VP Components is an absolute heavyweight in the global bicycle industry and the list of original equipment customers is long: Trek, Specialized, KTM, Giant, Merida and Mavic are just a few of the illustrious names on the OEM customer list. The company was founded in 1980 and today VP claims to cover 70% of the OEM pedal market in Europe.

VP's core competence is the forging, casting and CNC machining of metal parts. The manufacturer is primarily known for pedals, but also builds headset bearings and bottom brackets. VP buys almost no semi-finished products, so pedals are milled from raw aluminum blocks, axles are forged and pedal bodies are cast. VP also works with plastics, so raw materials and machinery are available to produce pedals using the injection molding process.

In addition to the VP Componentens brand, the Taiwanese also serve the bicycle market with the Modus brand, which includes hubs and wheels. Hub production is almost 100% automated, while the wheels are manufactured in factories in China.

The machine park of VP in Taiwan in Taichung is impressive: the manufacturer has a total of 600 CNC machines at its headquarters and in the factories in China (Shenzen, Taicang and Tianjiin), which are in operation almost around the clock. The annual output of pedals is around 20 million.

For Victor Lin, CEO of VP Components, the focus is increasingly shifting to the domestic market in addition to the global markets. It is Lin's mission to get the local population and his employees excited about cycling. And the VP CEO also provides infrastructure for the passion of cycling: Next to the factory buildings are a proper BMX park and pump track, and indoors there is a stately ramp area for BMX riders.

The BMX park is one of the few in Taiwan and VP sponsors bike camps with overnight accommodation to introduce young people to the sport of BMX. VP also organizes weekly bike lessons, where even the youngest children are taught the fascination of biking.

www.vpcomponents.com