User:K-Bike-Man/Pro-LiteDraft
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Pro-Lite International
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Pro-Lite International is a Taiwan based company that originated in the UK. Pro-Lite is known for hand-built wheels and its role in development of carbon-fiber manufacturing techniques in Taiwan. Pro-Lite is also known for the role its CEO takes in the Taichung Bike Week Event which is a significant event for the OEM bicycle industry.
Company
[edit] | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bicycle manufacturing |
| Founded | UK |
| Founder | Steve Fenton |
| Headquarters | Taichung , |
| Owner | Steve Fenton, Jasper Chen |
| Website | Pro-Lite.net |
Pro-Lite is a brand and manufacturer. The brand originated with Steve Fenton, who started the company at the demand of local businesses who needed hand built wheels. Later, the brand was moved to Taiwan, where the company was merged with Taiwanese OEM manufacturer Darson J&B Enterprise Company Ltd, which owns factories in the greater Taichung district. These companies have grown to the point that by 2010, the vast majority of their product is manufactured in-house.
The wheel building factories operated under this partnership do not have wheel building machines, so the wheels are all hand-built. Wheels produced at this factories are used for Pro-Lite branded wheels as well as sold to other companies as OEM product.
Technologies
[edit]The partnership has worked in the past with major manufacturers in Taiwan and cooperatively holds 7 patents related to wheel building and manufacturing with carbon fiber.
Products
[edit]The product range of Pro-Lite is strongly geared towards 700c riding and racing, including the following specialties: Road, Track, Time Trial, Triathlon and Cyclocross
Frames are made with the following materials: Aluminum Alloys (6061, 7075, 7046), Carbon Fiber (including lugless and monocoque). Pro-Lite is one of very few manufacturers using 7046 alloy.
Wheels are similarly made with Aluminum or Carbon Fiber rims. Spoke choices include steel (Swedish) and Carbon Fiber. Pro-Lite has also worked with oversized aluminum spokes.
Pro-Lite also makes their own 5-spoke carbon wheels (monocoque) and carbon fiber disc wheels.
In addition to frames and wheels, Pro-Lite also manufactures a number of other complementary parts, mostly for racing applications, ranging from handlebars in alloy and carbon to supporting items like stems and seatposts.
While not generally involved with making complete bikes, Pro-Lite has also released a line of youth bikes known as "The ONE", with purpose-specific designs for racing (24" and 650c wheels), cyclocross (650c) and track (650c). An unusual characteristic of these is the choice to use hand-built wheels instead of lower-cost machine-built wheels.
History
[edit]Content pending
Involvement with Taichung Bike Week
[edit]Taichung Bike Week is an annual event in Taichung, Taiwan that was started through cooperation between the Mayor of Taichung, Jason Hu, Katerina Rejchrtova, during her time at WTB and Steven Fenton, CEO of Pro-Lite International, Ltd. The event brings together buyers and suppliers in informal settings allowing for efficient and hassle-free business transactions.
The organizers of the event are strictly volunteers and derive no income directly from the event which is staged largely for the benefit of the industry as a whole. Most of the funding for the event comes via the support of the Taichung municipal government, with organization taking place largely through organizers such as Katerina Rejchrtova, Steve Fenton and representatives of Taichung administration staff.
Pro-Lite therefore has a strong supporting role to this event.
References
[edit]some text
- Bicycle Retailer - Steve Fenton BRAINy Award for Taichung Bike Week http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/5331.html
- Bike Radar ref Link
- Bicycle Retailer - Taichung Bike Week industry event http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/4856.html
- Bicycle Retailer - Hand built wheel assembly in Germany http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/5140.html
- bicycle retailer ref link (Taichung bike week = important) http://www.bicycleretailer.com/downloads/TaichungNL2.pdf
- bicycle retailer ref link (steve involved with TBW) http://www.bicycleretailer.com/downloads/TaichungNL4.pdf
- Bike Europe TBW http://www.bike-eu.com/news/4657/taichung-bike-week-move-to-november-dates-in-2011%3F.html?nb=bike&editie=09%20december%202010&link=Taichung%20Bike%20Week:%20Move%20To%20November%20Dates%20in%202011?&WT.mc_id=mail_bike_09%20december%202010
External links
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