Author Topic: Advice on UK BMX companies / bespoke part manufacturing available here.... (Read 729 times)

mark 2 · « **on:** October 07, 2008, 08:30 PM »

A friend of mine is an experianced engineer / miller / metal turner and recently left his employer and set up with another collegue on their own. I could do with a better description off him really of their work so you know the kind of thing that they specialise in. Anyway , he's also got a past in bmx so he understands the needs of a rider. So he's looking for new clients in general but was seeking advice on current UK based manufacturers, to make an introduction and potentially offer their manufacturing and engineering services. I said about Proper but I know very little about modern bmx, was wondering if you guys could recommend any companies. He also mentioned to me about one-off bespoke parts ( that are made by being turned, milled or thread tapping etc) if any of you lot had an idea for something or needs something replacing that's no longer available. His names Chris Pepper and sound as a pound, contact details are here if you wanted to run anything past him..... http://www.rubitec.co.uk/

Here's a list of their facilties and machine spec too if this kinda thing means anything to you....looks impressive in the flesh whatever it is, it's like David Banners laboratory in the Hulk

Machine List

Hyundai Hi T8 S CNC lathe

Spindle Bore – 42mm / 1.625”
Max Swing Dia. - 300mm / 12”
Max Turn Dia. - 285mm / 11.2”
Distance Between Centres – 300mm / 12”

XYZ Proturn 350 NC lathe

Spindle Bore – 52mm / 2”
Max Swing Dia. - 360mm / 14”
Max Swing Dia. over Saddle – 225mm/ 8.75”
Distance Between Centres – 1000mm / 39”

XYZ 1500 NC milling machine

Table Size – 1066mm * 228mm / 42” * 9”
X Travel – 660mm / 26”
Y Travel – 330mm / 13”
Z Travel – 406 / 16”

Elliot 618 precision toolroom grinder

Magnetic Chuck size – 250mm * 125mm / 10” * 5”
X Travel – 455mm / 18”
Y Travel – 165mm / 6.5”
Z Travel – 250mm / 10”

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE..........
Fast Tap tapping machine

Clutched tapping machine for tapping holes from M2 – M12.

Two manual centre lathes due to be at our unit and up and running by Fri 10th October 2008:-

Harrison M400 Gap Bed Lathe

Spindle Bore - 65mm/ 2.5”
Max Swing over Bed – 420mm/ 16.5”
Max Swing over cross slide – 254mm/ 10”
Distance between centres – 1524mm / 60”

Colchester Master 2500

635mm/ 25” between centres

toys19 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2008, 08:35 PM »

This is all good kit! I dunno how economical it is to build bmx's in the uk... Which is a bloody shame.

QUADROPHENIA · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2008, 08:54 PM »

where the fook is hull, is it a small island off our shores ?

SaMAlex · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2008, 09:05 PM »

Quote from: mark j. on October 07, 2008, 08:30 PM

I know very little about modern bmx,

Most modern BMXs are made in the far east. They turn up at your (the bike co.) door painted and stickered and boxed, and ready to send out to the shops. To get a frame made in the far east* costs about the same as you would spend painting, stickering and boxing a frame you had made in the UK, even before you pay to get it made in the UK. And whats worse, some of them are very good too!

Im not saying there isnt a market for custom UK made frames but I wouldnt think it would be big

*OK, maybe they aint that cheap, and you have to make a few of them at one time, but it aint far off!

toys19 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2008, 09:18 PM »

I'm pretty much in agreement with Alex, although I do know of some very slick UK manufacturers who can compete with the far east (not in the bmx field) the problem with mateys kit below is not all of it is specific to making bikes. I have thought about setting up a uk bike factory, small and sweet like curtis, the economics are tight, but you need to just have the basic kit and be very clever with how you make and source stuff, and only have the space and kit for exactly what you need to do the job, and no more, otherwise the extra overheads just eat you. The days of the jobbing workshop ready for anything are gone I reckon..

mark 2 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2008, 09:41 PM »

I understand that most frame manufacturing is done to a very high standard in Thailand now, and the shit reputation of the past is gone and moved on to other countries. The sort of thing I'm on about are parts that are turned on a lathe or milled. Not tube or welding related items like frames, forks and bars.

toys19 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2008, 10:01 PM »

Doh, I should have seen that. Anyway I'm just chewing the fat, I'm not a bmx or bmx component manufacturer so dont listen to me, there's plenty of peeps on here with a proper vested interest...