Jo Beckendorff

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Californian ACT Lab LLC, which claims to be "the leading provider of product safety and compliance testing for mobility, outdoor and lifestyle products," was at this year's Eurobike with a team of nine. They beat the drums for its planned ACT Lab laboratory in Europe which will serve as a test lab for Eastern European bicycle manufacturers.

TIMISOARA, Romania - German Corratec is the next in the industry to start bicycle production in Romania. On 6 August the company celebrated the grand opening of its new production facility in Timișoara.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Rising global inflation and the war in the Ukraine did not yet recoil sales of Taiwan's Giant Manufacturing. The company reports record sales in the second quarter of this year. For the first half of this year total sales increased by 7.2% to TWD 45.01 billion (€1.47 billion). Whether the rising tension in the Straits of Taiwan will impact the third quarter sales in unknown yet.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Bicycle parts supplier Marwi Taiwan Industrial Co., Ltd., known as Marwi Group, started production at its new 'smart' production facility late last year. Since then, production has been gradually ramped up. At Eurobike, Marwi founder and chairman Patrick Pai and his daughter, Marwi president Coco Pai told Bike Europe that fully automated production at the facility will start by the end of this year.

MORGAN HILL, USA - Since 2014, Peter Denk, known as one of the most enigmatic bike developers in the international bike industry, and his team at Denk Engineering GmbH have been working for bike supplier Specialized Bicycle Components. Now the Californians have taken over the Freiburg-based full suspension and carbon technology expert.

ADELMANNSFELDEN, Germany - A new name in bicycle hub gear technology is debuting on this year's Eurobike. The innovative nine speed hub called '3x3 by H+B Hightech' is the latest development of the family owned company Heine + Beisswenger Group.

NEW YORK, USA - Stock market newcomer and e-commerce giant, Signa Sports United (SSU), recently presented itself to the US market at the virtual Jefferies Investor Conference. The focus was not only on the planned market conquest and growth strategy in the US, but also on further positioning of the online sports retailer in Europe. Within these plans bicycles and e-bikes are playing a dominant role.

MUNICH, Germany - In one of its latest Consumer Sector Briefings renowned consultancy firm Deloitte took up the topic of e-bikes. According to Deloitte, "e-bikes in particular are emerging as key drivers of e-mobility. The e-bike certainly benefits from recent trends like health consciousness and the urge of many people to exercise outdoor in connection with COVID-19. This all provided extra tailwind to this sector."

MUNICH, Germany - The first 'Made in Germany' pre-series parts production for Mocci's e-cargobike smart pedal vehicle (SPV) is underway. A pilot phase launch of the smart bikes is planned with selected B2B customers for fall 2022.

CHANGHUA, Taiwan - The production of carbon frames is extremely labour intensive. "No matter where we have produced over the years, carbon frame production relies on a highly handcrafted process," explains frame builder Astro Tech CEO Samuel Hu. At Eurobike 2022, the company will officially launch their latest innovation that could "revolutionise carbon frame production".