PUMPING IT UP With nearly 80 years of success behind it, SKS-Germany is looking forward to a high tech future in high quality pumps. Abigail Saltmarsh reports
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or nearly 80 years now, SKS-Germany has been exciting the market with its ground-breaking solutions, delivering pumps for the bicycle market and branching out into other complementary areas. Today, says CEO Michael Beste, the company (also active in the automotive business with parts and devices made of plastic and aluminium) is focusing on ever more high tech products and production as part of its plans for expansion. “Our strategy is to go over to high tech products and production. We want to grow more in the bicycle market and high technology is therefore needed.” he said. 190 Industry Europe
A long history
SKS-Germany’s history dates back to 1921, when Karl Scheffer-Klute founded the company in Sundern, Germany. Pump production first began in 1932 and the company’s key break-through was marked by the first manufacturing of plastic pumps in 1956. Until the beginning of the 90s, mass production for the OEM market dominated the product range. In peak years, up to 50,000 pumps were delivered per day. Today, highquality mini pumps and floor pumps as well as special pumps for ambitious bikers dominate the pump portfolio.
In 1983, the company bought the traditional British brand Bluemels and an entrance into the mudguard segment was made. In 1988, large-scale production of extruded mudguards began. Later on, after taking over the ESGEproduction, these became known as Chromoplastics, a worldwide reference for mudguards.
New pumps
By the 80s and 90s, SKS had, in fact, become a market leader and volume supplier of OEM air pumps, supplying 90 countries worldwide. As many as 50,000 pumps
