FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY
In the Portuguese Bike Valley, a Cutting-Edge Coating Plant Brings Automotive Technology and Quality to the Service of the Bicycle Industry Barbara Pennati ipcm®
B
ikes are one of the most widespread
that has brought together different firms
For its cutting-edge project, it chose
means of transport in the world. Their
specialising in the production of cycles and
Solintellysys (Águeda, Portugal), specialising
history dates back to three centuries
motorcycles for over ninety years. This is in fact
in the design and production of surface
ago: people have been using them for their
a joint venture among three bicycle component
treatment and coating plants (Fig. 1), as its
daily activities since 1818, when the first 13
manufacturers: Rodi, Miranda, and Ciclo-Fapril.
technological partner. © ipcm ®
kilometres were travelled by the world of sport and
Extreme process flexibility
by many movies and now a
The production area
part of the national identity
of Triangle’s covers
of several countries,
about 20,000 m²,
bikes are a symbol of
where fully automated
freedom, simplicity, and
hydroforming,
slow rhythms, as well as
robotic welding, heat
the response adopted by
treatment, superficial
many nations to address
preparation, coating,
on two wheels. Celebrated
environmental issues. Artisanship has been central to the long and peculiar history of this means of transport, but
and decal processes
1
are performed on
Figure 1: A bird’s eye view of the paint application station of the brand new system installed by Solintellysys.
nonetheless it has gone
aluminium frames for high-end bicycles. For this project, Solintellysys designed
hand in hand with the technological evolution
a complete surface treatment line, including
that has always distinguished it. Triangle’s –
the T6 heat treatment furnaces – this is a
Cycling Equipments SA has embraced these values by combining tradition and innovation: indeed, it has recently inaugurated the first completely automated system in the world for the production of aluminium bicycle frames (ref. Opening photo). The company was established in 2015 in Águeda (Portugal), in the renowned Bike Valley – an industrial area
Triangle’s – Cycling Equipments SA has recently inaugurated the first completely automated system in the world for the production of aluminium bicycle frames by combining tradition and innovation.”
fundamental phase in the frame hardening process, i.e. the last production phase before surface preparation prior to finishing (Fig. 2). One of the most technologically advanced aspects of the project was the integration of all the coating and decoration phases into a clean room, which allows to completely insulate the process from
Opening photo: Cycling Equipments SA produces aluminium frames for high-end bicycles.
international PAINT&COATING magazine - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 - N. 54
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