The parts for high-end bicycles that were earlier produced only abroad now will be made in Ludhiana. A group of 22 industrialists visiting Taiwan has placed orders for the machinery required.
The group had gone to the East Asian island country on March 4 for a week under the umbrella of Bicycle Research and Development Organisation (BRADO) to discuss high-end bicycle manufacturing in India with Taiwanese cooperation. The delegation also attended the Taipei bicycle show.
Impressed by the Taiwanese bicycle technology, the industrialists placed orders for the import of machinery to manufacture alloy rims, frame and fork in Ludhiana. The local bicycle industry is under heavy pressure because of a bulk import of parts from China.
BRADO president Manjinder Singh Sachdeva said India was far behind Taiwan in bicycle manufacturing and so the transfer of technology would benefit the country. "The machines we ordered will reach India in June," said Sachdeva.
India's high-end bicycle market was small in the global scene but now the manufacturing of high-end parts will open avenues for export and expanding the market. "India is generations away from Taiwan's technology to make magnesium forks of great strength," said BRADO general secretary Gurmeet Kular. "They glue magnesium fork to the bicycle, a method used for building aircraft. Their Titanium bicycles are something we'll see in India after many years," he added.
{{/usCountry}}India's high-end bicycle market was small in the global scene but now the manufacturing of high-end parts will open avenues for export and expanding the market. "India is generations away from Taiwan's technology to make magnesium forks of great strength," said BRADO general secretary Gurmeet Kular. "They glue magnesium fork to the bicycle, a method used for building aircraft. Their Titanium bicycles are something we'll see in India after many years," he added.
{{/usCountry}}Taiwan machines will help Ludhiana make even double-side alloy rim. "India imports 10 parts, including derailer, shifter, disc brakes, and carbon and alloy frame and fork at the cost of foreign exchange and inventory," said Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisations (FICO) chairman KK Seth.
The cost of lightweight bicycles is between Rs 10,000 and Rs 2.5 lakh.