German bicycle manufacturer URWAHN (known for its 3D-printed frames) has partnered with wheelset manufacturer Roland to launch the "Smart Bike Factory Made in Germany" initiative.
The collaboration combines URWAHN's additive manufacturing frame platforms with Roland's highly automated wheel production, aiming to strengthen regional value creation in the German bicycle industry.
The partnership extends beyond a simple supplier relationship, encompassing full-chain integration from design and engineering to testing and quality traceability. Both companies will achieve precise matching of wheelsets and frames in terms of performance, weight, and safety.
"URWAHN challenges us in the best possible way, forcing us to optimize processes, reduce setup times, enhance automation, while maintaining flexibility," said Heiko Plorin, Managing Director of Roland. "This is precisely the value of the partnership—it pushes both of us forward technologically."
URWAHN produces its SOFTRIDE steel frames using LPBF technology, a process developed in collaboration with Trumpf (now operating as Atlix). Last month, the company also introduced a new titanium frame manufactured using additive manufacturing.
"This is no longer a traditional supplier model, but an integration of the value chain," emphasized Leonard Harress, COO of URWAHN. "Roland is both a local partner and a technology partner for us. Together, we view wheelsets not as mere components, but as an integral part of a smart bike factory—where quality, automation, digitalization, and flexibility converge."
Following the demand peak brought by the pandemic, the bicycle industry has faced a sustained downturn, accelerating industry consolidation. This partnership is positioned as a long-term strategy to address market conditions.
Harress added: "Resilience in times of crisis comes from robust structures and reliable partners. Roland is exactly such a partner—we not only tackle challenges together but also jointly shape the next stage of industrialization in the bicycle sector."
He also noted that this shared infrastructure—encompassing 3D printing, engineering expertise, automated wheel manufacturing, and digitalized workflows—is not a closed system but an open platform, welcoming more companies that wish to rethink mobility, technology, and production to join the collaboration.
