Gleam partners with Technologies Added to build Cargo eBikes in Smart Factory

29 November 2019

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Mario Eibl, Gleam founder: “Technologies Added feels like your own factory, but is organised as a shared facility.”

Gleam is an Austrian company that has opted to have its Cargo eBikes manufactured by Technologies Added in Emmen, the Netherlands. Gleam’s eBikes are intended for urban freight transport. They expect to produce several thousand eBikes annually. The distribution of the eBikes will also be handled from Emmen. The arrangement with Gleam reinforces Technologies Added’s position as a contract manufacturer for sustainable mobility solutions.

Contender

Experts see Gleam eBikes as a premium brand, and a likely contender for a significant share of the rapidly growing urban logistics market for eBikes. The bicycles take full advantage of modern technology, with features including a clever tilt mechanism for easy manoeuvring through crowded city streets and the latest generation of electric drive. The design focuses strongly on safety and the use of new materials.

The Netherlands as Pilot Market

Mario Eibl is Gleam’s founder and CEO. After conducting thorough investigations, he decided to have his eBikes made in the Netherlands. “The Netherlands is a country of cyclists, and consumers there welcome new concepts.” Eibl also feels the Netherlands leads the way in strict environmental legislation, benefitting manufacturers of sustainable alternatives. Besides, Mario fell hard for the concept behind Technologies Added: “China isn’t our thing, nor do we want to invest in our own factory. The solution that Technologies Added dreamed up, sharing a factory with other companies, is perfect for us.” The high level of digitisation at Technologies Added and Emmen’s central European location influenced Gleam’s decision as well.

New Generation of Entrepreneurs

With the addition of Gleam, Rob Goossens, CEO of Technologies Added, has managed to attract yet another promising sustainable mobility provider. Just before the summer, it was announced that Etergor would be manufacturing its Appscooter in Emmen as well. Rob Goossens sees Gleam as a prime example of a new generation of entrepreneurs active in the emerging sustainable product market. “Gleam really practices networking in the modern style. Gleam itself is located in Vienna, the design is Italian, marketing is handled by a specialist agency in Austria and now, the manufacturing has come to Emmen. Modern companies like Gleam increasingly operate within a network. As a shared Smart Factory, Technologies Added fits this model very well.”

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