The aim of the BIKE PROJECT: EUROPE is to assemble a mountain bike using only parts manufactured in the EU. It all starts with the centrepiece of every bike: the frame. Its standards and installation dimensions must match all other parts and, of course, it must be built in a member state of the European Union. The overwhelming majority of all bicycle frames are produced in Asia. There are also some well-known manufacturers in Europe. A conspicuous number of them in Germany. However, even if a brand may be based in an EU country, it is often not so easy to find out whether production actually takes place in the EU. We provide an overview of the frames that are currently manufactured in the EU.
Which mountain bike frames are built in the EU?
Our list is not exhaustive and we look forward to your additions. Do you know where other mountain bike frames are produced in the EU? Then send us an e-mail: eu-projekt@bike-magazin.de
Company / Headquarters / Production / Remarks
- Actofive / Dresden (DE) / Dresden (DE) / Currently only one aluminium model
- Alutech / Ascheffel (DE)/ Ascheffel (DE) / A new aluminium model from DE, carbon rear triangles still from the Far East
- Ancilotti / Valperga (IT) / IT / Three aluminium models
- Antidote / Krakow (PL) / PL / Three carbon models
- Cavalerie / Maclas (FR) / Maclas (FR) / An aluminium model with Effigear gearbox
- Cheetah / Gingen (DE) / Gingen (DE) / Four aluminium models
- Crossworx / Rudolstadt (DE) / Rudolstadt (DE) / Three aluminium models
- Ghost / Waldsassen (DE) / Herent (BEL) / Lector carbon frame from BEL, other models from the Far East
- Huhn Cycles / Bischofsgrün (DE) / Bischofsgrün (DE) / Three models in titanium/steel
- Last / Dortmund (DE) / Veitshöchheim (DE) / Three carbon models from DE. Aluminium models from the Far East
- Kross / Przasnysz (PL) / PL / Carbon models from PL
- Madnes / Montferrier-sur-Lez (FR) / Montferrier-sur-Lez (FR) / Two steel models
- MDE / Reano (IT) / IT / Two aluminium models
- Nicolai / Elze (DE) / Elze (DE) / Nine aluminium models
- Nize / Amtzell (DE) / DE / Children's bikes
- Portus / Pforzheim (DE) / Pforzheim (DE) / Steel bikes
- Project 12 / Berkel en Rodenrijs (NL) / Schiedam (NL) / Steel hardtails
- Singlebe / Choceň (CZ) / Vysoké Mýto (CZ) / Steel hardtails
- Stoll / Beringen (CH) / Veitshöchheim (DE) / Four carbon models
- Tannenwald / Roschbach (DE) / Roschbach (DE) / Steel hardtails
- Unique / Markkleeberg (DE) / Markkleeberg (DE) / Stahl-Bikes
- Wikkit / Egmond aan Zee (NL) / Egmond aan Zee (NL) / Aluminium hardtails and bikes for beach racing
- Wittson / Klaipeda (LT) / Titanium hardtails
Why is the list so short?
Before European frame builders can fire up the welding machine or start laying out a carbon frame, many hurdles have to be overcome. Most of the raw materials, such as carbon fibres, aluminium tubes and many milled parts are produced in the Far East. Even small parts, such as cable holders, bearings or derailleur hangers, usually come from non-European countries. Whether and when all these parts can be assembled into a mountain bike frame depends on the delivery situation. In addition, frame construction is still largely manual labour. European social laws and a higher wage level than in the Far East make labour expensive. Skilled workers, such as experienced aluminium welders, are in high demand on the labour market. Unlike in the EU, a large industry with a lot of expertise has been established in countries like Taiwan over many years. Higher environmental standards are also driving up the cost of frame production in the EU. Small forges, such as Gasventinove (IT) or Zonenschein (DE, insolvency after flood disaster), have disappeared from the scene over the years. UNNO has relocated the production of its latest generation of frames from Barcelona to Asia for price reasons.
Why could the list of truly European MTB frames soon become longer?
Well-known companies such as Liteville, Kavenz, RAAW, Thömus, Falkenjagd, Rennstahl and Sour are based in the EU, but have their frames produced in Asia. In the wake of current supply bottlenecks for parts from Asia, smaller frame builders in particular have been left behind and are being supplied late or not at all. Jürgen Schlender from Alutech has therefore decided to do so, Aluminium frames can now be welded again in Ascheffel in northern Germany. Like Stoll, Last relies on the expertise of All Ahead Composites and has its carbon frames produced in Würzburg. Other manufacturers could follow these examples. However, European mass production of mountain bike frames comparable to Asian capacities does not yet exist. Most European frame manufacturers currently produce small and very small series in-house.
When will European mass production of carbon frames start?
Promising approaches for European frame production in large quantities are currently being developed in Portugal, among other places. The brand new Carbon Team factory could produce up to 55,000 frames a year over the next few years. Currently, only around 20 frames are produced per day. Carbon expert Christoph Gemperlein (All Ahead Composites) is one of the key contributors to the expertise. Extensive automation of production in particular could make European frame production competitive in the future. Ghost is also working on automated production with thermoplastic in Belgium. Key technologies, such as 3D printing, play a decisive role here. For example, the aluminium frame of our BIKE PROJECT: RIDE GREEN Bikes 3D-printed by the Canyon company in Germany.
Marc Strucken
Editor
