Pumping it up SKS-Germany

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

For 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. 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

were rolling off the production line in the fully-automated Sundern plant every day.

With the development of the first quickrelease dirtboard-sets for mountain bikes (Shockboard and X-Tra Dry) in 1999, SKS then became a pioneer and market leader in this fast growing segment for accessories.

By the turn of the millennium, however, the shift from volume pump supply to high-end after- sales products with a new brand positioning had been completed. With this strategic reorientation of the company, SKS Germany became a sponsor and supplier to successful athletes and professional teams and innovative suspension pumps were introduced in response to new technological concepts, such as the suspension systems in MTB sports.

New, extremely rugged, compact MTB pumps, which became the market standard in function and design, made SKS Germany the favourite among mountain bikers. In fact, six times in a row, the readers of Mountain Bike magazine voted SKS Germany as the best brand in the air pump category.

In 2003, the production of compact bike tools was introduced as an additional product division for the aftermarket and then, in 2006, highly innovative chain guards.

Award-winning

The introduction of ground-breaking new products has always been key to SKS Germany’s success, said Mr Beste. “We have recently introduced a new mini pump for which we were awarded the iF Design Award 2011. SKS was given the award for its Diago mini pump. The pump was able to win over the panel of judges with its design, a combination of polished aluminium and shiny plastic.”

The streamlined mini pump combines design and function. The use of high quality materials gives it a classy look. The handle lock ensures the pump fits securely in the frame mount. This highperformance pump reaches 10bar/144psi and was designed to be the perfect companion for road bike enthusiasts.

Potential for growth

SKS-Germany sees its products used all over the world but its main customer base is in Europe. The group has a subsidiary in the US and Russia is a growing market.

“We are also starting production in China,” said Mr Beste. “Production there will be for the Chinese market.”

He continued: “We are planning to invest in injection moulding machines and measurement machines. This will be completed later in 2012 at a cost of €4 million.”

SKS metaplast, together with Blomus GmbH and Schött Druckguss GmbH, currently employs 750 people and sees an annual turnover of €90 million. Mr Beste said it was looking for growth of about 10 to 15 per cent year on year.

“We do believe there is potential for growth through high technology and automation,” he said. “We want to grow at a steady rate.” n