Re: Folding bike train commuter?
Posted: 16 Oct 2020, 4:41pm
It's not that long since they moved into a nice new factory, which I bet is running at capacity right now! It's not clear how long the current peak in demand might last, but in the current state of economic uncertainty I doubt they have any plans to expand just now.
Even if they did, Brompton frames are brazed without lugs, a process that isn't commonly used in cycle manufacture. They train their own operatives in house but I believe it takes years to achieve full competence. The bikes themselves include an awful lot of components which are peculiar to Bromptons so even if they could increase frame production they could still have supply chain problems.
It's as if they have reached the small manufacturers equivalent of the "Glass Cieling" Extremely difficult to progress further without help, probably of a sort you don't really want.
Even if they did, Brompton frames are brazed without lugs, a process that isn't commonly used in cycle manufacture. They train their own operatives in house but I believe it takes years to achieve full competence. The bikes themselves include an awful lot of components which are peculiar to Bromptons so even if they could increase frame production they could still have supply chain problems.
It's as if they have reached the small manufacturers equivalent of the "Glass Cieling" Extremely difficult to progress further without help, probably of a sort you don't really want.