Time Bicycles is synonymous with fast and stylish. They’ve also been historically European-made, but soon, that’s changing.
On Thursday the bike brand announced that they recently acquired a 140,000 square-foot factory in Landrum, South Carolina, and will begin manufacturing their carbon fiber bikes there by 2024.
Big Plans for a Little Town
Time’s production will be the largest carbon fiber bicycle manufacturing facility in the U.S., and it will be a big change for such a small town.
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Landrum, population 2,540, sits just south of the state line, and 30 miles north of Spartanburg, home of BMW’s U.S. manufacturing plant.
According to Bicycle Retailer, Time CEO Tony Karklins said, “We expect this will lead to other projects, and potentially big projects, so we're putting it in an environment where it can grow rapidly.”
South Carolina Department of Commerce reports that renovations will begin as early as April, and the $6.5 million investment will bring 105 jobs to the area. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said in a statement, “It's always exciting when a renowned company such as Time Bicycles decides to invest in our state.”
Jon Castro, a local member of the Landrum cycling community, told Bicycling that Time made a wise choice. “I live about a mile from [where the Time factory will be]. We’re in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, so excellent bike riding here—road, gravel, and mountain biking.” Castro also told us that there’s a sophisticated manufacturing labor force in the area, and that Time would fit right in.
Founded on Technology
Time Bicycles was born in 1987, and they’ve always been dedicated to precision and peak technology. Their carbon fiber technology utilizes two processes, Braided Carbon Structure and Resin Transfer Molding. The technology allows for both strong and light frames. It’s rare to find such technology used in a bike brand—it’s found more often in aerospace and elite motorsport industries.
Time chose the South Carolina location because of its reputation as a technology driven area. Bicycle Retailer reports, Time will work with Krauss Maffei—a BMW machinery and tech vendor—and S.C. Fraunhofer.
“The three of us are entering into some pretty interesting collaborations on how to advance and further introduce resin transfer molding into the bike industry,” Karklins told Bicycling. “There is so much aerospace and automotive high-tech manufacturing going on in that state that it's amazing.”
“We chose upstate South Carolina because of the technology that already exists there,” Karklins continued. “Clemson University's research in resin transfer molding, and aerospace technology in the same area. There's an infrastructure in place for exactly what Time Bicycles does in Europe.” Karklins added, “Besides also being a wonderful cycling culture, and a very good business economy.”
