are over 1500 container shipments awaiting confirmed reservations aboard only 4 shipping companies now accepting fireworks shipments.

April 2008 – Nearly 60 days prior to the official typhoon season, central and southern China are hit with a typhoon closing all ports for 6 days, postponing hundreds of confirmed reservations.

May 2008 – A 7.9 earthquake hits central China which again requires the dispatch of safety personnel to the affected area. This further delays the container inspection process prior to the loading of shipping vessels.

A few of the Atlas “must see shows” include: Beverly Farms,

Burlington VT, Danvers, Edgartown, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Hartford, Hyannis, Keene, Lynn, Manchester, Marblehead, Mount Washington Hotel, Plymouth, Portland, Portsmouth, Worcester and the 19th Jaffrey Festival of Fireworks on August 16th.

For more information, please contact either Stephen Pelkey or Matthew Shea at (800) 321-5008.

April 2008

Beijing Orders All Fireworks Manufacturers to Cease Production and Transportation
Officials from Beijing state that many factories throughout China which includes all fireworks factories are ordered to shutdown production and transportation from July 1 through September 1. This statement follows the previous press releases which require many industries to cutback or cease production in the weeks leading up to the Beijing Olympics.

China Ports Brace for Typhoon!
China shipping ports are bracing for the first typhoon to hit China nearly 100 days prior to the official start of typhoon season. Shipments are further delayed nearly two weeks.

China Exporters Announce Worldwide Fireworks Shortage
Due to the events taken place in China, additional fuel costs, port closures and mandatory shutdown of factories, China will not complete all orders. Only those companies in the US and Europe who have placed advanced orders in 2007 will receive nearly their entire order.

Atlas Response to Worldwide Fireworks Shortage
Since 2006, Atlas has purchased an additional 20 to 30 percent in fireworks. Additionally Atlas has maintained close relationships with US manufacturers and Importers to fill deficiencies. To meet the growing demand from municipalities as well as other national fireworks companies, Atlas plans to meet with other national pyrotechnic firms to discuss a manufacturing consortium in Mexico and South America.

March 2008

Shipping Companies Announce Massive Increase in Shipping Rates
Maersk, OOCL and MOL have all stated that shipping rates will increase 21 to 25 percent effective immediately. This is in response to the dramatic worldwide increase in fuel costs. Shippers have also increased the fees to transport containers from factory to port and shuttle vessel to port. Currently only Maersk will permit door to door delivery, but has stated their will be increased costs.

China Inflation Taking Toll on Fireworks Manufacturers
Chinese Fireworks Factories seeking an additional 12 to 15 percent price increase to offset the rising cost of labor and raw materials.

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February 2008

Chinese Shipping Closed for Fireworks Shipments
The Sanshui and Nansha ports just north of Hong Kong have issued a press release that they will no longer accept fireworks shipments. Sanshui and Nansha ports handle approximately 60% of all firework container shipments departing China. In response, exporters must prepare shipments through a much smaller port in Shanghai or incur the additional cost of re-routing containers to the Beihai province in southern China. Due to the necessity to utilize smaller ferry vessels to Hong Kong, shipments will likely be delayed for an additional 4 to 6 weeks.

January 2008

China Factories Struggling to Complete Orders
In advance of Beijing to ban fireworks production for the weeks leading up to and through the Olympics, factories in LiuYang are struggling to complete worldwide orders. Orders to the US are typically manufactured from October through April in preparation for the 4th of July. From April to October Chinese factories are busy preparing shipments for Europe in preparation for the Christmas and New Years holiday. Due to the possible factory shutdown in July, factories throughout China are attempting to complete orders for both the US and Europe prior to the mandatory shutdown.

China Braces for Crippling Snowstorm of the Century
Leading into the Chinese New Year which much of China closes down for nearly 2 weeks, much of central China is at a standstill. Guangzhou Airport and train station has an estimated 1.4 million travelers stranded with no food or water. Many of the provinces affected have thousands of container shipments waiting to be shipped for export. Many export officials fear that shipments are 8 to 10 weeks behind schedule.

2007

China's Inflation Taking Toll on Fireworks
Since October of 2007 Beijing, China has reduced their monetary rebates to all provinces throughout China as much as 15%. Combined with double digit inflation and the massive increases in food, fuel and raw material costs, American fireworks companies have seen 18 to 24 percent price increases.

Gala Chamber of Commerce Fireworks Display Held in Peterborough, NH
"...those in attendance at the fireworks extravaganza witnessed a display which has long been known as one of the largest displays in the region. Atlas PyroVision is well known for its fireworks spectacular for the Boston Pops as well as displays in Washington, DC, and numerous other locations around the world."

Newburyport, MA Fireworks show 'biggest ever'
NEWBURYPORT - Tonight's Yankee Homecoming fireworks show "is the biggest we've ever had," event Chairman Jason Lacroix said yesterday.

Real Weddings - Grand Finale for a New Start
"...The best was definitely saved for last. Ending the evening’s events was a fireworks show staged by Atlas PyroVision Productions’ president and father of the bride, Stephen Pelkey, and his staff. Three songs played to magnificent, coordinating fireworks set-off over the mountain, along with low-level pyrotechnics launching from the Pelkey’s backyard. Huge golden sprays of light and red, heart-shaped fireworks lit-up the night sky. It was a colorful finale to a beautiful wedding."

2005
"Heaven on Earth" Wedding
"...Just before the most energized members of the group moved on to the ‘80s-themed after party (the rest retired with their party favors––bushel baskets filled with fruit from the orchard as well as fruit-flavored martini mix and glasses), the most magical element of the celebration made its appearance: A display of fireworks burst into the night sky, paying tribute to the romantic engagement that began it all."

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