A&J Invests in New Vietnam Facility

NEWTOWN, UK (August 6) - To progress its business in the European market and in the rest of the world, A&J Enterprise Co, Ltd., the Taiwan holding company of bike maker A&J Europe, is investing in a new facility in Vietnam. The new facility, called 'High Ride Bicycle' will bring the number of A&J bicycle factories to four; the A&J Worldwide Group's existing factories are in the UK, China and Taiwan. The Vietnam factory is currently under construction in an industrial zone, 40 minutes north of Ho-Chi-Minh City and will house a painting facility and 2 assembly lines capable of producing (at first) 800 bicycles per day each. Because of the world's overproduction of low end bikes, the 'High Ride Bicycle' factory will concentrate on producing mid to high end bicycles. According to A&J the Vietnamese have already proved that they are capable of producing quality mid to high end bikes at reasonable prices. "We are convinced that there's a need for a new factory of this type," says A&J Europe MD Jon Edwards, who continues: "Many of our existing customers have shown a great deal of interest in this new venture, but also some customers have expressed a strong desire to stay with UK production, for various reasons." The additional capacity offered by the 'High Ride Bicycle' factory will enable the A&J Worldwide Group, to continue to expand and market itself to new customers both in Europe and USA. To this end a new larger booth is being designed for the IFMA show to promote both the A&J Worldwide Group of companies and particularly the new Vietnam facility. Distributors and Brand Managers are invited to visit the A&J booth at IFMA, in Hall 13.3 - F30 to G31. (JO)