Cross-Center, Sweden - another year of growth
A year ago, IDN reported that well-known Swedish spoke maker, brake disc manufacturer and wheel builder Cross-Center International AB had told us that while it had seen business ups and downs in 2020, overall it had seen "strong" growth in 2020.
We here at IDN had met up with owner Torbjörn 'Tobbe' Bergh in the aisles at EICMA in November 2019 when he said that the business had been going well, and that he was optimistic. Three months later the pandemic hit and that sent most of us into a tailspin, initially at least.
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| With all electric motors getting bigger and bigger there is a big problem with normal spoke lacing. Tobbe says that to counter this problem, "we invented a new kind of lacing that we call V-lacing. It's the same thing as before but instead of spokes that cross each other they go apart from each other. With this kind of spoke lacing it's also possible to have all spokes with the heads facing outwards, and they are also easier to lace up and change a spoke if needed." |
As a premium manufacturer of MX wheel spoke sets (among other off-road products), a business like Cross-Center is a 'bellwether' for what is going on in the international off-road market.
It was good to hear from him again then at the end of 2020 and to hear him report that "while there have been downs as well as ups in 2020, overall, it has been a good year for us."
He said that while it had been "another difficult year for motocross and enduro racing, growth in spoke sales has kept us busy. We have increased the production of spoke sets and are now up to over 620 different sets for over 2,600 bikes. So, overall, our sales actually increased in 2020 by around +15%."
A year later, in February 2022, we were pleased to hear from 'Tobbe' again and he told us that "2021 has again been very good for us. It is only a year ago that we passed the landmark of having 600 different specifications of spoke sets available, but already, just 12 months later, the end of 2021 saw us pass 700 sets, and as at February, we are already at over 720."
Now that isn't over 700 individual bikes covered - that number has doubled in just 12 months and now sits at over 5,000 individual models. Neither does the number mean over 700 sets of actual spokes on the shelves, in inventory and ready to ship. No, that number is in the many thousands.
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| One of the many new spoke sets available, for 19" rear wheel of Yamaha YZ 250F and YZ 450F 2022 models. |
This is the number of individual spoke set 'designs' (specifications, configurations) for which Cross- Center has tooled. It means that at any time, Tobbe's business can switch on production of any one of the 720 plus sets if it is needed - that is why his business is a 'bellwether'.
If people are building new wheels and rebuilding used wheels for a new lease of life, then that tells us that there is MX and broader off-road hard parts and accessory growth and that the miles are being ridden - or that races are being run.
"It has been another good year for us. Despite some storm damage at the start of the year, we are working flat out to meet demand from all around the world.
"While the racing market is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic and some of the longer- term issues it already had before Covid, it is coming back now. The amateur race market is coming back strongly and the recreational and leisure off-road and Enduro sectors are really strong.
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| Ready to pack 21" front spokes for Honda CR/CRF 1995 and up Motocross and Enduro models . |
"Our special order business also continues to grow. We have been sand-blasting and powder-coating for some years now and in recent years we bought an additional tyre mounting machine, balancing machines and new rust removal, zinc plating (including yellow zinc for the old 70s look spoke nipples) and nickel plating equipment - so we can offer a complete job.
"We expect to see more growth in 2022, and while it is impossible to know exactly and for sure, I would think that our range must be one of the largest in the world with coverage going back decades and running from the vintage MX scene right through to the 2022 models already. If what someone wants is not 'on-the-shelf', our lead times are definitely among the best in the world - we can be very responsive, and that is important in the wheels business." www.cross-center.com
