Batavus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Batavus | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Private |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Headquarters | , Netherlands |
| Industry | Bicycles, Mopeds |
| Products | Bicycle and Related Components, mopeds and motorcycles |
| Parent | Accel Group |
Batavus is a Dutch bicycle manufacturer, currently owned by the Accel Group European Cycle conglomerate. Batavus Intercycle Corporation was the leading manufacturer of bicycles and mopeds in the Netherlands during the 1970s. During its most productive years, the company’s 350,000 sq. ft. Heerenveen, the Netherlands plant employed 700 craftsmen to produce 70,000 Batavus mopeds and 250,000 bicycles a year. During this time, Batavus was exporting 55 percent of its production with the remainder going to the Netherlands which had more than two million mopeds on the roads as of 1977.
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[edit] History
In 1904, Andries Gaastra opened a shop selling clocks and small farm machinery. Within two years, he had added bicycles to his inventory, first selling bikes manufactured by the German company Presto. Soon, he changed his plan and began making and selling bicycles under the Batavus brand.[1]
By 1917, Batavus had taken over a large bicycle factory. The 1930s proved difficult for the company, as much of Europe was undergoing an economic recession at the time, but Batavus continued growing by diversifying their line to include carrier tricycles, motorcycles, and even ice skates. World War II saw the temporary shutdown of the Batavus factory, however, business resumed in 1945 when the war ended and demand for bicycles increased dramatically. At this time, the company invested in an entirely new factory with modern assembly lines, which brought them to the forefront of modern bike manufacturing at the time. In 1948, Batavus was one of the first companies to develop and manufacture their own moped.[1]
By 1954, the company was operating from an assortment of buildings, producing a variety of machines, but in 1956, just 52 years after Andries Gasstra opened his shop, a new factory was opened in the industrial park in Heerenveen. The new factory had an area of 6000 square meters and the workforce had grown to 300. Further extensions and developments became necessary and today the company employs about 650 people in a modern factory which uses advanced design and manufacturing techniques. After the new premises were opened the company continued primarily to be a bicycle manufacturer and benefited from the growing demand for bicycles, not only in the Netherlands, but all over the world. However, in 1969, Batavus acquired the bicycle and motorcycle production of another Dutch company, Magneet, and in the following year took over an amalgamation of three famous three-wheeler factories in Germany. Although their sales of motorized two-wheelers were subjected to increasing fluctuation, with various model and style changes, there was steady growth every year.
[edit] World-wide moped distribution
In 1970, Batavus joined the Dutch Laura industrial group, which includes Laura Motoren, and Laura Engines were used on all Batavus mopeds in the UK, except the Sachs powered sports machine and the Mk 4S. First imports to the UK were in 1973, with the setting up of Harglo Ltd. by two former BSA/Triumph executives, Wilf Harrision and Peter Glover. Their primary function as sole concessionaires to Batavus was to import and distribute Batavus mopeds in the UK and Ireland. The early Go-Go V was a rigid frame machine, which was discontinued, but after the introduction of the Go-Go VA, four new machines were added to the UK market in 1974 and two more in 1976. By this time the company had won a reputation for the manufacture of good quality, well made and well finished machines, which, while not the cheapest, were good to look at and offered little maintenance trouble.
At the Earls Court, London, Show in 1976, Batavus showed their seven-model range; six of those machines were powered by the well known 48cc Laura engine, with V-belt primary drive and automatic clutch. The exception was the top-of-the-range Mk 4S, being the Rolls-Royce of sports mopeds with motorcycle styling and the famous Sachs four-speed power unit. Specifications for that machine include an electronic tachometer, battery-operated turn signals and heavy-duty suspension front and rear. This model, which has the overall dimensions of a full-sized motorcycle was the biggest machine sold by Batavus.
As early as 1972 their total production of bicycles was 250,000 and that of mopeds 60,000, within that year. Of these, 60,000 bicycles and 27,000 mopeds were sent abroad. Sales were particularly strong in West Germany and Switzerland. Other important outlets are Iran, Israel, Belgium and Greece. In Turkey, Batavus mopeds began to be manufactured under license in 1972. In 1977, Batavus made more bicycles and mopeds than any other company in the Netherlands. They were the biggest Dutch exporter of machines, with 55 percent of their total production going outside the Netherlands to accommodate a surge in interest for fuel efficient transportation in the states during the 1970s (Batavus set up its Batavus USA headquarters in Atlanta, GA).
In the early 1970s, bicycle demand continued to increase, prompting Batavus to expand their factory to 25,000 square meters.[1] Moped demand began to decline, and although there was a significant increase in moped popularity in the USA during the fuel crisis of the 1970s, Batvus built and shipped their last moped in the early 1980s.
[edit] In competition: bicycle races and sponsored teams
During the 1986 and 1992 Olympic Games, Batavus was the official supplier of the Dutch cycling Union (KNWU). Monique Knol won a Bronze Medal during the 1992 Olympics on a Batavus. Leontien van Moorsel won the Tour Feminin twice, riding Batavus bicycles.
As of 2008, Batavus is a co-sponsor of team P3Transfer-Batavus. Bobbie Traksel rode a Batavus to victory in the 2008 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen.
[edit] Innovations
In 1988, Batavus began to invest heavily in research and development and from then through 1996, the company won the Good Industrial Design award for its Safety Handlebar, Quick Service chain guard, Safety Stander and Ergo System stem innovations.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Bicycling History http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Benelux/Batavus_main.htm
