Kalkhoff

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kalkhoff Bikes
Derby Cycle Werke GmbH

logo
legal form Company with limited liability
founding 1919
Seat Cloppenburg , Germany
management
  • Jan Cornelis van der Heiden
  • Alexander Wünsch
  • Wolfgang Wildemann
Branch Bicycle manufacturer
Website www.kalkhoff-bikes.com

Kalkhoff Bikes is a German bicycle manufacturer based in Cloppenburg , which was founded in 1919 by Heinrich Kalkhoff (* 30.11.1903 - † 1972). Today Kalkhoff belongs to Derby Cycle .

Kalkhoff bicycle from the old days

One focus of Kalkhoff production has been the development of e-bikes since the 2010s .

history

Kalkhoff touring bikes

In 1919 Kalkhoff began trading bicycle parts in his parents' house in Cloppenburg , and second-hand bicycles were added a year later. In 1923 the first own bicycle frames were manufactured.

In 1927 the first complete bicycle left the production facility. Nine years later, Kalkhoff was already a global company. By then, around 40 employees had produced around 250,000 bicycles. By 1939, over 700,000 frames for bicycles were made. The Second World War then forced the company to switch to the production of armaments . After the end of the war, Kalkhoff initially only produced non-bicycle industrial goods such as B. such as trailers , steam boilers , kitchen stoves, honey extractors and feed steamers.

It was not until 1953 that the focus was on bicycle production again, with daily production reaching 5,000 frames. Mopeds and mopeds were also built. Bicycles were produced for leisure and everyday use. In 1955 a branch was established in Volkmarsen for export to Africa and overseas.

At times 1200 people were employed. As a result of increasing demand, another plant and a new dispatch warehouse were opened in Cloppenburg in 1970. Two years later, the five millionth wheel left the Kalkhoff works. In 1968 Heinrich Kalkhoff withdrew from the company and handed over the management to his 3 of 10 children, Berthold (1931 - 2019), Karl and Heinz. In 1972 Heinrich Kalkhoff died.

1979 Kalkhoff lost Quelle , one of the biggest customers, because of bad test results of the wheel "Mars Junior".

In 1980 the first lightweight construction bike (approx. 10 kg) "Futura" was presented with a frame made of thermoplastic .

Increased competition from abroad and the sale of bicycles to wholesalers below production value caused a slump that led to bankruptcy on November 15, 1985 or 1986. A regional group of investors bought the company and ran it as "Neue Kalkhoff-Werke". These also filed for bankruptcy in 1988.

In 1988 Kalkhoff became part of the international Derby Group with the establishment of Derby Cycle Werke .

In 2007 Kalkhoff started its e-bike production. In 2011, the Impulse drive system was launched and the company entered the stock market. A year later Derby Cycle was taken over by the Dutch Pon Holding .

A brand relaunch was carried out in 2015 and Kalkhoff consolidated its position as one of the leading e-bike providers in Europe. The comprehensive modernization of the appearance went hand in hand with the introduction of the Kalkhoff Integrale as the first mass-produced e-bike with a mid-engine and fully integrated battery. This was presented in early 2015.

For the 100th anniversary of the brand in 2019, Kalkhoff changed the claim from "My Bike" to "Pure Freedom" as part of the modernization. Production is currently at a standstill.

Over the years, Kalkhoff has relied on various motor manufacturers, including Bosch, Shimano, Continental, Groove and Panasonic.

Current model series

Kalkhoff Agattu I7R HS (2014 model)

E bike

City

  • Agattu
  • image

Trekking

  • End Echo
  • Entice
Impulse 2.0 motor with 603 Wh battery

Urban

  • Berleen

bicycle

City

  • Agattu

Trekking

  • End Echo
  • Entice

Impulse motor

In 2011, Kalkhoff launched its own mid-engine called Impulse . This was the first mid-engine that allowed a coaster brake to be installed. Two years later, the improved Impulse 2.0 was presented at the Eurobike and installed from the 2014 season. Improvements are, for example, improved switching and braking behavior. The Impulse 2.0 has 70 Nm. The associated batteries have a capacity of 396 Wh or 603 Wh.

In 2014 the first Speed ​​Impulse for S-Pedelacs (e-bikes up to 45 km / h) was installed.

Impulse EVO motor

The last further development so far is the Impulse EVO. This is 20% quieter than the Impulse 2.0. With a torque of 80 Nm, the Impulse EVO is still one of the most powerful motors. EVO models also have a built-in navigation system that can be operated via an app.

E-bikes with Impulse motors have an I in their name (e.g. Agattu i8 or 4.I Move)

In 2019 the Impulse series was discontinued "because market requirements have changed". The motors will continue to be supported until 2026. Motors from Continental were installed as replacements, but these were also discontinued by Continental at the beginning of 2020. Half a million bikes are currently equipped with pulse motors in Germany.

Currently (as of April 2020) mid-motors from Bosch and Shimano as well as rear-wheel motors from Groove are installed.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.kalkhoff-bikes.com/ Retrieved on July 9, 2017
  2. ↑ admin: From Cloppenburg on the streets of the world. In: roland. June 5, 2019, accessed on May 12, 2020 (German).
  3. ^ A b Jo Beckendorff: Deceased: Berthold Kalkhoff - the industry is in mourning. November 6, 2019, accessed May 12, 2020 .
  4. ↑ GOOD TEST: Third Force - DER SPIEGEL 52/1979. Retrieved May 13, 2020 .
  5. ↑ Lightly on the pedal - DER SPIEGEL 47/1980. Retrieved May 13, 2020 .
  6. ↑ COMPETITIONS: shameful result - DER SPIEGEL 50/1985. Retrieved May 12, 2020 .
  7. ↑ -looking field: A tired Mark for bankrupt bicycle company . In: The daily newspaper: taz . August 31, 1988, ISSN  0931-9085 , p. 8 ( taz.de [accessed on May 12, 2020]).
  8. ↑ … bikes go public . In: The daily newspaper: taz . February 4, 2011, ISSN  0931-9085 , p. 22 ( taz.de [accessed on May 12, 2020]).
  9. ^ Nordwest-Zeitung: Cloppenburg: Dutch start taking over Derby Cycle. Retrieved May 12, 2020 .
  10. ↑ E-bike brands: The most important manufacturers from AZ. Retrieved May 12, 2020 .
  11. ↑ 2016 Kalkhoff E-Bike Integrale + Include series. In: E-Bike Blog. April 25, 2015, accessed on May 12, 2020 (German).
  12. ^ NDR: Cloppenburg: Derby Cycle stops production. Retrieved April 4, 2020 .
  13. ↑ Impulse motors at a glance. Retrieved April 7, 2020 .
  14. ↑ Krist Assekuranzmakler GmbH & Co KG, D.-84347 Pfarrkirchen: Impulse Motor will be discontinued - Impulse Drive will no longer be continued from 2020. Accessed April 4, 2020 (German).
  15. ↑ Continental gives up business with e-bike drives. November 16, 2019, accessed April 4, 2020 (German).

Web links