Belief Moves Mountains.
It started very small in 1977 in Tainan in Taiwan. But the founder Charles Wu was a man with a vision and always tought big and his goal was no less than to become the world market leader for bicycle chains. Words were followed by deeds and for many years KMC has been at the top of this segment in the market for bicycle components.
In order to support global production and sales, we currently have 11 production plants and 16 distribution entities across Taiwan, China, The Netherlands, USA, Indonesia and Vietnam. Over the last four decades KMC has grown to provide products and service to users in over 150 countries, becoming an important link in the global bicycle industry.
2023
As true cycling enthusiasts, we always think beyond just business. We are therefore particularly happy about two things that started in 2023. One is the new KMC MTB Racing Team, which further deepens our sponsorship work in cycling. Secondly, it is the KMC Bike Park behind the new European headquarters in Heerenveen, which gives us the opportunity to put our products to the test or where our employees can do a few laps around the central pond to relax.
2022
The years of continuous growth had their price – our long-standing company building gradually became too small. The Corona pandemic made it clear to us that we had to expand, because you can only effectively counter supply shortages with sufficient storage capacity. But luckily we only had to cross the canal that runs through the Businesspark Friesland West. Diagonally opposite the old building, we found our new home with a 3,000 square meter warehouse, enlarged production space for cutting and packaging, new workshops for product testing and spacious, newly designed offices for our 20-person team, who work together with great commitment. With this, everything is in place to target future goals and efficiently realise our main objective: to provide the right product and the best possible service to all cyclists, all bike shops and all bike manufacturers.
1995
The story of KMC Chain Europe started in 1995, first in Rotterdam, then in Lelystad, to finally, in 1997, end up even further to the north in Heerenveen. It started as cooperation of 2 people; Judy Wang and Christ Bakker. At that time KMC was completely unknown in Europe, KMC Chains barely had any reference to be able to enter the market. But step by step and being a business couple knowing both the ways of the European market as well as the Asian market, KMC Europe commenced growing.
1977
Kuei-Meng Industrial Co., Ltd was founded by Charles Wu in 1977, the first bicycle chains by KMC were engineered and produced in Tainan (Taiwan) with only a few secondhanded machines. KMC was the world's smallest chain factory at the time but Mister Wu believed that with continued dedication and a drive for perfection, KMC would become the world's largest chain supplier.
