Rubik's Cube production returns to Hungary after 50 years

Production of the Rubik's Cube is returning to Hungary, the country where the puzzle was invented. The move ends decades of manufacturing outside the nation and shifts the assembly of the six-sided toy to a new facility in Jászberény. The return brings the production process closer to the origin of the design, which has sold more than 500 million units worldwide.

Ernő Rubik, 82, attended the opening of the new production line on Tuesday. He described Hungary as the birthplace of the cube, stating that the object was born there. The new line is fully automated, using robotic arms to assemble and test each unit for functionality and durability. This marks a sharp change from the early days when workers assembled the puzzles by hand. The facility plans to produce one million cubes each year.

Rubik created the prototype in 1974 while teaching design at the Academy of Applied Arts and Design in Budapest. The initial version was made of wood and consisted of 27 blocks that could rotate on multiple axes. He began producing more units in 1977, selling 5,000 copies at specialty shops in the capital. The toy was then called the Magic Cube. Rubik noted that he was not prepared for the scale of production required to meet global demand, leading to the licensing of the design to foreign companies.

The puzzle gained massive popularity in the early 1980s. Rubik said that 200 million units were sold between 1980 and 1983. After that initial peak, sales fluctuated but remained steady, with millions of cubes sold annually in recent years. The trademark is owned by Spin Master, a Canadian toy company. Steve Radewych, a senior vice president at Spin Master, said the company wants to bring the product back to its roots. He told Rubik that the discovery is a global social phenomenon that represents intelligence and problem-solving.

Interest in the cube has risen in recent years due to the growth of speed-solving competitions. The World Cube Association organizes these events and certifies records. Xuanyi Geng, a nine-year-old from China, set the current world record last month. She solved the cube in 2.51 seconds. Rubik does not compete in these events, preferring to view the cube as a transformable sculpture. He sees the puzzle as a place where art and engineering meet, allowing users to create meaningful and beautiful variations.

The new production line represents a shift in how the company manufactures the product. The automation allows for consistent quality control and testing. The move to Hungary aligns with the company's strategy to honor the history of the invention. Rubik said that creating something meaningful and beautiful is the core value of the cube. The facility in Jászberény will handle the assembly of the units that are sold globally.