History of MERIDA

1972

• the company was founded on september 29th
• the founder was D.H. Ike, Tseng (currently the Chairman)
• business started on july 10th 1973 with 57 employees
• they manufactured and marketed Japanese U-type mini-bikes

1975

• expanded facilities: tested the US market with 10 speed bikes
• started manufacturing BMX bikes
• honored with “A Class Quality Control Factory”
• started manufacturing and exporting motorbikes under 49ccm
• eqipped the new Mini Bell Electro-Static Automatic Painting equipment and began computerization

1980

• added Disc Type Electro-Static Automatic Painting Equipment and Automatic Frame Pre-Treatment Equipment
• technology cooperation with TI Raleigh Bicycle Industry Co in UK. Started marketing “Raleigh” branded bicycles in Taiwan
• equipped with the micro computer system; all production processes computerized
• began operation of the Automatic Warehouse System
• exporting mountain bikes to the U.S. with a production capacity of 60.000 bikes per month

1985

• began research of alloy frame bonding technology
• manufactured scooters

1986

• established MERIDA Germany in Hamburg. Germany exported MERIDA brand bikes

1990

• registered “MERIDA” trademark in 15 countries including France, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Japan, China...
• honored by the Bureau of Commodity Inspection & Quarantine the “Excellent Quality Factory”
• began applying AUTO CAD in production design

1992

• established overseas branch in Osaka, Japan, and exported MERIDA brand bikes to the Japanese market
• developed the automatic manufacturing process for carbon fiber frames, an overall application of AUTO CAD & Macintosh Computer Graphic
• won the “Excellent Environment Protection Award” and was honored with the “Excellent Unit of Fine Labor, Hygiene and Safety”

1993

• acquired Pantech Bicycle Co. Ltd, located in Mainland China, thus increased the annual production to 1.5 million bikes
• began sales in Taiwan. Promoting environment protection and leisure activities
• co-op plans with Bridgestone Cycle (Japan) for the development of lightweight bikes and exported to Japan
• the aluminum Bond Mountain Bike, Albontech & Carbon Bond Mountain bike, Dura-Carbon, honorably won the “Symbol of Excellence Award” and the “Award of Excellent Innovative Product” (TBEA)

1994

• the aluminium lightweight bike, Classic7, honorably won the “Golden National Award of Excellence” and “It is very well made in Taiwan”, and “Award of Excellent Innovative Product” (TBEA)

1995

• zealously promotes campaign of enterprise re-engeneering, reinforced managing structure, and implement MPS scheme (MERIDA Production System) in large scale
• the one-piece carbon fiber mountain bike, Zenith, honorably won “Silver National Award of Excellence” and “Award of Excellent Innovative Product” (TBEA)
• established overseas branch in Nottingham, UK, and exported MERIDA brand bikes

1996

• research sedulously on the electric-assisted bicycle, that is environmentally friendly and produces no pollution at all
• won again “Gold National Award of Excellence”
• fulfilled the requirements of quality assurance specified as ISO 9002 and received the certifcate

1997

• electric-assisted bikes passed through several relevant standard tests and roll out for the Japanese market
• the evolutionary “FRP Fullsuspension Bike” C20 and C26 won the 5th “Symbol of Excellence Award” and C20 also won “Silver National Award of Excellence”
• the “Smart Stream” computer system was introduced into the company

1998

• started to develop lightweight magnesium frames for both road an mountain bike
• “Dominator Pro” was honored with “Gold National Award of Excellence”.
• “Matts Race SX” bike was awarded with “Symbol of Excellence”
• MERIDA Europe Office established in Stuttgart, Germany
• Pro-E, CAD/CAM system installed
• investment in magnesium notebook case production
• fullsuspension bike “Shark” was awarded with “Symbol of Excellence”.

2001

• introduced new, unique suspension concept “Low Ratio Suspension”, LRS, to the market
• “the model XC Mission Elite was awarded with the “Symbol of Excellence”