Home > Other Fun Stuff > Advocacy & Industry News

TIME Bicycles Announces US’ Largest Carbon Fiber Bike Factory in South Carolina

collage of the south carolina flag, time bicycle, and time logoPhoto c. TIME Bicycles
13 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

If you’re interested in a U.S.-based job or career creating carbon fiber bikes, you might want to make your way to Spartanburg County, S.C.

That’s where high-end bike company TIME plans to open its second carbon manufacturing facility, it announced this week.

To land the project, TIME acquired a 140,000-square-foot factory in Landrum, S.C. The $6.5 million investment will create 105 jobs and build the “nation’s largest carbon fiber bicycle factory,” TIME said in a press release.

Landrum is a stopover on the Saluda Grade Trail, a newly-envisioned 31-mile linkup between the Carolinas along an old rail route.

“With the strong cycling culture in the Upstate of South Carolina, the proximity to the mountains and now the Saluda Grade Trail, this area is a cycling paradise,” TIME CEO Tony Karklins said.

It’s yet another venture by Karklins to locate the manufacturing and operations of a cycling brand in the American southeast. He previously brought Spanish bike manufacturer Orbea to Little Rock, Ark., and founded Allied Cycleworks, now based in Rogers, Ark.

“The scale and location of this new facility unlocks partnership opportunities across the bicycle industry; we see this project as a key building block for the growth of US bicycle manufacturing, assembly, and distribution,” said TJ Karklins, CFO of TIME Bicycles.

2023 time alpe d'huez road bike shown in chroma red

TIME’s proprietary carbon manufacturing techniques borrow from aerospace, elite motorsports, and the automotive industry. It’s been a while since TIME bikes have shown up on the pro circuit. They most recently appeared on the defunct ProTour with Quick Step-Innergetic, Cofidis, and Bouygues Telecom.

Strategic components of its South Carolina move include aligning with Clemson University. The brand said it would work “in conjunction” with the university at the new facility, but details weren’t available as of this writing.

Meanwhile, South Carolina leaders look forward to the economic jolt the factory could bring to Spartanburg County.

“TIME is a globally known brand, and they’re bringing some serious technology to their Landrum facility. Along with the impact of the investment and jobs, this will surely put Spartanburg on the global map for cycling,” said Spartanburg County Councilman and Economic Development Committee Chairman David Britt. “Many thanks to all of our partners for helping us roll out the red carpet for TIME Bicycles.”

timebicycles.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

13 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Billyshoo
Billyshoo
11 months ago

I’m not a fan or detractor of Kitsbow; I just immediately think of their employees when I see this news and hope this might be a good opportunity for some/many of them.

Tom Wenzel
Tom Wenzel
11 months ago
Reply to  Billyshoo

I’m convinced that 99% of the bike consumers who bounce up and down and decry, “BUY AMERICAN!” at the trailhead secretly go home and buy all their stuff on Alibaba.com.

Lots of TALKING but very little WALKING, with Kitsbow as proof. Insanity–wanna know the definition?

Gary P
Gary P
11 months ago

Wow, they must really see some significant gap in the premium segment of the US market that they think they can fill. I hope it works for them.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
11 months ago
Reply to  Gary P

Shipping overseas is a small task with high end bikes with fairly low volume. I see a lot of this factory being built there to send bikes everywhere, not really just for US customers. They’re probably wanting the lower wage American workers without having manufacturing tied to expansion in China.

Roger Pedacter
Roger Pedacter
11 months ago

“Meanwhile, South Carolina leaders look forward to the economic jolt the factory could bring to Spartanburg County.”

I guess that BMW SUV plant isn’t paying the bills like it used to if a $6.5m investment gets them all hot and bothered…

vincent
vincent
11 months ago

Bought the brand, removed it from it’s roots in the French Alps, and now this. This is an empty shell, with just a name remaining, like Vitus.

pierre
pierre
11 months ago
Reply to  vincent

Well … if they keep the proprietary carbon layup, it’ll remain the finest carbon frame money can buy.

DaveJ
DaveJ
11 months ago
Reply to  pierre

Not proprietary, Festka and BMC build or have built frames the same way, but definitely superior from a durability standpoint to the way most carbon frames are produced.

Lech
Lech
3 months ago
Reply to  DaveJ

Nor Festka, and BMC, doest the same carbon technology, its is totally diffenrem, and exclusive to TIME. They just do the tubes, but not full frame in ANY material combination and quality. I won TIMe 2023 and can claim the quality of ride, frame manufactiring and feel of the bike.

velodictorian
velodictorian
3 months ago
Reply to  vincent

Ummm current TIME frames are made in Slovakia not the French Alps

Ted Pierson
Ted Pierson
11 months ago

Lol…they chose a right-to-work state.

pierre
pierre
11 months ago
Reply to  Ted Pierson

A “right to work” for less.

David Boersch
David Boersch
11 months ago

It’s about TIME I can’t wait to ride what’s in store in the future!!

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.