Jan-Willem van Schaik

COLOGNE, Germany - Europe's largest bicycle dealer cooperative ZEG has hired industry veteran Jens Stahlschmidt as new member of the board of directors. In the announcement ZEG writes "to prepare for the future" with this decision.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - As rapidly as bicycle exports increased during and in the aftermath of the pandemic, Cambodia is now losing this trade again. In the first half of this year, the five bicycle factories in the country, all located in SEZs of Svay Rieng province lost a third of their business.

VIENNA, Austria - Despite the insolvency reorganisation of Gleam Technologies and the public call for investors by company founder Mario Eibl, the company has failed to avoid bankruptcy. According to an official statement published last Friday, the insolvency has been changed to bankruptcy proceedings.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - Micromobility.com is the first take-over candidate for VanMoof which comes forward in public. The American e-scooter and e-bike manufacturer published an announcement stating, "we submitted a non-binding bid to acquire VanMoof Amsterdam."

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - To offer more flexibility and to increase its service level to customers, saddle manufacturer DDK has announced the opening of a European factory in Romania.

OSAKA, Japan - Shimano regards 2023 as an "in-between year" as Marc van Rooij, President Shimano Europe Group already explained at Eurobike. This is reflected in the financial results for the first half of 2023. The Japanese manufacturer reports a net sales decrease in bicycle components of 17.7% to JPY 204,986 million (€1.3 billion) year-on-year, and operating income decreased 39.5% to 42,093 million yen (€270 million).

AGUEDA, Portugal - Ciclo Fapril is expanding its Alufap unit by another 12.000 square meters. Dedicated exclusively to the production of frames for cargo bikes, long-tails and carriers, the expansion is expected to be completed in April 2024 and fully operational within a year.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - 3D-print frames were regarded as the next step in mass production of high-end frames. In January 2021, the Silicon Valley-based company Arevo invested $19.5 million (€17.8 million) in a high-tech factory in Vietnam. This operation has been terminated.

VARSSEVELD, the Netherlands - Special needs bikes specialist Van Raam has entered into a strategic partnership with Munich based holding company Armira. "This partnership is a logical step to continue our growth strategy," says Van Raam Commercial Director Ronald Ruesink.

SEOUL, South Korea - HL Mando has introduced a high-performance battery, motor and rear wheel sensor system, to complete its alternator driven e-bike system. According to HL Mando the system is mainly engineered for eCargo applications.