- SRAM Corporation
Infobox_Company
company_name = SRAM, Corp.
company_
company_type = Private
company_slogan = Beyond performance
foundation = 1987
location = USA
key_people = Stanley R. Day Jr. (CEO)
industry =cycling components
products = Bicycle and Related Components
revenue = undisclosed
homepage = [http://www.sram.com/ www.sram.com]SRAM Corporation is a privately held
bicycle component manufacturer based inChicago, Illinois , founded in 1987. [ [http://www.sram.com/en/about/history.php About SRAM ] ] The correct pronunciation of SRAM is "SRAM". [ [http://www.sram.com/en/service/sram/faq.php?faqID=d3d9446802a44259755d38e6d163e820 SRAM | Service | SRAM FAQs ] ] SRAM is an acronym comprising the names of its founders, Scott, Ray, and Sam, (where Ray is the middle name of company head Stan Day).http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20000727/ai_n13875164]Company Beginnings
As a start-up company, SRAM introduced the Grip Shift (or
twist shift ) gear-change method and technology to themountain bike market in 1988.In 1990 the company sued
Shimano for unfair business practices, noting that Shimano offered, in effect, a 15-percent discount to bicycle manufacturers specifying an all-Shimano drivetrain and that few companies in the highly-competitive industry would be willing to forego such a discount to specify Grip Shift components. SRAM received an unspecified out-of-court settlement from Shimano in 1991. More importantly, it won the right to compete in the lucrative OEM bicycle components arena.The years after the Shimano settlement were marked by dramatic growth for the company, as it increased sales organically and added other companies to its portfolio. SRAM now incorporates the former bicycle division of Fichtel and Sachs, Sachs-Huret, and recently acquired component makers RockShox, Avid,
Truvativ ,ZF Sachs andZipp (see below).Results in professional cycling
In the 2008
Giro d'Italia ,Alberto Contador rode SRAM to its first Grand Tour victory. [ [http://www.sram.com/en/newsandevents/racingnews.php?newsID=7eacb532570ff6858afd2723755ff790 SRAM | News and Events | News ] ]Products
SRAM pioneered what it has dubbed a "1:1 actuation ratio" for bicycle shifting, meaning that for any distance a cable is pulled by the shifter, an equal amount of lateral distance is covered by the derailleur. This approximate doubling of the shifter cable travel reduced its sensitivity to dirt contaminating the system, a significant issue in mountain biking.
In their road componentry, SRAM introduced "Exact Actuation" technology, similar in some ways to the 1:1 system. A distinctive feature of SRAM's road system is the DoubleTap lever. The unique aspect of this shifter is the use of a single lever for both upshifting and downshifting, rather than two as both Shimano and Campagnolo shifters require.
SRAM
bicycle chain s are widely used by cyclists, even those not using any other SRAM componentry on their machine. SRAM chains are often called "Sedis" or "Sedisport", which was the original name given to the bushingless design of Sachs-Huret. These chains have greater flexibility than traditional chains with full-widthbushing s and are very suitable for the operation of modernderailleur gear systems. SRAM more recently introduced the "Powerlink", a tool-free master link for derailleur gear chains.Brands
In recent years SRAM has purchased a number of companies to allow it to offer a full component group. These brands are as follows:
RockShox
RockShox, purchased on February 19, 2002, was one of the first companies to introduce a suspension fork for consumer use. Marketing and sales departments were relocated to Chicago, while product development remained in
Colorado Springs . A SRAM factory inTaichung ,Taiwan was converted to RockShox production after the RockShox acquisition.Avid
On March 1, 2004 SRAM purchased Avid, a well-known designer and manufacturer of bicycle brake systems and components including
hydraulic and mechanicaldisc brake s for mountain bikes, mechanical disc brakes for road and cyclocross bikes, rim brakes for mountain and cyclocross bikes, brake levers for mountain bike rim brakes and mountain bike mechanical disc brakes, brake cables, and brake maintenance products. Because SRAM recently added road bike rim brakes and brake levers to its product line, they now offer brakes and levers for all types of road, mountain and cyclocross bicycles.As with RockShox, Avid's product development continued in Colorado Springs while marketing and sales divisions were moved to Chicago.
Truvativ
SRAM purchased Truvativ in 2005, providing SRAM with a line of cranks,
bottom bracket s, handlebars, stems, pedals,seatpost s and chain retention systems. This allowed SRAM to offer a complete drivetrain.ZF Sachs
SRAM purchased
ZF Sachs ’sHub gear production.Zipp
On November 6th 2007 SRAM acquired Zipp Speed Weaponry, a company designing and manufacturing high-end carbon wheelsets for use on road-racers, as well as other components such as cranks, handlebars and disc wheels. [ [http://www.sram.com/en/newsandevents/racingnews.php?newsID=d709f38ef758b5066ef31b18039b8ce5 SRAM | News and Events | News ] ]
Financials
* Sales 1987 $0 million
* Sales 1994 $25 million
* Sales 1995 $40 million
* Sales 1999 $120 million
* Sales 2003 $150 million [ [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/SRAM-Corporation-Company-History.html SRAM Corporation - Company History ] ]
* Sales 2004 $160 million (estimate) [ [http://www.chicagoaa.com/features/sramMay04.html Chicago Athlete - Feature Article ] ]
* Sales 2006 >$200 million [ [http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=BUY_PRODUCT_STANDARD&PRODUCT.ID=3351&CATEGORY.ID=36&MODE=&TFC=TRUE 2008 SRAM Force DoubleTap Shift Levers - Competitive Cyclist ] ]
* Sales FY 2007 $318 million [ [http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/feb2008/sb20080229_583446.htm SRAM: A Bike Parts Tour de Force] ]References
External links
* [http://www.sram.com/ SRAM website]
* [http://www.willyoumaketheleap.com/ SRAM Road bike website]
* [http://www.sram-imotion.com/ SRAM Performance Comfort website]
* [http://www.avidbike.com/ Avid website]
* [http://www.truvativ.com/ Truvativ website]
* [http://www.rockshox.com/ Rock Shox website]
* [http://www.zipp.com/ Zipp Speed Weaponry website]
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