A BRIEF HISTORY OF SACHS BICYCLE COMPONENTS
1867
Ernst Sachs is born on November 22, in Peterhaussen near Konstanz, Germany. He later completes a short sales apprenticeship and begins training in precision mechanics.
1889
Ernst Sachs moves to Frankfurt. This time period marks Sachs as a big competitive racer and an avid biker. His first encounter with Schweinfurt is at a bike race. A serious bike accident which leads to a complicated fracture in the lower left leg forces Sachs to renounce racing.
1894
Following a stay in Bad Kissengen at a health spa, Sachs moves to Schweinfurt in April. He is employed as a mechanic and a salesman, where he first attempts to build a bike hub. In November, he receives his first patent for a bicycle ball bearing with a modular bearing race.
1895
On August 1st, Ernst Sachs and Karl Fichtel found "Schweinfurter Praezisions Kugellagerwerke Fichtel und Sachs" and began producing ball bearings and bicycle hubs. Karl Fichtel is in charge of sales, while Ernst Sachs is responsible for the technical management. Founding capital was 15,000 DM. The production facility was a small single-story house. In the end of 1895, the total workforce grew to 10 employees.
1896
Fichtel & Sachs employs 70 workers, and daily production increases to 50-70 hubs.
1897
Sachs produces its very first free-wheel hub.
1903
Following eight years of production and eight different hubs, Sachs has his first breakthrough with the "Torpedo Freewheel Hub." The operation begins to grow at breathtaking speed.
1904
The Torpedo 2-speed hub makes its debut. 250,000 hubs are produced. By the end of the year, 900 people are employed. Sachs' father-in-law Wilhelm Hopfinger acquires a patent for the first usable ball bearing retainer ring, an innovation still being used in the ball bearing industry.
1905
Production reaches 382,000 hubs. Employee count reaches 1,800. Sachs acquires over 100 patents and makes a name for himself as the most creative inventor in the development field of modern bearings. At almost every car race, the winning cars are using Sachs bearings.
1908
Production reaches 482,000 hubs. Employee count narrows to 1,640. Most racers are switching to the Torpedo hubs.
1913
The Torpedo 4-speed hub arrives on the market.
1914
A total of 833,000 hubs are sold in the last pre-war season of the summer of 1913. War breaks out. During the first four years of the war, Fichtel & Sachs increases its workforce from 3,000 to 8,000 employees. Ernst Sachs and his wife Betty personally create and finance a military hospital in Schweinfurt.
1920
Fichtel & Sachs celebrate their 25-year anniversary. The hard consequences of war and the Treaty of Versailles lead to a sharp reduction in production and workforce. Nevertheless, the company produces 550,000 hubs.
1939
Fichtel & Sachs has a total number of 6,716 employees. In the production program, a shift in emphasis goes into effect. The hubs' share is reduced in favor of motors, clutches and shock absorbers.
1943
By the end of the war, 67 percent of the company's production sites are destroyed. The company is on the brink of collapse. Despite the profound destruction, modest production is resumed by the end of 1945.
1954
Ernst Wilhelm Sachs joins the company. Total turnover increases by 40 percent from the previous year.
1955
Total turnover increases by 32 percent. A modernized facility for motors begins operation. Usable space tops 6,500 square meters.
1957
Ernst Wilhelm is appointed deputy of the board of directors. In order to promote cycling, the Torpedo Team is created. Fichtel & Sachs also generously supports amateur cycling with the Ernst Sachs Memorial Race.
1960
The Nurnburger Herculeus company, Rabeneick and Bradwede become the first subsidiaries of the Sachs group.
1967
Ernst Wilhelm Sachs resigns from the company's board of directors and, together with his brother Gunter, becomes co-chairman of the supervisory board. A new modernized manufacturing facility for fluid drives is completed.
1973
The first automatic hub, the 2-speed Torpedo Automatic, is introduced.
1976
Once updated, the Torpedo remains solid and unchanged for the next 22 years.
1980
Sachs purchases a majority of the French company Huret, a leading manufacturer of derailleur gears and speedometers.
1985
Sachs Huret Inc., a sales corporation for two-wheeled components, is founded in the United States.
1987
Mannesmann AG takes over as a majority shareholder of the Fichtel & Sachs group.
1997
SRAM Corporation takes over as the sole owner of Sachs Bicycle Components. A new state-of-the-art factory is constructed in Schweinfurt, bringing development and production facilities under one roof. This move streamlines both development timelines and speed to market. SRAM invests over $1 million (U.S.) in new engineering and development resources.
SRAM HISTORY
1987
SRAM Corp. is born and opens its first office/factory in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Total number of employees, six. First year goal: sell 100,000 units. Actually sold 1,000. Sachs introduces the Pentasport 5-speed hub.
1988
In January, at the Long Beach Show, SRAM debuts its first product, the Grip Shift® DB road bike twist shifter. The DB debuted shifting a SH-TY-20 across a 10-speed free-wheel. In April, the CAT-1 was introduced for tribars and road bars.
Bob Mionske places fourth, riding the DB/CAT-1 in the road race at the Seoul Olympics. Scott Molina wins the Ironman Triathlon using DB/CAT-1. Sachs' first MTB components, called the Rival ATB groupset, are introduced. Grip Shift® equipped rider wins the Race Across America. Kenny Souza wins the world biathlon championships with CAT-1.
1989
SRAM introduces the CX road shifter. Cannondale specs the CX shifter on mountain bikes.
Grip Shift equipped racers dominate U.S. Criterium events using the CX shifter.
1990
SRAM USA employs nine people and 12 independent sales representatives to cover the U.S. dealer market.
World Champion Greg Herbold (HB) begins racing and winning with Grip Shift shifters.
The Grip Shift® CX-DT Aero Bar triathlon craze begins. Sachs' first twist grip and Powergrip products arrive on the market.
1991
Headquarters and Chicago manufacturing grows to 60 people. Taiwan factory is established with 18 employees. SRAM Worldwide grows to 90 people. The Grip Shift® SRT 300 shifter is introduced. Over 300,000 SRT 300 shifter sets are shipped to Cannondale, Diamond Back, GT, Schwinn, Specialized, Trek, and Univega. SRAM launches nationwide Dealer Tech Support Program.
1992
One-millionth shifter set produced (MY93). SRAM establishes a European office in Dortmund, Germany. The Grip Shift SRT 500, SRAM's first high-end MTB shifter makes it debut. Sachs creates the Super 7, 7-speed hub. SRAM Taiwan moves to a new facility.
1993
European HQ moves to Hengelo in the Netherlands. SRAM unveils the SRT 500R shifter, specifically designed for racing. SRAM Europe begins Dealer Tech Support Program.
HB (Greg Herbold) wins NORBA National Downhill Point Series on an SRT 500R shifter. Giovanna Bonazzi wins DH Worlds on an SRT 500R shifter. Sachs leads the industry in leisure biking components.
1994
SRAM's 10-millionth shifter set produced (MY95). Opening of new 4,000-square-meters North American manufacturing facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
Bart Brentjens wins XC World Cup on Grip Shift® shifters. Missy Giove wins DH Worlds on Grip Shift® shifters. Francois Gachet wins DH Worlds and DH World Cup on Grip Shift. John Tomac wins NORBA DH on Grip Shift. Alison Sydor wins XC Worlds on Grip Shift¬Æ shifters. Henrik Djernis wins XC Worlds on Grip Shift¬Æ shifters.
Sachs introduces PowerDisc, the first mass produced hydraulic disc brake system. Sachs introduces Speedtronic, the first electronic shifting system.
Christian Taillefer sets the first high speed world record at 187.66km/h using Power Disc brakes and Power Grip shifters.
1995
SRAM opens a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland. ESP® derailleur technology is introduced at the Taipei International Bicycle Show. Every winning bike in the Men's World Cup XC and NORBA National Championships XC are equipped with Grip Shift shifters. SRAM becomes title sponsor of the Sea Otter Classic, which has quickly become North America's most fun cycling event.
SRAM riders Bart Brentjens wins XC Worlds. Alison Sydor wins XC Worlds, Thomas Frischknecht wins XC World Cup. Regina Stiefl wins DH World Cup. Tinker Juarez wins NORBA XC.
Sachs celebrates its 100th anniversary. The Elan 12-speed is introduced.
1996
SRAM's 25-millionth shifter set produced (MY97). ESP-equipped racer Bart Brentjens wins the inaugural Mountain Bike Gold Medal at the Atlanta Summer Olympics. SRAM engineers Sam Patterson and John Cheever are honored by the Intellectual Property Owners Organization for three innovative patents, a first in the bicycle industry. European headquarters moves to Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
John Tomac wins NORBA XC title on an ESP derailleur system. Christophe Dupouey wins XC World Cup on an ESP derailleur system. Anne Caroline Chausson wins DH Worlds on an ESP derailleur system.
Sachs introduces the PowerGlide cassette, and DIRT, an MTB shifting technology.
1997
Company's fifth manufacturing facility opens. The Chihuahua, Mexico plant brings worldwide employee count to 650. SRAM acquires Sachs Bicycle Components, making SRAM the world's second largest bicycle component manufacturer. Total employee count expands to 1,400. SRAM Europe Dealer Hotlines grow from serving six European countries to 11. World's first pair of high-end, composite brake levers are introduced by SRAM.
ESP riders John Tomac and Cheri Elliot win the Men's and Women's NORBA DH titles. Anne Caroline Chausson wins DH Worlds on an ESP derailleur system. Miguel Martinez wins XC Worlds on an ESP derailleur system.
1998
SRAM's 34-millionth shifter set produced (MY99). SRAM introduces the Spectro™ internal gear hub product line. Groundbreaking ceremony for SRAM's state-of-the-art internal gear hub factory in Schweinfurt, Germany. SRAM European tech support grows to a team of 18. SRAM thanks the industry by throwing a tenth anniversary bash at Eurobike in Friedrichshafen, Germany. SRAM Taiwan adds significant square meters to complete its state-of-the-art facility.
1999
Construction and move completed to new factory in Schweinfurt, Germany. Grand opening of SRAM Deutschland Internal Hub Factory. IRCOS (SRAM France) takes operating control from SRAM Corporation. SRAM factory count totals six, headquarters totals three.
SRS™ technology revolutionizes twist shifting.
2000
SRAM introduces plans for revolutionary new product platforms. Total headcount tops 1,000 employees worldwide. SRAM announces its plan to sponsor Team Cannondale, Giant, Tomac, Rocky Mountain and more...
2001
Launched SRAM X.O rear derailleur and front shifter set. This product draws tremendous positive press and redefines high-end derailleur product. X.O is regarded as the top of the line in shifting systems in terms of its durability, composite features, innovative look, and overall performance.
2002
SRAM purchases RockShox on February 19, 2002. RockShox is the world's market leader in suspension fork and shock technology. Marketing and Sales are relocated to Chicago and Colorado Springs remains the home for RockShox product development. SRAM builds a state-of-the art production facility in Taichung, Taiwan and production starts in April. The first production fork rolls off the line in December.
SRAM again sponsors the premiere cycling event in North America, the Sea Otter Classic.
Roland Green (Trek VW) wins the World Championship on a RockShox SID World Cup.
2003
Once again the Sea Otter Classic is powered by SRAM. Impulse Technology Triggers are launched at Sea Otter. The Triggers fulfill a need to offer customers shifting options and help to redefine shifting technology.
SRAM Sponsorship enters the road market for the first time with road cassettes and HollowPin chains. SRAM sponsors Team CSC, the sixth ranked UCI team in the world. CSC features Tyler Hamilton, who placed second in the 2002.Giro d' Italia. SRAM also sponsors 7 UP/Maxxis, Big Mat Auber 93, Relax Fuenlabrada, K2, and Jittery Joe's. On the mountain side SRAM sponsors TREK, Polo/RLX, T-Mobile (with RockShox), Steve Peat and Jeff Lenosky.
Tyler Hamilton, following wins at Liege-Bastonge-Liege and the Tour de Romandie, wins Stage 16 of the Tour de France. He becomes the 6th American to win a Tour stage, finishing 4th overall - even after breaking his collarbone in a Stage 1 crash.
2004
SRAM purchases Avid on March 1, 2004. Avid is the world's market leader in hydraulic and mechanical disc brake design and manufacturing. Marketing and Sales are relocated to Chicago and Colorado Springs becomes the home for Avid product development.
SRAM purchases Truvativ. The Truvativ acquisition not only brings handlebar, stem and seatpost but also cranksets to the SRAM family. These full line offerings are for both road and mountain applications. Truvativ's Southern California facility shifts to an engineering and development facility, and Sales and Marketing operate out of the Chicago location.
RockShox releases the all new Reba and Pike suspension forks. These two new RockShox products are the first releases that utilize SRAM's product development resources. SRAM hosted a global distributor and global media launch in Boulder City, Nevada. In addition to two totally new products, RockShox's Motion Control damper is also introduced. RockShox production is moved to an amazing, automated SRAM factory in Taiwan.
2005
World Bicycle Relief is founded by SRAM's F.K. Day, empowering people with bicycles in impoverished and tsunami decimated Sri Lanka, and eventually expanding to a greater global effort. More information can be found at www.worldbicyclerelief.org.
SRAM Neutral Race Support (NRS) takes to the road - Butch Balzano and crew travel 50,000 miles annually supporting well over 100 cycling events nationwide (US) in four beautifully appointed SRAM-decaled Volvo V-70's. The program is a far reaching grass roots effort to demonstrate SRAM's commitment to the road and support race events, large and small, and the riders that race them.
Tyler Morland new addition to marketing team. Based out of the Freeride hotbed of Whistler, British Columbia, Morland becomes SRAM's new Canadian 'Special Agent'. Tyler holds several mountain bike racing titles including Canadian National Champion and Mt 7 Psychosis winner. In addition to testing product to their limits, Morland manages SRAM's BlackBox Labs program.
2006
SRAM launches into road at the Sea Otter with the global release of two complete gruppos, Force and Rival, at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, CA, April 4-6. Web and print editors from 14 countries attend with a collective representation of nearly 3,000,000 cycling enthusiasts and consumers worldwide. Influential writers such as Lennard Zinn (VeloNews – U.S.) and Uwe Geissler (Tour - Germany) had been asking for time on the new road groups since the visual unveiling at Eurobike 2005. Editors were literally blown away by the elegance of the system and how it took only minutes to understand. Many called SRAM's DoubleTap (one lever/two shifts) intuitive and deemed it a "true improvement" and the "next step" to current road drivetrain offerings.
SRAM sponsors Team Kodak Gallery p/b Sierra Nevada and Victory Brewing Women's team in the U.S. In Europe Team Orbea Pro-Conti is the first to race SRAM Force. SRAM's first NRC win is in Lancaster, PA. SRAM dives seep into Cyclocross with several teams globally, knowing that this will be the proving point of SRAM's gruppo's and answers any questions about its durability.
Avid introduces Juicy Ultimate. With Avid engineering and development based out of the Colorado Springs facility, the Juicy Ultimate hydraulic disc brakes represent the latest technology. Utilizing magnesium lever body and carbon fiber lever blade, Juicy Ultimate brakes also featured Pad Contact Adjustment, Power Reserve Geometry, and the Tri-Align Caliper Positioning System.
2007
SRAM RED, the World's lightest, fastest, and most advanced road group is introduced at Eurobike to global praise from editors, athletes, and consumers. Sales go well beyond expectations and RED finds tremendous spec on top bike brands globally. Several refinements from the original Force and Rival are included in RED and the 1926 gram gruppo is the lightest ever, redefining high-end performance and including Zero-loss, Reach-Adjust, and the incredible1090 powerdome cassette body.
SRAM expands its road roster to include more Pro-Conti teams in Europe and the U.S. and adds several Triathletes, including World Champions Normann Stadler and Michellie Jones. SRAM's first ProTour win is at the Paris Nice prologue with Scotsman David Millar. Other wins come by way of stages at the Tour of Italy with Millar's Saunier Duval-Prodir teammate's Piepoli, Mayo, and Ricco. SRAM Cross athletes dominate the U.S. cross series (the USGP) and Tim Johnson ultimately wins the U.S. National Championships.
All new RockShox SID introduced at 24hrs Moab. SRAM hosted a unique media product launch by entering teams into the 24 hour endurance race. Each team was made up of journalists, professional athletes, and SRAM staff. All SRAM teams competed on the brand new RockShox SID. Instead of eating normal camping fair, the entire staff was treated to fine cuisine from a hired chef that drove to the Utah desert from Chicago.
2008
SRAM Corporation completes its acquisition of Zipp. Stan Day, CEO of SRAM says: "Zipp is a great company and respected brand, with a strong management team, advanced technology and superb manufacturing capability. We look forward to bringing both successful companies together and synergistically delivering a growing strategic range of products to our customers."
SRAM steps into the highest realm of teams with the sponsorship of Johan Bruyneel's team Astana. The newly reformed team hosts incredible talent including Alberto Contador (ESP), Levi Leipheimer (US), and Andreas Klőden (DE). Leipheimer gives SRAM its first major stage race victory with a dominating Tour of California. And despite numerous wins by all SRAM-sponsored teams throughout the season, the two biggest are the Tour of Italy and Tour of Spain, where Contador demonstrated why he is the best stage racer in the World. Contador states that SRAM RED has improved his climbing with its light weight and perfect ergonomics.
SRAM sponsors the World's best Cyclocross squad, Team Fidea, which features superstars Erwin Vervecken, Zdenek Stybar, and Bart Wellens.
SRAM Announces Strategic Investment from Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking
SRAM has sought a strategic financial investor to support its continued growth in the global bicycle components industry. LBMB will be a minority investor in SRAM. SRAM Senior Management will continue to lead the Company.
SRAM also announces the formation of the SRAM Cycling Advocacy Fund.
The Fund, initially capitalized with $10 million, will support advocacy in the U.S., Europe and Asia on policy issues affecting cycling infrastructure and the bicycle industry. These funds will be paid out approximately $2 million per year for 5 years. SRAM will seek advice from leading industry associations like Bikes Belong on proposal evaluation and fund distribution.
Avid introduces all new TaperBore technology in the new Elixir line of hydraulic disc brakes. TaperBore technology represents a ground up, clean slate design optimized for mountain bike applications. Elixir R and Elixir CR brakes are spec'd by all major manufactures in all mountain bike segments.
Absalon wins second straight gold - Congratulations to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Mountain Bike Champions! SRAM athletes finish, 1, 2…3!
1. Julien Absalon (France) SRAM, RockShox, Avid Truvativ 1.55.59
2. Jean-Christophe Peraud (France) SRAM, RockShox, Avid Truvativ +1.07
3. Nino Schurter (Switzerland) SRAM, Avid +1.53
Brandon Semenuk wins Rampage on new Boxxer. Congratulations to Brandon Semenuk on winning RedBull Rampage! The 17-year-old Whistler resident ruled over the world's best, and took home the $10,000 grand prize riding the brand new 2010 RockShox BoXXer suspension fork. Semenuk's won riding his Trek Session 88 equipped with SRAM® X.O™ trigger shifter and rear derailleur, RockShox 2010 BoXXer World Cup suspension fork and Vivid™ rear shock, Avid® Elixir™ CR disc brakes, Truvativ® Holzfeller® OCT crankset and Boobar handlebar.
2009
SRAM helps welcome back seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong back to professional bike racing, a strong addition to the powerful Team Astana, and Lance 'Makes the Leap' to SRAM RED componentry.
Team Saxo Bank, the World's number one road team, makes an unprecedented mid-season switch to SRAM RED.
