“We want to deliver the most comfortable bicycle possible”

“We’ve been mechatronics engineers for a long time”

Jan Willem Boezel, one of the CEOs and Technical Director at vanRaam, sums up the company’s development in a single sentence: “Strictly speaking, we are not bicycle manufacturers. We have been mechatronics engineers for a long time.” A tour through the production halls in Varsseveld quickly shows what he means. High-tech solutions are everywhere, integrated into the bikes themselves as well as into the manufacturing processes.

From 1992 onwards, the company produced only its own bikes. What began out of necessity with tandems and side-by-side tandems developed steadily from the mid-1990s onwards. vanRaam had found its niche, and that niche continued to grow.

Portfolio: Let's all cycle!

Today, the range extends from fully customised rehabilitation bikes down to the smallest detail, to visually appealing tricycles with a strong lifestyle character. In the two-wheeled category, the Balance low-step bike remains a key model, featuring a saddle height that allows riders to reach the ground easily with both feet while seated.

The portfolio also includes tandems with steering from either the front or rear seat, side-by-side tandems, bikes designed to transport adults, models that can fully accommodate a wheelchair, and half-bikes that only become a vehicle when combined with a wheelchair. It is a broad and carefully developed range within the specialist bike segment.

“Every single bike we sell is customised,” says Kwant. Production only begins once a customer places an order through a specialist retailer. Customisation starts with the choice of RAL colour and continues through to specialised components such as shortened cranks or leg supports. This level of individualisation requires in-depth consultation. “We currently have 196 dealers in Germany, and we are working hard to expand that number. Retailers can order models they do not have in stock for short-term customer test rides.”

In the showroom, which spans the full width of the light-filled office building in Varsseveld, activity is constant. “We have around 50 bikes ready to ride, and people come from all over to test them,” says Kwant. Test rides take place on a specially designed track next to the production halls, featuring rough surfaces, gravel and cobblestones.

Purchases are always made through specialist retailers, and every bike is built only after an order is placed. This model proved particularly valuable in recent years. “Many dealers tell us that specialist bikes saved their business after the pandemic,” Kwant notes with pride. Unlike standard bikes, vanRaam models require no storage space at the retailer.

Screens at each station indicate exactly which compartment holds the required component. Once a part is picked and confirmed in the system, inventory levels are updated automatically and purchasing is notified when reordering or in-house production is required. Manufacturing many components internally is a key factor in the company’s success, and vanRaam takes pride in the intelligence and modernity of its facilities.

Quality control is performed using laser measurement, accurate down to micrometre levels. The first, fifth and last part of each production run are checked to ensure exact dimensions.

Printing instead of purchasing

Three 3D printers are now standard equipment at vanRaam. “They were a huge help during the pandemic,” says Kwant. “When certain standard parts could not be delivered, we simply printed them ourselves.” A single missing component can otherwise halt an entire production line.

The department’s display cabinet shows what can be printed in plastic and metal. Cranks, stems, tools and even unrelated products are on display. Remarkably, multi-part plastic items such as gripping aids can be printed fully assembled and ready for use in a single process.

A walk through the production facilities makes it clear that vanRaam is geared for growth. In 2023, this ambition was underlined by the majority investment of Munich-based holding company Armira, laying the foundation for further expansion in the years ahead.

TÜV testing in-house

Engineers and buyers work in glass-enclosed offices located directly within the production hall. “That way, they are right where they are needed,” explains Kwant. Nearby is an in-house TÜV test rig, currently testing an Easy Rider model. “A single external test costs us 28,000 euros,” says Kwant. “To avoid having to repeat tests because of minor issues, we built an identical test rig ourselves.”

New models are thoroughly tested internally before being submitted for official certification, allowing any issues to be resolved in advance.

Jan Willem Boezel has much more to say about vanRaam’s future ambitions. “Ultimately, we want to build the most comfortable bicycle imaginable,” he says, before presenting an impressive prototype. It resembles an armchair on wheels, featuring a self-developed front swingarm instead of a traditional suspension fork. At the rear, two sharply angled suspension struts support independently mounted wheels.

The first riding impression says it all: “Have I already passed the cobblestones?” The ride feels smooth and effortless, more like gliding in a luxury car than cycling.

Whether and when the armchair bike will go into series production remains unclear. What is already available, however, is another major development: the Thuja. It features two independently steered 20-inch front wheels, a stylish integrated basket between them, and a single 28-inch rear wheel. From the side, it almost resembles a low-step two-wheeler. That is exactly the point. With the Thuja, vanRaam aims to remove the rehabilitation stigma often associated with tricycles.

Award-winning development

The bike truly feels like a new category. It offers exceptional riding stability for everyday use, errands and even weekly grocery shopping. The battery is located beneath the lockable basket, ensuring a low centre of gravity and secure storage space.

At Eurobike 2025, the Thuja received an award immediately, followed by the prize for Best Product Development Team at the Paris ProDays 2025.

Sustainability beyond compliance

As a manufacturer of medical devices, including rehabilitation bikes, vanRaam must comply with additional standards. This includes the annual publication of a Post Market Surveillance report covering systematically collected safety and performance data. The company emphasises that it exceeds all required standards.

“Sustainability is an incredibly broad topic for us,” explains QHSE Manager Walter Smit. CO₂ footprint and circular economy principles are monitored throughout the supply chain, supported by extensive data beyond legal requirements. “We make our sustainability measurable, well beyond what is required,” says Smit.