Manufacturer of special needs bikes Van Raam in the news

Since Van Raam's relocation in January 2019, there has been a lot of media attention for the manufacturer of special needs bicycles. In November 2019, De Gelderlander (a Dutch newspaper) published a large article about Van Raam. In this article the Gelderlander talks about the sustainable building and bicycle test track, the history, Van Raam as world market leader and the prizes it has won. Read more about the article by the Gelderlander here.

Van Raam manufacturer of special needs bikes in the Gelderlander newspaper
Assembly of tricycles in the bicycle factory Van Raam (source: de Gelderlander/ theo kock persfotografie)

Special needs bike from factory Van Raam

Van Raam started manufacturing bicycle frames for other bicycle brands in Amsterdam about a hundred years ago. When that building was put on the nomination list for demolition, the company moved to Aalten.

Van Raam is now based in Varsseveld and has been producing special needs bicycles for more than 30 years, which was a coincidence. Sales and marketing manager Marnix Kwant explains to the Gelderlander: "It was the time, in the 1970s and 1980s, that it became cheaper and cheaper to produce frames abroad. Around that time, an acquaintance of the then director asked if he could build a tricycle for him. The acquaintance had had a brain haemorrhage and could no longer ride a normal bicycle.

In the meantime, Van Raam has become the world market leader in the field of special needs bicycles. On an area of 13,500 square metres, nothing is produced in stock and each bicycle is made individually. With approximately 160 permanent employees, Van Raam makes Dutch quality bicycles, mainly for adults and children with a disability or for people who are looking for more safety and stability during cycling.

Want to read more about Van Raam? On the 'About us' page you can read all about the manufacturer of special needs bicycles

More about Van Raam
Smart and clean bicycle factory Van Raam in the newspaper de Gelderlander
The paint shop in the smart and clean bicycle factory Van Raam (source: de Gelderlander/ theo kock persfotografie)

Smart and clean factory

Van Raam's new bicycle factory is sustainable, smart and clean. On 13,500 square metres there are 25 closed soil sources, each 130 meters deep, heat pumps, more than 1,784 solar panels, triple glazing and an 18-centimetre thick concrete floor with underfloor heating. There is also a lot of investment in innovation, special parts are developed in the factory itself and, for example, made in-house using a 3D printer.

Van Raam has already won several innovation and sustainability awards with the new factory. Nevertheless, the construction of this ultramodern, clean factory is not only inspired by environmental concerns. The maker of the special needs bicycles is constantly adapting. Marnix Kwant tells the Gelderlander: "We want people to move independently for as long as possible in a sustainable way. Then it's awfully bad if you produce in a non-sustainable way.”

You can read more about Van Raam's smart and clean factory on the special construction page.

New Van Raam building
“We want people to move independently for as long as possible in a sustainable way.”
Showroom of bicycle factory of special needs bikes Van Raam in the news

The showroom of the manufacturer of special needs bikes Van Raam in Varsseveld (source: de Gelderlander / theo kock persfotografie)

Mounting of a special needs bike in bicycle factory Van Raam in Varsseveld

Mounting of a tricycle in bicycle factory Van Raam (source: de Gelderlander / theo kock persfotografie)

Test ride on bicycle test track at bicycle factory Van Raam
Marnix Kwant and Inge Kluivers on the test trach with the Van Raam Chat rickshaw bike (source: de Gelderlander / theo kock persfotografie)

Test ride on the bicycle test track at the bicycle factory

In addition to the modern bicycle factory, Van Raam has its own bicycle test track. Those interested in a Van Raam bicycle can make a free appointment with Van Raam for an appointment with a technical advisor and a test ride on the test track.

Inge Kluivers, team leader of the marketing department, tells De Gelderlander: "This way we can immediately see on the spot which options do or don't work. A basic model is available for each bicycle and that basic model can be adapted for each person. For example, if someone has no arms, the bike is adjusted so that it can be steered with the torso. If one leg is longer than the other, something is also designed for it."

You can read more about this test track and making a test ride in the article 'Testing adapted bikes on Van Raam bike test track'.

Van Raam test track

Van Raam in the newspaper 'de Gelderlander'

The entire article was in Dutch and was published in the newspaper of Friday, November 15th.

Manufacturer of special needs bicycles Van Raam in the Gelderlander newspaper
Article about Van Raam in the Gelderlander of Friday, November 15th

More media articles about Van Raam

Regular news about Van Raam appears in the media, both in the newspapers and on national, regional and international TV. We also often write articles about the deliveries of Van Raam bicycles.

These articles can be found on our 'News' page.

News about Van Raam
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