Bicycle component manufacturer FSA have moved into a new factory in Taiwan, and expect to improve production levels by at least 20% as a result.
The company, which is one of the top five bicycle component manufacturers in the world, produce parts such as stems, wheels, seatposts, handlebars and cranksets for the mountain bike, road and triathlon markets.
The new factory will allow the company to increase flexibility in production planning, and make for quicker shipping times to provide for a much improved service level to FSA customers.
Over 1,100 people were invited to the grand opening including Specialized’s Vice President Bob Margevicius, Bianchi’s Bob Ippolito; and Ying-Ming Yang of the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association.
A guided tour of the new facility revealed FSA’s plans to develop their carbon component line-up, so we’re interested to see what new components the company will have on offer in the near-future.
How does it compare?
Brad DaVaney, the product manager for the American Bicycle Group, had visited six factories during his time in Taichung so was able to compare them with FSA's new operation.
DeVaney told BikeRadar: "The thing that grabbed me about this factory was that it is primarily an assembly, pack, and ship operation. From my past view, I had over-simplified what TH Industries/FSA did. They have continued to systematically add capabilities and operations with first class organization and focus on customer satisfaction."
DeVaney believes that this will benefit the consumer by adding value and improving quality standards: "TH/FSA has raised the bar with regards to adding value to the ‘no name’ components of our bikes. Where we might have supplied a low cost no-name brand of bar, stem, seat post, or headset in the past, FSA has allowed manufacturers to add items which increase value without a remarkable increase in cost."
Will the consumer really notice the benefits? "It’s actually what the consumer likely will not notice by way of increased quality standards. Great quality parts often go into the market without proper commendation. We simply expect these components to work without any hassle. While some bike brands are buying or creating ‘no name brands’ for their position kit (bar, stem, seat post), FSA represents a focus and determination to provide a unique blend of function and style with what has become a very recognizable, high quality, performance brand."
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