Portuguese component makers start aluminium frame production

Rodi, Miranda, and Ciclo-Fapril, the three leading component makers of Portugal announced they will invest € 12 million in aluminium frame production in Agueda, Portugal. Construction of the frame making facility is to start this September.

The aluminium frame factory that Rodi, Miranda, and Ciclo-Fapril are building will have an initial capacity of 450,000 aluminium frames for e-bikes. Production is to commence in April 2016. Another investment of € 5 million is planned for Phase 2. With Eurobike starting tomorrow the investors and initiators of the frame facility, which is to be a vital part of Bike Valley Portugal, consider this as the right time to announce the project.

The frame factory is built on a 63,000m² plot at the Casarão Industrial Park in Agueda; the town where all Portuguese component makers, as well as bike makers, are based. The company name of the frame factory is ‘Triangles’. Armando Levi, President of rim maker Rodi has been elected as the president of the new company.

Investing and setting-up aluminium frame production in Portugal is a major move towards adding flexibility to the supply chain of the bike industry in Europe. Lead times of over six months for essential components like frames conflict with the growing requirement to promptly adjust bike production to dealer demand. In particular because dealers are generally reluctant to stock expensive electric and sports bikes and want to delay the orders towards the end of the season.