(Inning Amersee, GER) TQ Group began in 1994 in a lovely part of rural Bavaria, just west of Munich, in a region surrounded by lakes. From a storage unit in a barn, founders Detlef Schneider and Rüdiger Stahl began working with electronic components and embedded systems.

From those humble beginnings, TQ has grown into a global player, developing electronic systems for multiple industries including aviation, robotics, automation, medical and now e-mobility with their innovative HPR50 e-drive system.

The two founders were born and raised in the area and wanted to maintain a German, family-run business model. This included creating jobs for local residents, as well as investing in and maintaining the community.

Today, TQ’s Global HQ has taken over the entire sprawling farm site where they started back in 1994, and they’ve since added five other facilities within the same region of Inning am Ammersee and Seefeld.

TQ, which stands for Technology in Quality, has remained a privately owned company, a move which has proven to be an important part of their success. Without having to answer to shareholders, or fast-track products to market, TQ has the luxury of allowing their products to develop organically, staying true to their company values.

Their business model has also proven to be somewhat immune to both major global impacts and extreme shifts in the economy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, TQ’s steady growth in their workforce levelled off but did not decline.

TQ also has a proven track record in motor design with robotics manufacturing, as well as in the service and surgical tools involved with open heart surgery. The company is also involved in prosthetics and the aerospace industry. We’re even told that one of their robots is a dancing sensation on YouTube!

Applying their motor technology to e-bikes seemed a natural pathway; TQ first embarked on its e-bike journey in 2008, and they developed an e-drive division four years later in 2012. The success of their patented harmonic pin-ring technology, initially created for the aerospace sector, was a natural fit for e-bike applications.

The novel harmonic pin-ring concept does away with cogs, belts and planetary gears in favour of a more refined system. The advanced system includes an elliptical wave generator and two gears — internal and external — which sit on a central axis and are connected by a flexible pin-ring transmitter.

The unique e-drive system can achieve the required reduction between the rider’s pedalling revolutions and the motor in just one step, with a reduction ratio that is about a third of other systems, which need several steps. The compact, lightweight and quiet system also provides one of the highest torque-to-power densities on the market.

TQ’s first e-bike motor boasted 120Nm of torque, which dwarfed most of the other systems. The company’s research team got to work on refining things and in 2018, a partnership developed with Trek that led TQ on a new pathway. In 2022, they released the HPR50, a more naturally intuitive motor and e-drive system that debuted on Trek’s Fuel EXe electric mountain bike that was launched in the summer of that year.

With 50Nm of torque and 300 watts of peak power, the new lightweight motor (1,850g) and compact drive system delivered a very natural ride feeling. The new system features a Q factor of only 135mm, which allows for the same natural and efficient feel on the pedals as analog bikes.

The HPR50 was engineered and produced in a building not far from the company headquarters. TQ landed in this location five years ago when the tenants pulled out, allowing the company to continue growing within their hometown. The workforce has morphed from 60 employees three years ago to over 200 people, in part due to the success of their new e-bike motor division.

The new location houses the engineering and production divisions together in the same building, a move that created a positive and productive environment for developing the HPR50. Communication between each sector is ongoing, and with the research and development division nearby, any input or modifications can be executed quickly and efficiently.

“We are all avid cyclists. We can ride, develop and test our product all in-house — we’re both tech nerds and bike enthusiasts,” explains Anna Vodickova, TQ’s Product Marketing Manager.

TQ’s business model also allows production levels of the HPR50 to remain high, while the inventory of in-house parts is low, because most of the system’s components come from one of its own nearby facilities. The single assembly line utilizes both humans and robots with the former handling the more technical aspects of the build, while the robots perform the more mundane, repetitive jobs. In fact, even the robots are made in-house.

To ensure the highest of standards, once the assembly of each HPR50 unit is complete, it’s placed in a machine that runs through its parameters and system functions. This process is followed by a more rigorous set of tests to ensure that each motor meets TQ’s top-grade production standards.

The result is that the HPR50 is 100% German-made, and TQ has complete control over all the parts and assembly needed to create the motor and drive system.

The system’s compact 360-watt and lightweight battery (1,830g) was specifically developed for the HPR50 drive unit for maximum efficiency. Integrated seamlessly into the downtube, it can be augmented by an optional 160Wh range extender battery, which is the size of a 500ml water bottle and can fit into any standard bottle cage.

The minimalistic bar-mounted ring-sized mode assist remote is almost imperceptible as well.

The HPR50 App is used to customize the motor’s parameters and access support centre communications. The system is also compatible with other computer units in the marketplace to accommodate additional data-savvy riders.

The complete package weighs just 3,900 grams, and it’s claimed to be the lightest e-bike drive system in its category.

“Our philosophy is to be very stealth, to be about the rider and the bike... not the system. It’s not about the numbers, and all about the feel. With TQ it’s more like having a Bike+, not an e-bike,” adds Vodickova.

Close to a dozen more bike companies have come on board, including top-level players like Scott, BMC and Pinarello.

As e-bikes continue to grow worldwide, TQ is well poised to continue on its current trajectory by maintaining and growing their diverse range of products with quality and innovation leading the charge.

Coming from a company with roots in the aerospace industry, it looks like the sky’s the limit.

(Oberwangen, SUI) Tucked away on a plateau in the town of Oberwangen, just a 15-minute ride from the Swiss capital of Bern, lies Stromer.

Since 2009, myStromer AG has called this place home and has been honing its high-end e-bike niche, manufacturing quality Speed Pedelecs (similar to Class 3 e-bikes in the USA) ever since.

The Stromer Campus is a modern- looking, three-level building where the company manages the majority of its business operations for its 600 global retailers. Home to 121 employees working in various departments, including administration, research and development, engineering, assembly and shipping, it is also the site of Stromer’s flagship concept store.

“It is important to have everything under one roof,” comments Christoph Lindlein, Global Marketing Director. “It also gives us 100% quality control with the ability to react quickly.”

However, the company’s continued growth is putting pressure on their facility’s limited space and has forced them to adapt by utilizing every square inch in a highly organized, structured and efficient manner — with the accuracy and precision of a Swiss clock.

The entrance to the Stromer Campus is via their flagship concept store which carries the company’s full line of e-bikes, along with their newly acquired Desiknio electric bicycles. Just outside of the main door, a demo fleet containing a full selection of their current offerings sits in a neat row.

“It’s also important to provide consumers with an opportunity to test the product so they can see firsthand the value they are getting from their investment,” explains Lindlein.

The top floor of the building houses Stromer’s administration offices in a big, open-concept design. Office staff use a “hot desk” approach by taking whatever station is free when they arrive. Even the CEO embraces the “musical desk” approach when starting his workday.

There’s also a dedicated area featuring Stromer’s many awards and accomplishments, including their recent Red Dot: Best of the Best 2023 Award in the category of Production Design for the ST7 model.

The main floor is where the e-bikes are assembled and shipped out to Stromer’s 25 global markets. As each Stromer is uniquely made for each customer’s individual specifications, this side of the operation requires a sophisticated, well-designed gameplan with complete buy-in from their highly skilled staff.

The assembly line workday begins at 7:20am with a group briefing led by the Team Leader, to ensure a smooth and efficient day. The briefing outlines the day’s agenda and quota, and it highlights key information needed to ensure quality control. The workday ends at 16:45 with another gathering for a debrief.

Only a perfect frame makes the cut, with each frame being thoroughly checked and examined before hitting the assembly line. Each frame is then branded with a Vehicle ID # along with a printed sheet which outlines the unique build for that specific frame.

Larger groups of components including wheels, fenders, racks, forks and cockpits are pre-assembled before hitting the assembly line. To facilitate pre-assembly, Stromer taps into a special outside source for workers.

“We have teamed up with a group supporting individuals wanting to integrate back into the workforce, along with groups that work with people with physical challenges like blindness, to handle pre-assembly,” explains Lindlein. “We have found that this saves us about 20 minutes of assembly time while also providing an opportunity for these unique groups of people. It is a win-win partnership.”

Once on the assembly line, each frame is placed on a moveable stand for its journey through eight different stations. A worker at each station is responsible for installing anywhere from 5 to 20 parts on the frame before moving it down the line.

Stromer has two assembly lines, and depending on the model it can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per station. At full capacity, with both lines in operation, Stromer produces up to 90 bikes per day. On the day of our tour, the company was on schedule to produce 48 complete bikes.

At the end of the line, the serial number on each e-bike is scanned to ensure it has been built to its correct specifications. Then a full logistics test begins from checking the entire electronics system on each e-bike, to ensuring each bolt is tightened to its correct torque. Once completed, the e-bikes head to the packing and shipping department which is one floor down.

Stromer discovered early on that a rear hub motor was the best choice for their road-savvy commuter-style e-bikes.

With nothing available on the market to meet their standards, they began producing their own line of motors in- house, along with designing batteries to match.

According to Stromer, their rear hub motors produce more thrust, are quieter, and are 20% more efficient than other motors on the market. “We have always used rear hub motors,” comments Fabienne Gilliéron, Stromer’s Communication Manager. “They’re the most efficient for commuting.”

The company currently produces five motors and four batteries, with each motor unique to each of Stromer’s five e-bike models. The motors range from the 670-watt CYRO Drive II with a 655Wh battery and a range of 120km available on the ST1, all the way up to the massive 940-watt SYNO Sport II motor on the ST7 with a 1,440Wh battery providing up to 240km of range.

In July 2022, Stromer unveiled their flagship ST7, the world’s first e-bike to use the Pinion’s Smart.Shift drive system technology, a feature now available on other models as well.

Later that year, Stromer became the official e-bike supplier to the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team vying for the 37th annual America’s Cup in the sport of sailing, the oldest international trophy in world sport. A limited edition custom-painted ST7 ARBR-SE e-bike, complete with a logo-embossed leather bag, was also released — only 350 will be produced to mark the occasion.

In North America, there are currently 50 dealers offering Stromer’s full line of e-bikes. To meet the legal Class 1 restrictions in Canada (32kph) and other markets where Speed Pedelecs are not permitted, the motors are tuned down to match the required max speed limits.

The company’s new strategic alliance to merge with Desiknio Cycles SL in Spain is designed to open up new markets as Stromer’s Speed Pedelecs are more suited for commuter routes of 15km or more, while Desiknio’s premium e-bikes are best for inner-city traffic.

Stromer’s unique business model has seen the company survive the pandemic and the recent challenges experienced by other e-bike companies during these current unpredictable economic times. In fact, Stromer saw a 17% increase in sales globally in 2022.

Stromer’s current upward trajectory in growth has put a strain on the available space at their current facility. The search for a larger, ideally one-level building has not come to fruition. With a desire to maintain the current workforce, any move would need to be within a 20km radius.

But with nothing currently available, they have opted to stay put and are working with architects on a major renovation planned for later this year.

Stromer’s future plans will keep them quite busy over the upcoming years. They have positioned themselves well to continue their expansion with Speed Pedelecs, and they have diversified their portfolio with quality partnerships like Desiknio.

Along with Oberwangen, they currently have three additional global facilities based in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Cluj, Romania and in Vista, California, with the possibility of more in the works.

With their planned renovations in Oberwangen, including expanding their concept stores into new markets, Stromer will continue to make waves well into the future, from where it all started — in Switzerland.

Royal Dutch Gazelle has created a unique place for itself in Dieren, a small town with a population close to 14,000, in the mid-west part of the Netherlands, just a short train ride east of Amsterdam.

For over 130 years, Gazelle has delivered quality bikes from this same location and played a major role as a bike company, a key employer, and a tourist attraction, shaping the world-class cycling culture in the Netherlands.

In the late 1800s, Willem Kölling’s vision of a great future for the bicycle saw him find a partner in Rudolf Arentsen. The two resold bicycles imported from England, and the pair operated repairs and service.

They quickly outgrew their original business model and location which led them to purchase a piece of land in Dieren, where they built their factory. Named after the deer that roamed the local forest, Gazelle still calls this place home, and it’s the oldest bicycle factory in the Netherlands.

Today, Gazelle’s operations in Dieren are a blend of the past and the present. The massive 35,550-square-metre facility is home to their assembly plant, global headquarters and Experience Centre. It retains a portion of the original red brick factory and houses their entire operations, which supports over 2,700 dealers worldwide.

Recent renovations to the assembly plant and the new Experience Centre have seen the original red brick structure evolve into a modern, bright, glass and steel facility. Over 500 employees make this their daily place of work.

Opened in 2022, the Dieren Experience Centre is one of six that Gazelle spearheaded globally. This multi-dimensional place is part showroom, part museum, part test facility. The Experience Centre has become more than just a place for those looking to buy bikes. It has also become a tourist destination with groups and individuals coming from far and wide to enjoy the facility and its offerings.

The main floor showroom displays Gazelle’s full line of close to 70 models of bikes and e-bikes, with staff available to help navigate visitors through the many offerings on display. Those interested in purchasing a bike will then be directed to one of Gazelle’s 700 dealers in the Netherlands.

Off to the side of the showroom is a test track with a slight hill to help simulate the benefits of their e-bikes. It’s also partly covered by a glass roof so one can stay dry under rainy skies.

Gazelle opened its first Experience Center in 2011 in Amersfoort, Holland. Today it has six centers in the Netherlands, six in Germany, one in Belgium, one in Denmark, and one in the USA. Opened in 2014, the US center is located in Santa Cruz, California, and a big motivator was to help the company’s North American ambitions of“getting more people on bikes and making riding easier, safer and more fun”.

At the Dieren Experience Centre, a large open staircase leads upstairs to the Gazelle Museum that offers self-guided tours complete with headphones and a recording in the language of your choice. The tour takes you through 22 different stations highlighting the history of Gazelle. There are many unique and interesting memorabilia on display along with fascinating tidbits of information.

For example, Gazelle launched its first e-bike in 1932 but it didn’t take off, and when the company revisited the concept again in 1990 the timing was better. Now 70% of the bicycles they produce are e-bikes.

The tour continues down a hallway to a walkway overlooking the factory and assembly plant. The factory was part of the renovations which started in 2014 when Pon Holdings, a global Dutch-owned conglomerate, acquired Gazelle Holding B.V. and began investing in the company.

As you move through the factory, your senses become engaged from the smell of rubber to the sound of an exploding tube. The assembly plant starts with the raw frames receiving their five coats of paint and being hand-decaled. Most parts, such as fenders and racks, get pre-assembled before they hit the assembly line.

Wheels are even made in-house, which few bike manufacturers can claim. Once at the assembly line, the bikes are placed on an automated belt to go through 27 stations until completed. There are three assembly lines; when all are in full operation, Gazelle can produce a bicycle every 30 seconds. The factory has the capacity to produce 100 e-bikes per day.

The company has embraced e-mobility and produces 32 e-bike models in the Netherlands, which makes up the majority of its current line of bicycles. In North America, Gazelle offers five e-bikes, including their new Eclipse that was recently unveiled.

Available through their 348 retail outlets in the USA and Canada, Gazelle’s line of e-bikes are geared towards commuter, sport and leisure cyclists. All e-bikes come complete with front suspension, rear racks and lights, and are equipped with Bosch motors.

The North American line-up includes the Medeo, Ultimate, Arroyo, Avignon and now the Eclipse. The Medeo is a price point, family-oriented bike with geometry on the sporty side. Moving up to the Ultimate, there are seven models including the top-tier C380 HNB which is equipped with Enviolo shifting and a Gates carbon belt drive.

The Arroyo and Avignon deliver a more comfort-oriented dimension with low step-through frames and a relaxed geometry. The Avignon is Gazelle’s most comfortable bike boasting wider tires, a comfort curved handlebar, and an internal suspension headset, that takes the edge off road chatter, a feature we enjoyed during our test ride.

The release of the new Eclipse brings a new level of e-bike enjoyment to North American riders. Already a fixture in European markets, it’s designed to provide comfort, power and range to take the path less travelled.

“We can see this bike being a good all- round, commuter-style bike in North America where here in Holland, it is used much more as an adventure e-bike,” commented our tour guide Liset Dissel-Dijkerman, Brand Marketer.

The new Eclipse comes in two models, the T11 HMB and C380 HMB, both powered by Bosch’s top-tier Performance Line CX motor with 85Nm of torque. These front suspension bikes offer high- or low-step frame options and come in two colour waves.

Gazelle engineered the downtube on the Eclipse to accommodate a 750-watt battery, with a maximum range of 135 km for extended adventure days in the saddle.

What sets the two models apart is the drivetrain. The T11 uses a Shimano XT 11-speed shifter, derailleur set-up, while the C380 comes equipped with an Enviolo stepless shifting gear hub with Gates Carbon belt drive.

In Europe, both bikes come complete with Gazelle’s Connect theft protection, which makes it traceable by GPS if the bike goes missing. In North America it’s available as an add-on for $100 with the first year of the subscription being free.

Royal Dutch Gazelle’s storied past is an important part of brand loyalty, which it hopes to pass along to the next generation. The company has positioned itself well in the North American market to help grow the brand, and is poised to continue doing great things for cycling well into the next 130 years.