Panasonic Cycle Tech
| Panasonic Cycle Tech | |
|---|---|
| legal form | Kabushiki kaisha (joint stock company) |
| founding | April 27, 1952 |
| Seat | Kashiwara |
| management | Tetsuro Maruyama |
| Number of employees | 499 |
| sales | 28.8 billion yen (€ 223 million) |
| Branch | Cycles |
| Website | pct.panasonic.co.jp |
| As of March 31, 2015 | |
Panasonic Cycle Tech KK ( Japanese パ ナ ソ ニ ッ ク サ イ ク ル テ ッ ク 株式会社 Panasonikku Saikuru Tekku Kabushiki kaisha , English Panasonic Cycle Technology Co., Ltd. , short: PCT) is a Japanese bicycle manufacturer and subsidiary of the Panasonic group.
history
The parent company Panasonic is primarily present in the entertainment electronics market today. In the biography of company founder Konosuke Matsushita, the reason for the somewhat unusual product expansion of the company is his connection to bicycles. At the age of ten, Matsushita is said to have completed an apprenticeship with an employer who owned a bicycle shop, and whose family he also had to live with because his own family was completely impoverished.
In 1927, Matsushita manufactured bicycle lights under the National brand. On April 27, 1952, the subsidiary National Jitensha Kōgyō KK was founded, which first manufactured bicycle handlebars, but also began bicycle production in November of the same year. The tire manufacturer National Tire KK (now Panaracer ) was also founded in 1952 .
In June 1962 the company received the license to certify its frames according to the Japan Industrial Standard , which was extended to its bicycles in May 1972. From December 1986 the bicycles were sold under the brand.
In the 1980s, the company got involved in sponsoring the Dutch professional team under the same name, where Olaf Ludwig celebrated many of his many successes.
From 1987 onwards, Panasonic introduced the “Panasonic Custom Made” system, a system that was unique at the time, in which buyers could have a say in the frame geometry of their future bike. This was made possible by technical innovations such as fax and CAD systems. Wheels from the PR series (Panasonic PR-3000, 4000, 5000) still exist today. Panasonic only used pipes from Tange International . Only the BSA bottom bracket thread was used and only Shimano 105 and 600 components were used.
In July 2006 the name was changed to Panasonic Cycle Tech KK
In May 1996 an electric hybrid bike was presented and in March 2000 the Bibi e-bike series was presented. The company is also known for its Victoria e-bikes. The company continues to build all types of bikes, including a whole range of steel frame bikes with a classic look.
Sponsorship
From 1980 to 1982 there was the Panasonic-Shimano team . From 1984 to 1992 Panasonic Cycles sponsored the Dutch cycling team Panasonic with riders Olaf Ludwig , Steven Rooks , Erik Breukink and Peter Winnen . The Panasonic Cycles also gave their names to other teams: The Ride Sport Racing team was supported in 2008. The German team Panasonic-Panaracer , which was active in 1991 and 1992, and the Australian team Panasonic in 1994 , were sponsored by the company.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b 会 社 概要 . (No longer available online.) Panasonic Cycle Tech, July 2015, archived from the original on July 11, 2015 ; Retrieved September 6, 2015 (Japanese). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Biography of Konosuke Matsushita (1894–1989) at panasonic.de, July 17, 2010.
- ↑ a b c d 会 社 沿革 . (No longer available online.) In: Panasonic Cycle Tech. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015 ; Retrieved September 6, 2015 (Japanese, see English ). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ cyclyng.com
