Country: | Germany | Primary Focus: | Drivetrain Components |
Years of Operation: | 1895 - 1997 |
German conglomerate, which absorbed much of the French industry at the beginning of the 1980's, including Atom/Maillard, Huret, and Sedis.
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On August 1st 1895 Ernst Sachs and Karl Fichtel found "Schweinfurter Praezisions Kugellagerwerke Fichtel und Sachs" and began producing ball bearings and bicycle hubs. In 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. 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. In 1939, the first automatic hub, the 2-speed Torpedo Automatic, is introduced. In 1980, Sachs purchases a majority of the French companies Huret (derailleurs and speedometers), Atom/Maillard (freewheels, hubs and pedals) and Sedis (chains). Until the late 80's, these French-made components are marketed under the following 2-brand labels: Sachs-Maillard, Sachs-Huret, Sedis-Sachs. Absorbed by Mannesman AG in 1987, then by SRAM Corporation in 1997.
Source: http://www.sram.com/en/about/history.php |
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