Santa Cruz closing production at Mainz, GER

[Arminius]

Just published in Germany, its in german but browser might help with translations:

Santa Cruz & Cervélo Fertigung wird geschlossen: Aus für 80 Produktions-Mitarbeiter bei Pon in Mainz - MTB-News.de

Die Produktion der Pon-Marken Santa Cruz und Cervelo in Mainz wird geschlossen. Davon sind rund 80 Mitarbeitende betroffen.

www.mtb-news.de

 

[irie]

Another bit of interesting news in the above link:

"On October 11, 2024, it was officially announced that Brembo had reached an agreement to acquire Öhlins Racing. The purchase price of USD 405 million will be paid entirely from existing cash and the transaction is scheduled to close in early 2025. Following Öhlins' restructuring of its MTB division, further changes could be in store for the Swedish brand."

Öhlins Umstrukturierung: Auswirkungen auf den MTB-Markt? - MTB-News.de

Der schwedische Federungsspezialist Öhlins hat eine Umstrukturierung seiner MTB-Abteilung vorgenommen. Diese Veränderungen scheinen Teil eines größeren strategischen Plans der Muttergesellschaft Tenneco zu sein.

www.mtb-news.de

 

[sethimus]

Another bit of interesting news in the above link:

"On October 11, 2024, it was officially announced that Brembo had reached an agreement to acquire Öhlins Racing. The purchase price of USD 405 million will be paid entirely from existing cash and the transaction is scheduled to close in early 2025. Following Öhlins' restructuring of its MTB division, further changes could be in store for the Swedish brand."

Öhlins Umstrukturierung: Auswirkungen auf den MTB-Markt? - MTB-News.de

Der schwedische Federungsspezialist Öhlins hat eine Umstrukturierung seiner MTB-Abteilung vorgenommen. Diese Veränderungen scheinen Teil eines größeren strategischen Plans der Muttergesellschaft Tenneco zu sein.

www.mtb-news.de

hello and welcome to

last week

 

[Mcharza]

Just published in Germany, its in german but browser might help with translations:

Santa Cruz & Cervélo Fertigung wird geschlossen: Aus für 80 Produktions-Mitarbeiter bei Pon in Mainz - MTB-News.de

Die Produktion der Pon-Marken Santa Cruz und Cervelo in Mainz wird geschlossen. Davon sind rund 80 Mitarbeitende betroffen.

www.mtb-news.de

I didn't know SC made bikes in Europe. I no longer wonder why Germans have so many Santa Cruz bikes, they just buy local bikes.

 

[irie]

I didn't know SC made bikes in Europe. I no longer wonder why Germans have so many Santa Cruz bikes, they just buy local bikes.

I didn't know that either, but I'll bet that @sethimus did.

 

[sethimus]

I didn't know that either, but I'll bet that @sethimus did.

yes, i do. i work(ed) in the (german) bike industry

 

[Mcharza]

yes, i do. i work(ed) in the (german) bike industry

So if you buy SC bike here in Europe, it's made in Germany?
Or frames are made in Asia and they just assemble the bikes here?

 

[sethimus]

So if you buy SC bike here in Europe, it's made in Germany?
Or frames are made in Asia and they just assemble the bikes here?

assembled

 

[JStrube]

I never knew they assembled bikes in Germany. Can I trade my SC on a German built one?

 

[Arminius]

I never knew they assembled bikes in Germany. Can I trade my SC on a German built one?

They assembled for EU only. If you see what is leaving the shop floors of german assembly lines and some LBS you would not consider it as a quality mark.

 

[DieBoy]

. If you see what is leaving the shop floors of german assembly lines and some LBS you would not consider it as a quality mark.

Care to venture why that's the case?

 

[Arminius]

Care to venture why that's the case?

I understood the comment by JStrube that bikes assembled in Germany may be of better quality / workmanship. For that I have my doubts.

 

[DieBoy]

I understood the comment by JStrube that bikes assembled in Germany may be of better quality / workmanship. For that I have my doubts.

Ah, I thought maybe you knew something concrete about the factory in Mainz that meant the quality was less than expected.

As a rule of thumb, better working conditions means better work, so I'd be tempted to share JSStube's hypothesis, depending on where is being compared to.

 

[Shark58]

For those who are interested in an inside look into the Pon.Bike factory in Mainz. There is a three month old YouTube factory tour visit by Jasper Jauch. He will help build a Nomad during his visit. Interesting stuff, but in German only.

 

[Arminius]

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting insight and looking very good. Would it be really different in other facilities in other countries?

 

[Zed.]

So if you buy SC bike here in Europe, it's made in Germany?
Or frames are made in Asia and they just assemble the bikes here?

I think my Trek Rail was assembled in Germany

guess it gets around import duties or something

Rich.

 

[JStrube]

I understood the comment by JStrube that bikes assembled in Germany may be of better quality / workmanship. For that I have my doubts.

That was my thought. I would expect better assembly in Germany than in California. Working conditions are good in CA, but Germans are typically known for exactness, at least that is our impression here in the US...

 

[Arminius]

That was my thought. I would expect better assembly in Germany than in California. Working conditions are good in CA, but Germans are typically known for exactness, at least that is our impression here in the US...

If you have the right company culture and qualified workers there should not be much difference if assembling in CA or Germany.