TAICHUNG, Taiwan - In recognition of its ESG activities, Giant Group has joined the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) Emerging Markets Index, making it the first company in the bicycle industry to have this distinction.
ALISO VIEJO, USA - The reorganisation of the Pon owned brand GT Bicycles has resulted in much speculation regarding the future of the brand. Some even assumed that GT Bicycles would shut down once all inventory is sold. According to a Pon spokesperson, the decision to restructure this subsidiary was taken, "to lay a solid foundation for its next chapter."
REHE, Germany - Welcoming almost 5,000 people at their head office in Wetter, Germany, bike security company Abus celebrated their 100th anniversary in the first week of December. On this occasion the company also opened their doors to visitors of their newly built high-tech production hall for mobility products.
PODGRODZIE, Poland - The combination of aluminum frame production, a painting line and assembly on one location gives Romet a rather unique market position. Only a few factories in Europe operate their own frame production. What did the frame production bring to Romet, 5 years after the opening of the facility?
For reshoring production and improving market flexibility by manufacturing in Europe instead of Asia, the central European countries have always played a key role. Although no country has taken a leading role, like Portugal, that does not mean that the region plays a secondary role within the industry. Several new facilities were started in recent years and existing ones upgraded their output quality.
MADRID, Spain - Bicycle production in Spain rebounded again in October with 25,400 bicycles produced for a value of €18.2 million. Compared to the same month of the previous year, this is a growth of 23.3% in units and 16.7% in turnover, according to data published by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
PODGRODZIE, Poland - Based in the southeast of Poland, Romet has been in the bicycle industry for more than 75 years. Operating in a total of three factories spread out over the country, Romet holds a strong position in its home market, but is also one of the well-known players in the European OEM market. Romet president Wieslaw Grzyb is now preparing the company to take the next step on the export market, both for OEMs as well as the brand Romet.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan - An increasing number of companies follow the China +1 approach for their sourcing strategy. To meet this demand from their customers, one of Taiwan's leading frame manufacturers is currently developing a new production facility in Vietnam with a capacity of 600,000 units. Above all, Sunrise aims to reduce their carbon footprint and raise their level of sustainable production.
WALDERSDORF, Germany - Cube Bikes plans to set up a facility in Egypt to produce plastic-reinforced carbon parts for export to its European factories as production inputs. The company has already scheduled a second visit to Egypt to secure a 40,000-square-meter plot in the 10th of Ramadan City, northeast of Cairo.
KOPRIVNICE, Czech Republic - The two buildings housing the offices, production and warehouse of Bike Fun International (BFI) are hidden behind the big entry gate of the Tatra truck factory in the Czech Republic. BFI is probably the only bicycle factory which is located in a former test facility for trucks. Founded by a group of Dutch investors in 2001, the company developed into a leading city bike manufacturer based in central Europe, without losing sight on the sports bike market.
