STEVE

Acerbis, "the plastic"

Italy

Idaho (Usa)

United Kingdom 

Czech Republic

   

It is enough to look at a bike today and concentrate on his invoice constructive to realize the importance that plastics have taken over the years. Light weight and easy to work together with strength and the ability to get more and more appealing aesthetic processes have now made this material almost indispensable to the modern motorcycles production. Hulls, tanks, hand guards, fenders, air box, are just some of the components of a motorcycle that over the years have been completely revolutionized by the advent of this material. And in the years down the road the Italian company Acerbis made it so much, thanks to its founder Franco Acerbis that from the beginning of its activities firmly believed in the evolution of this revolutionary material.
Franco Acerbis founded his company in Bergamo in 1973 while still competes in enduro racing and thanks to his experience as a rider begins to change in the garage of the house those parts of his bike that are more prone to failures for his many falls in the race. Friend's requests arrive early and Franco, always in his small garage, begins to realize his first mudguards. The first three projects are in resin, the first need for his bike, one for the Italian champion in enduro and the other one to carry in paddock in order to sell it. In 1973 then he took part in the International Six Days of Dalton in the U.S. where he had the opportunity to meet the american driver Preston Petty, a former pilot who realizes indestructible plastic products for motorcycles, products which Acerbis immediately becomes to sell in all Europe combining this activities to his personal production. The activity of Acerbis factory evolves from this point in a surprising way, because the plastic has now taken precedence over other oldest construction materials for motorcycles. His first important work he carries out for Swm initially, in 1974, with manufactures fenders, side covers and air filter box and then move the years following the production of the tanks that go to equip the new Swm equipped with Rotax engine. From this moment Acerbis begins his escalation, expands the range of its products and began to sponsor a large number of off-road riders. Among the first to use its products are Italians Alessandro Gritti, Gualtiero Brissoni and Pierluigi Rottigni riding in international competitions of enduro bring to Acerbis enormous notoriety so that the steps that the Italian company begins to make are those of a giant. In 1975 the first accessory is produced in thermoplastic material Acerbis, in 1983 in the establishment of Albino begins the process of rotational molding of nylon liquid (liquid Rotomulding nylon) and in 1985 is founded the new company Acerbis USA in response to the need for what has become the biggest market of interest. At the same time in 1986 Franco Acerbis organized the legendary Incas Rally in Peru (from 1986 to 1990 with a special edition in 1996). Thanks to the design and organization of the legendary Incas Rally in Peru, Lima he will receive the event "Emcuentro empresarial Hoy Peru - Lima from 26 to 29 de Septiembre 2012" recognition "Embajador de Hoy Peru" as an ambassador of the tourism of Peru in the world. Acerbis then begins to distribute the brand Scott in 1991 and always in this year Franco invent and organize the Rally of Nevada in the United States. Other important steps the company performs them in 1995 when began the production of clothing and accessories brand Acerbis and in 1998 when it created its own factory paint. In 2002 he started the production of tanks for hydraulic oil and diesel fuel, which gives off a production line automotive industry, and in 2004 began selling helmets Acerbis. The idea to differentiate the production bring in 2005 to the birth of soccer division dedicated to the study and production of clothing and protection for the world of football. This new line is a collaboration with the italian soccer team UC AlbinoLeffe that Acerbis is a technical supplier. After reaching the finish line in 2006 sales of 2,000,000 model of the historic "Rally Brush"(a closed hand guard ) he founded in 2007 the Acerbis UK, with the aim of improving the competitiveness of the group's presence in Northern Europe. And because of the need for new markets in 2009 is inaugurated the factory Acerbis Czech, manufacturing plant for Eastern Europe, while comes in Bergamo a specific division dedicated to the design and a line of accessories for furniture called "Design of love ". In 2010 Acerbis opens up  his activity to the world of road motorcycles creating his first line "Dualroad", a further expansion of the range which again confirms her passion for the world of motorcycle . A passion  a passion that has always characterized the activity of his company.

Franco Acerbis  

"I was not a great rider," says Franco Acerbis, "I fell often during the race, and this just inspired me to find some new and personal approach to adopt the mechanical parts that were more likely to break on my Moto Morini 125. Year after year, our specialization in working with plastics has grown and we were able to create other products dedicated to the safety of the driver. Then we started with clothing, with helmets and other products that are related to the world of the motorcycle, first dedicating only to off road and after embracing the road sector. All with the same passion as always, is the passion that leads us forward, then as now. Today we have over nine hundred products on the list dedicated to the bike, but over in the motorcycle sector we operate in different markets. It is very important to differentiate our production, our plastic is of great quality, a noble material that lends itself to multiple uses. In addition to products for the motorcycle, after market or for original equipment, we deal with another one in our company with Polyrim another brand for the construction of parts for tractors and other earth-moving equipment. At the same time we also produce furniture for prestigious brands such as Cassina, Fontana Arte, MDF Porro, Ideal Standard. And then we take care of two other lines of clothing, the brand Nadia Fassi and Acerbis Republik, and of the distribution in Italy of the Scott brand, differentiate the production today is really important. "

Reception

 The group Acerbis is now divided into four business units (motorcycle, soccer, design and OEM) and counts 260 employees, including 200 in Italy alone, which operate in three companies in Italy (headquarters of the Albino, near Bergamo, 1 the production and logistics 1) and three foreign branches, two distribution in the UK and the USA and 1 production in the Czech Republic. Acerbis is in 75 countries and directly we sell our products in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Austria. The latest news from Acerbis, it we seen in EICMA 2012, relate to the line "dualroad" that in order for the jacket "BRAY HILL HIGH VISIBILITY" and the helmet "SUNRISE". Special importance is then the attention Acerbis has dedicated to children with the collection "offroad gear" designed for all those drivers, children, for enduro and cross, which seek clothing and accessories that provide maximum protection with maximum comfort. The three big news for 2013 will be the knee X-STRONG, helmet and chest X PRO SAVATAGE COSMO JR. And as usual the company in the new sport season will be sponsor in major sporting events. To signal its presence in motocross because the Italian company will line up for next season alongside Team Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit, one of the strongest teams in the world. Just the vice world champion Mx2, Tommy Searle, will be the new face of the house of Albino in 2013 while two drivers will be deployed in Mx2, Swiss Arnaud Tonus and Italian Alessandro Lupino. Both will defend the colors of the Factory of Albino using plastics and accessories. But to better understand how to move the company in this 2013 and what were its results over the past year we asked some questions to Guido Acerbis, Franco's son, the current CEO Acerbis Group.

Guido Acerbis

-With what spirit address new year?

"On the eve of our 40th year of operation our intention is to encourage more and more the two-wheeler market and accessories. We should, therefore to be more active and dynamic, conveying the best of our mission: soul & passion. To do this, new year will see us actively involved on the sales network with determination and with special attention to the draft Acerbis Referent Center, which provides for the creation of dedicated corners in stores and moments of test of Acerbis product during the day. "

-Which country has most meet your expectations?

"The United States has been the driving and in France and Germany have responded well."

-Have you taken actions in the last period for the insertion of your products into new markets?

"Yes we are facing with satisfaction in Malaysia, South Africa and Russia, and in these countries we are getting good results."

-There is a breakdown of production with regard to establishments that are located in different countries?

"This subdivision is based on the territorial sales markets. The production serves Italian Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Slovenia and the UK. The production unit in the Czech Republic serves Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe.”

-Your production experience in the Czech Republic is long only a few years. What results and impressions did you get from this location?

"I state that is not a relocation but an internationalization. The differences in production than in Italy are: bureaucratic simplifications, personalized employment contract with the employee, taxation significantly lower, good technical operators, utility costs significantly lower, great central location considering the enlarged Europe. "

-The latest sales figures in the field of motorcycles in Italy are anything but encouraging. How the crisis affects sales of the bikes on your future plans?

"We take note of it and our response is to make our products more readily exportable to countries emerging with a good compromise price / quality. The biggest problem is registered in Southern Europe while we have to think globally, that is, look at the whole world. "

-Do you currently studying some innovative product or new material?

"The innovation that we want to bring more and more is in order to both active and passive safety. Currently we have a new project for the safety of the guardrail, a real danger for motorcyclists. In any case that both in road or off-road the important thing is that both Acerbis. "

Albino - Bergamo (Italy)