Lee Chi Enterprises Co. Ltd. optimizes its bicycle part production with Creaform’s 3D scanners

Lee Chi Enterprises Co. Ltd. develops progressive and innovative lines of BMX, mountain and road bike components under the Promax brand.

The company is at the forefront of OEM and ODM bicycle part production. The business offers all-inclusive turnkey services, assisting clients from the conceptual stage to the final product. Their commitment to ingenious engineering concepts and manufacturing quality has garnered the trust of renowned domestic and international brands in the bicycle industry.

After crafting bicycle part molds, the company subjects them to meticulous machine forging to produce samples.

3D measurements of these samples, essential for ensuring precision during the production process, were either outsourced or done manually in-house. This approach posed a significant challenge: the inability to procure real-time data feedback, a crucial factor in the rapid-paced production world of bicycle components.

“It used to take three to four days to get the polished molds back and another five to seven days of forging. This took an incredible amount of time for clients who required parts in very short timeframes,” explained Lin Yi Zhao, Production Manager at Lee Chi Enterprises Co. Ltd. “In addition, because of the high costs associated with outsourcing and the inefficiencies we were experiencing, we had to find a better way.

Creaform 3D scanners accelerate mold manufacturing and inspection workflows

Understanding the limitations of their previous measurement techniques, the company decided to look for more contemporary solutions.

“I’ve always been interested in 3D scanning and thought that this would be a viable option,” Lin Yi Zhao, Production Manager added.

After an evaluation period with different products on the market, Lee Chi Enterprises Co. Ltd. chose Creaform’s 3D scanners. “Creaform had a wide range of international certifications, which was key to give our clients and suppliers peace of mind,” he said. The in-house experts were also impressed with the scanner’s accuracy levels, user-friendly design, and portability.

Once the team integrated Creaform’s 3D scanners, the technology move drastically reduced both testing and overall R&D time for all the company’s product ranges, including disc brakes, seat posts, handlebars, and hubs. Product inspection procedures that previously spanned over one to two days and involved three distinct steps are now to be completed in under half a day using Creaform’s 3D measurement technologies. This reduction in time and inspection steps inevitably helped Lee Chi Enterprises Co. Ltd. save on production costs.

In addition, inspection and engineering teams now can access immediate measurement results for the post-processing of molds and final bike components, guaranteeing superior product quality, and minimal errors.

A man scanning a small part using the Creaform scanner

Creaform’s 3D scanning solutions boost the efficiency of mold manufacturing and inspection operations.

Creaform 3D scanners offer a distinct competitive edge in the bike industry

Lee Chi Enterprises Co. Ltd.’s leverages 3D scanners to save a considerable amount of time and resources to meet clients’ ever-evolving requirements and tight deadlines. What’s more, the company’s teams can channel more energy into product R&D and continue to design top-tier, innovative products for cyclists worldwide.

A hand holding the scanner ready to be used to scan a part

Article written by Creaform

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