SRAM (bicycles)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| SRAM, Corp. | |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | America |
| Key people | Stanley R. Day Jr. (President) |
| Industry | cycling components |
| Products | Bicycle and Related Components |
| Revenue | undisclosed |
| Website | www.sram.com |
SRAM Corporation is a privately held bicycle component manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1987.[1] The correct pronunciation of SRAM is SRAM.[2] SRAM is an acronym comprising the names of its founders, Scott, Ray, and Sam, where Ray is the middle name of company head Stan Day.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Company Beginnings
As a start-up company, SRAM introduced the Grip Shift (or twist shift) gear-change method and technology to the mountain bike market in 1988.
In 1990 the company sued Shimano for unfair business practices, noting that Shimano offered, in effect, a 15-percent discount to bicycle manufacturers specifying an all-Shimano drivetrain and that few companies in the highly-competitive industry would be willing to forego such a discount to specify Grip Shift components. SRAM received an unspecified out-of-court settlement from Shimano in 1991. More importantly, it won the right to compete in the lucrative OEM bicycle components arena.[4]
The years after the Shimano settlement were marked by dramatic growth for the company, as it increased sales organically and added other companies to its portfolio. SRAM now incorporates the former bicycle division of Fichtel and Sachs, Sachs-Huret, and recently acquired component makers RockShox, Avid, Truvativ, ZF Sachs and Zipp (see below).
[edit] Products
SRAM pioneered what it has dubbed a "1:1 actuation ratio" for bicycle shifting, meaning that for any distance a cable is pulled by the shifter, an equal amount of lateral distance is covered by the derailleur. This approximate doubling of the shifter cable travel reduced its sensitivity to dirt contaminating the system, a significant issue in mountain biking.
In their road componentry, SRAM introduced "Exact Actuation" technology, similar in some ways to the 1:1 system. A distinctive feature of SRAM's road system is the DoubleTap lever. The unique aspect of this shifter is the use of a single lever for both upshifting and downshifting, rather than two as both Shimano and Campagnolo shifters require.
SRAM bicycle chains are widely used by cyclists, even those not using any other SRAM componentry on their machine. SRAM chains are often called "Sedis" or "Sedisport", which was the original name given to the bushingless design of Sachs-Huret. These chains have greater flexibility than traditional chains with full-width bushings and are very suitable for the operation of modern derailleur gear systems. SRAM more recently introduced the "Powerlink", a tool-free master link for derailleur gear chains.
[edit] Brands
In recent years SRAM has purchased a number of companies to allow it to offer a full component group. These brands are as follows:
[edit] RockShox
RockShox, purchased on February 19, 2002, was one of the first companies to introduce a suspension fork for consumer use. Marketing and sales departments were relocated to Chicago, while product development remained in Colorado Springs. A SRAM factory in Taichung, Taiwan was converted to RockShox production after the RockShox acquisition.
[edit] Avid
On March 1, 2004 SRAM purchased Avid, a well-known designer and manufacturer of bicycle brake systems and components including hydraulic and mechanical disc brakes for mountain bikes, mechanical disc brakes for road and cyclocross bikes, rim brakes for mountain and cyclocross bikes, brake levers for mountain bike rim brakes and mountain bike mechanical disc brakes, brake cables, and brake maintenance products. Because SRAM recently added road bike rim brakes and brake levers to its product line, they now offer brakes and levers for all types of road, mountain and cyclocross bicycles.
As with RockShox, Avid's product development continued in Colorado Springs while marketing and sales divisions were moved to Chicago.
[edit] Truvativ
SRAM purchased Truvativ in 2005, providing SRAM with a line of cranks, bottom brackets, handlebars, stems, pedals, seatposts and chain retention systems. This allowed SRAM to offer a complete drivetrain.
[edit] ZF Sachs
SRAM purchased ZF Sachs’s Hub gear production.
[edit] Zipp
On November 6th 2007 SRAM acquired Zipp Speed Weaponry, a company designing and manufacturing high-end carbon wheelsets for use on road-racers, as well as other components such as cranks, handlebars and disc wheels.[5]
[edit] Financials
- Sales 1987 $0 million
- Sales 1994 $25 million
- Sales 1995 $40 million
- Sales 1999 $120 million
- Sales 2004 $160 million (estimate)[6]
- Sales 2005 $150 million[7]
- Sales 2006 >$200 million[8]
- Sales FY 2007 $318 million[9]
[edit] References
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007) |
- ^ About SRAM
- ^ SRAM | Service | SRAM FAQs
- ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20000727/ai_n13875164
- ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20000727/ai_n13875164
- ^ SRAM | News and Events | News
- ^ Chicago Athlete - Feature Article
- ^ SRAM Corporation - Company History
- ^ 2008 SRAM Force DoubleTap Shift Levers - Competitive Cyclist
- ^ SRAM: A Bike Parts Tour de Force
