Bike like lifestyle: DT Swiss Factory Tour

Apparently the name comes from DT Swiss German and English words Drahtwerke Tréfileries, which translated means "drag." Thus the full name can be translated as "drawing the product made in Switzerland." It's true, DT Swiss factory is now in Biel, is the largest bilingual city in Switzerland. It also is home to many of the best watchmakers in Switzerland - Rolex, Omega and Swatch. So when they say that the equipment works as a DT Swiss watch - this phrase is very close to reality.

DT Swiss corporate history begins with the 17th century. In 1994 the company engaged in the manufacture of bicycle sleep, laid the foundation for further expansion, and the company has evolved to the level we know it today. In 1995, DT Swiss started to produce their own sleeves. In 1999, spoke nipples DT Swiss. In 2001 appeared the first shock DT Swiss, Rim 2003, vilsety in 2004, and finally, in 2006 there were forks.

Based on the latest materials, methods of processing metals and modern equipment DT Swiss has established manufacturing facilities around the world: USA, Colorado, the city Grand Junction, DT Asia, and Taiwan, DT and DT in France, in Poland - where the main power for the assembly of the wheels. Though still designing, testing and development of products located in Biel.

The company owns a huge number of product lines, preparing equipment for the city, mountain and road bikes, the management of a company is a difficult task. The company has many branches that have a warranty and service products DT Swiss. To become better acquainted with the work of DT Swiss, we begin our journey with the beginning of the production process.

Aluminium profiles are supplied with a German factory to lengths of 6 meters long, then they will be stranded in a perfect circle and cut into three parts. Further, each of these parts is shortened to the exact size of the rim, hand-set spacer connecting the profile of the circle and sent to the welding is done automatically.

Another machine polishes weld passes and perfectly smooth rims, billet etc. for conveyer.

Before drilling holes for the spokes of each rim is controlled manually on the strength and integrity. After drilling the rim ready to spray marking labels.

Huge coils of Swedish and Italian wire lined up on trays. With a weight of 800 kg each of her get a lot of spokes DT Swiss. Spinning reel feeds the giant machine that cuts the wire at a very precise pieces, creates a thread and needle forms the head. For battirovannyh spokes provides another procedure. They pass through many small hammers that are moving along the length of the spokes forming its profile. Each machine can produce one conventional needle in one second, or one battirovanuyu spoke for ten seconds - this is a complex process.

In the shops producing spokes nipples are almost the same rolls of bronze wire. Machine cut them into shapes, form part of the mushroom, causing the threads and the face.

Finishing Touches - DT Swiss packaging products

Upstairs, away from the bustling shops, located in an oasis of calm on the assembly line of sleeves and packaging plant. Boxes of collected cartridges are waiting for final packaging and dispatch to customers. Here we found a bush Bontrager Aeolus, these hubs are equipped with bike Lance Armstrong. Quick and nimble fingers working methods perform well spent: installation of bearings, lubrication, drawing logos and much more. The entire process takes place quietly and without fuss. Work has excellent.

Of course, our tour covers only factory producing aluminum DT Swiss wheels, because all the carbon parts to the plant comes from the Asian division of DT Swiss.

Coming out of the imposing of the plant, we have noticed that even the clothes hangers are made of on the part of porezanyh rims DT Swiss.

DT Swiss factory and headquarters in Biel, Switzerland