NIJVERDAL, the Netherlands - 'Design that makes your smile'. That's how the international jury described the product range of Urban Iki child seats when rewarding it with an iF Gold award this spring.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Fritz Jou Mfg. Co. Ltd was among the first overseas companies who announced to invest in a production facility in the Bike Value Portugal. Bike Europe had the opportunity to talk exclusively with Fritz Jou Mfg. Co, Ltd founder and President Fritz Jou about his European ambitions.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - Accell Group announces to have incorporated a new sales structure in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). Goal of the integration of strengths and competences is to offer the company's specialized trade partners a more effective and better service.

SANGERHAUSEN, Germany - The latest ruling of the court of appeal in the Germany city of Naumberg is likely to improve the insolvency rate for MIFA AG creditors.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - Over 920 funders pledged amounts ranging from 250 euro to 80,000 euro in VanMoof's crowdfunding campaign earlier this week. According to VanMoof, "the crowdfunding round was so successful that it filled up before it even went public."

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - The urban mobility company Voi Technology is currently planning a large-scale expansion in 150 European cities with e-step-scooters, as well as e-bikes and e-cargobikes. The Voi sharing system of this Scandinavian start-up was successfully launched in the summer of 2018 in Stockholm.

MEQUON, USA - US bicycle component supplier Hayes Performance Systems which owns the brands Hayes, Manitou, Sunringlé, ProTaper, Reynolds Cycling and Wheelsmith, has completed the integration of carbon wheel specialist Reynolds Cycling LLC.

EMERYVILLE, USA - With the earlier this month opening of its first SuperStore, Decathlon is again trying to gain a foothold on the North American market. The SuperStore located in the East Bay Bridge shopping center in Emeryville, California comes after the French sports retail giant opened a 'lab store' in San Francisco last year. This was combined with a U.S. e-commerce site.

REUTLINGEN, Germany - Bosch eBike Systems and Magura announce a closer cooperation in service and replacement parts distribution. Bosch eBike Systems is taking a 50 percent stake in Magura Bike Parts, a subsidiary of Magura. The new joint venture will operate under the name Magura Bosch Parts & Services GmbH & Co. KG.

POZZOLEONE, Italy - Last Friday Selle Royal kicked off its three-month European tour around key cities in Austria, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands, to launch the first wave of its new campaign named "Support Cyclists On The Road".

MONTREAL, Canada - Dorel Sports including Cycling Sports Group (Cannondale, GT, Mongoose among other brands as well as Pacific Cycle and Caloi) had a much better quarter than anticipated, surpassing earlier published expectations. Second quarter revenue increased USD 15.5 million, or 7.4%, to USD 224.5 million.

It is known that e-bike batteries do pose a risk of fire, but when a full e-bike warehouse goes up in flames you have a serious problem. Last Tuesday some 300 people living in the vicinity of the Stella e-bike and battery warehouse which was on fire had to be evacuated

Astro Engineering Co. Ltd. is increasing its aluminum and carbon frame production capacity rapidly in Vietnam. Last June, the Taiwanese company opened its first carbon frame factory in Vietnam. According to Astro's Vice President Camille Hung,

HOYA, Germany - Hartje has recently opened its branch office Hartje Asia based in Taipei, Taiwan. In a press statement issued yesterday, Hartje announced that the fully owned subsidiary Hartje Asia works directly with the company's 80 suppliers in the region.

The loss of sales to major online distributor Fietsenwinkel.nl in the Netherlands and Sports Authority and Sports Chalet in North America put heavy pressure on Accell's first half of 2018 results.

"The bicycle market is going through rapid changes where omni-channel is seen as an interesting distribution mix next to existing distribution channels.

The announced renaming of HNF Heisenberg and Nicolai to HNF Nicolai is more than just a name change and a get-together of the two brands. It also includes a

ZERBST, Germany - Just after the peak of the bicycle sales season, the German bicycle manufacturer Euro-Bike applied for insolvency which was published last Monday. Euro-Bike is known for manufacturing brands like Schindelhauer, Rothwild, Coboc and Nikolai.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka is fast emerging as favourite hunting ground for Indian bicycle producers as they are acquiring companies in the neighbouring

Dutch clearance house Blomson will soon open its Asian office in Taiwan. Blomson is one of the few clearance houses in the bicycles industry. Started