Global metals and industrials business Liberty intends to expand Shand’s manufacturing capacity at Livingston, West Lothian, while also using the engineering expertise of its Midlands vehicle technology teams to support Shand and Trillion to grow by developing new products.
Shand which was established in 2003 is an independent manufacturer fabricating hand-built custom and production bikes.
Liberty, part of the GFG Alliance, intends that Shand’s range of road and adventure touring bikes will complement Trillion’s offering of high-specification mountain bikes. Each will retain its brand identity within the newly-created Liberty Cycles division.
Bringing cycle manufacturing back to the UK has been a long-held ambition of Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman, Liberty, who began his working life selling bicycles on behalf of his father’s Indian manufacturing firm.
He said: “We’re very excited to welcome Shand into the Liberty family of companies. We recognise the skill and quality they bring to bike production and feel they will work very well with the Trillion team and engineers and designers in our vehicle technologies division at Leamington Spa.
“Liberty is developing a solid base upon which to build a significant bike manufacturing business, offering high quality and attractive machines to all parts of the market."
Project to investigate hybrid approach to titanium manufacturing
Sadly they will not be ordering any more presses from Wilkins & Mitchell http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/Darlaston/WM.htm