On the 30th of January 2017, Shimano Europe opened its new headquarters in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. This multinational producer of cycling components is one of the ECF Cycling Industry Club members, therefore, ECF Development Director Kevin Mayne was invited to attend the landmark ceremony.

Together with cycling industry leaders from all over the world he witnessed an opening ceremony that combined European business messages with Japanese tradition, culminated in the breaking of a sake barrel.

‘This symbolic moment isn’t just an occasion for the cycling industry but we can see that it sends an important message for all of us in Europe’ cycling community – commented Kevin Mayne.

‘First of all, it means that pioneers of world cycling industry still see a great potential in the European cycling market, and continue to invest into the European cycling economy. That is a message we need to keep sending to politicians at all levels, this is an industry that is creating investment.

Secondly we should look at the decision behind the relocation, the need for highly developed technology and qualified work force. This shows us where a major force in our sector sees the future. They have an innovative outlook towards the future – investing more into the new forms of mobility’.

Shimano’s new European headquarters are going to be five times bigger than the previous ones in Nunspeet . And the location chosen for it is not accidental – it is built in the High Tech Campus of Eindhoven, the heart of the most innovative nanotechnologies in Europe, a place where the brightest researchers, developers, and the most innovative entrepreneurs give life to new smart products and electronic components. In the following years Shimano, one of the greatest Japanese companies in the cycling industry, is also planning to open its Experience Centre here. It all signals Shimano’s appreciation for the highly qualified European working force, entrepreneurial spirit, conditions created for cycling industry, and the growing potential in cycling market. 

What is more, there is something what many growing companies could learn from this Japanese organisation – the new building which houses Shimano Europe’s product coordination, sales, marketing, quality control, finance, legal, IT and other departments, is also environmentally friendly, using all currently existing technologies that can be used in modern sustainable buildings (such as roof top solar panels, water recycling, etc.). This is also a strategy that Shimano applies for its production and is something that Europe still has to keep in mind when looking at the future of cycling in particular, and mobility in general: we must offer new designs, look for innovative high-tech solutions, use fusion of the best existing technology, and explore new forms of mobility.

Kanpai!