News

SAN DIEGO, USA - Fallbrook Technologies has started its own production of the NuVinci hubs for the bicycle and light electric vehicle markets. Fallbrook will also manage the associated distribution and customer support.

This new capability will replace the manufacturing now being done by Aftermarket Technology Corp., Fallbrook’s current licensed manufacturer. ATC has agreed to sell the business assets associated with its NuVinci-related manufacturing to Fallbrook, subject to financing.

To create and manage the expansion into manufacturing, Fallbrook has hired Donald W. Sparkman as vice president of operations. Sparkman is a 30-year veteran of Ford Motor Company whose most recent position was executive director of North American Sales Planning and Distribution. Alan M. Nordin, Fallbrook’s vice president of sales and business development, will be responsible for OEM, distributor, and customer relationships.

Securing additional financing

“ATC has been instrumental in taking NuVinci technology to market, and they have done an excellent job, both of building drivetrains and building customer relationships,” said William G. Klehm III, president and CEO of Fallbrook. “The critical success and market adoption of NuVinci technology has increased demand for the technology across a broad range of applications and industries. This demand created the need for expanded manufacturing capacity. After evaluating a number of options, we decided to develop our own manufacturing capability. We are securing additional financing both for the asset purchase and the expansion of the manufacturing and distribution efforts, and currently are establishing subcontracts to address various aspects of the manufacturing.”

Transition of the manufacturing has already begun. ATC will fulfil current customer orders and is working with Fallbrook to execute a smooth transition for customer support and future orders.

Award winning innovation

In 2007 the NuVinci technology won several major awards, including the R&D 100 Award as one of the year’s most technologically significant products and in the Netherlands the Innovation Award. Bicycles equipped with NuVinci drivetrains won the Popular Science Best of What’s New Award in the USA and Bike of the Year in The Netherlands.

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