Sad Day…

We are really not sure if we should be showing you this photo,  as it’s not exactly one of our finest days…

In the photo you can see a couple of hundred CNC  bottom bracket and pivot assemblies.  normally they should all be attached to shiny new Battery frames.

Despite all the care and attention that we lavished on the battery project, despite the best efforts of our suppliers and partners. Despite expensive and time consuming FEA analysis that told us to the contrary.

 

We’ve just made the very painful (and expensive) decision to reject the entire first batch of Battery frames.

Initial QC checks were looking fine, and the preproduction samples did not have any issues. But one of our policies is that we systematically send production frames for Metallurgical Analysis, and when we read their report it contained a curve ball that none of us were expecting.

You’ll understand that while we to endeavour to be very honest with you, we can’t tell you  precisely what the issue was. But the potential fault we discovered was not the design, nor a manufacturing fault. The root of the problem actually occurred elsewhere.

The key issue was discovered at a fairly microscopic level, and could/would have possibly had an impact in the longevity of the frame. The ironic thing is, we just recently passed the toughest bicycle safety standards in the world, and with flying colours!

But because words like “quality” and “reliability” really do mean something to us. Because our customers expect nothing less. Because we really do have every intention (whatever the costs) of remaining one of the most quality oriented mountain bike manufacturers. Because, just because.

Because this morning one of our Taiwanese guys have the emotional task of taking a serrated blade to every last one of the frames.

So we’re back to square one with regards to production (though luckily it was already programmed to be the second batch of frames, which is he now will become the first batch) and this means that we will have to wait a few more months for the Battery to finally arrive.