New production expertise pushes industry forward

Formosa Taffeta, Hyena e-bike systems and Glory Wheel share a strong commitment to implementing ESG solutions in their production procedures. Formosa Taffeta for example partnered with outdoor gear brand Patagonia to start recycling fishing nets and re-use the fabric for outdoor jackets. The company has introduced this technology for the production of tyre carcasses and anti-puncture fabric. Here, three examples of companies are highlighted that are going a step further and rethinking manufacturing expertise and products along ESG lines.

Formosa Taffeta aiding bike brands reach ESG goals

The transformation to a more sustainable bicycle production and products is largely made possible thanks to technological developments of Tier-2 and Tier-3 suppliers. Formosa Taffeta is one of those companies as they produce tyre carcasses and anti-puncture fabric made of recycled fishing nets. Formosa Taffeta is a subsidiary of Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp (FCFC), one of Taiwan’s leading chemical industries. In 2022 FCFC generated a total turnover of €9.8 billion, employing more than 100,000 people.

One of three suppliers in the world

Formosa Taffeta is one of only three companies worldwide which has the technology to recycle fishing nets. “We want to help bicycle tyre brands to reach their ESG targets by offering them tyre cords made of 100% recycled fishing nets,” says Edward Lung during a factory tour in Yunlin, Taiwan. At the moment Maxxis is starting to use recycled nylon for the production of their tyres, while Formosa Taffeta is in discussions with more tyre manufacturers. But also with bicycle brands as the cord can also be used a fibre for frames. “We hope to expand our customer base with leading names like Giant, Trek and Specialized as we can help them raise the recycled material ratio of the carbon frames for example.”

Harvesting fishing nets

While the mechanical recycling process of the fishing nets is done on another location, the Yunlin facility produces the cord used to weave the carcass. This cord production is fully automized and takes place on a massive scale. This instantly raises the question for how long can Formosa Taffeta harvest used fishing net around Taiwan? According to Edward Long there is enough for many years to come. At least there is no reason yet to look for new locations to put up a harvesting project. Formosa Taffeta also tries to keep the whole recycling project local to make it as environmentally friendly as possible.

Formosa Taffeta will be exhibiting at Taipei Cycle Show, they can be found at booth number S0224, (TaiNEX 2).

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New technology leading for Hyena e-bike systems

In 2013 Hyena Inc. started e bike system development from the core motor controlling and driving technology. “Subsequently we extended our expertise to the whole system and software design,” explains Hyena founder and CEO Charlie Chuang. Since the start of the company, Hyena has built and distributed 400,000 e-bike drive systems. Today the Hyena systems can be found on e-bikes in more than 20 countries. “A key factor in our success is our senior management team of experts in the design, development, manufacturing and service of the cycling and electronic industry.”

Software as a Service

A good example of this strategy is the implementation of the concept of Software as a Service. In a cloud-based application all elements of each e-bike system are connected. We have closed the data and information circle from the component production to the e-bike manufacturer and the developer tool for tuning the system, to the bicycle dealer, and the consumer. Finally, all data comes together in a business intelligence tool in the e-bike brand service center. “We want to optimize the performance for all stakeholders in the e-bike,” explains Charlie Chuang. “Combining all data in one cloud-based systems, is the best option for that.”

Combine technology and eco solutions

“Our aim is to combine technology and eco solutions to contribute to the environment,” says Charlie Chuang. “The e-bike fits very good in that strategy.” In the past few years, Hyena has invested in improving and expanding its production capacity. This includes extending their supply chain, investing in facility equipment, optimizing equipment usage, and increasing storage space. To guarantee a consistent and smooth product delivery, they also reinforced personnel training, incorporated advanced production technology, and enhanced the production process. All these measures have enabled them to meet the rising demand and provide better products and services for their customers.

Hyena will be exhibiting at Taipei Cycle Show, they can be found at booth number S0318, (TaiNEX 2).

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Glory Wheel invests in ESG to stay competitive

Operating a production facility in Vietnam and Vietnam, plus service centers in Italy and the United States, GW (Glory Wheel) has established a firm position in the market as component manufacturer. Founder and CEO Charles Lee has planned an IPO in 2025 depending on the market conditions.

Addressing the ‘carbon risk’

The hike in bicycle sales in the early twenties boosted GW’s turnover from NT$ 570 million (€16.8 million) in 2020 to NT$ 1015 million (€30 million) in 2022. In line with the industry’s trend the correction came in 2023 when the turnover dropped to an estimated NT$ 630 million (€18.6 million). In relation to the announced IPO, CEO Charles Lee stated that investing is not a must, but investing in the future is key. “We can only talk for ourselves when it comes to financial resources to invest in ESG. But to stay competitive amid global carbon market regulations, we have acknowledged the importance of addressing the ‘carbon risk’ in our business operations and have initiated carbon reduction efforts that align with international standards.”

Dedicated budget for ESG related investments

Until 2025, GW will invest almost €1 million in new equipment to make production in Taichung more sustainable. “This budget is separate from the money allocated for the production as it doesn’t bring any revenue, but I want to take my responsibility. As an industry we waste and downgrade a lot of material. Together we must build a chain of companies to either prevent this or re-use or upgrade this material again.”

GW implemented a harvest system for the heat that comes off the CNC machinery and use it for the anodizing process. “It not only lowers our carbon emissions, but it also improves the working conditions. When the idea came up, we were surprised that nobody even thought about that concept in our industry.” Glory Wheel’s concept of harvesting heat in one production stage and re-using it in another phase, has been taken over by others.

GW will be exhibiting at Taipei Cycle Show, they can be found at booth number N1014,(TaiNEX 1).