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Factory Visits #2 

Bells and Straps - Made in the Netherlands

In our “Factory Visits” series, we visit our manufacturers and suppliers to give you an exclusive insight into our partners' production processes and our selection criteria. In this article, we take a look behind the scenes at the production of our bells and tension straps at Widek in Krimpen aan den IJssel, Netherlands. 
We set out to find a suitable partner to develop a new line of bells and tension straps that comply with German regulations. At Procraft, our goal is to always keep an eye on the impact of our actions. That's why we were looking for strong partners for our new products who manufacture in Europe, use sustainable materials, and are just as enthusiastic about cycling as the Procraft team. In Widek, we have found the right partner to meet our requirements. 
Widek is a fourth-generation family business founded in 1936. The company has invented several products for the bicycle industry, developed by its own research and development team, and manufactures all its machines in-house. 98% of its products are manufactured in-house. We are impressed by the long history of the company, which has been manufacturing bicycle accessories in Europe for 90 years. Here we give you an insight into how Widek manufactures for Procraft.

The manufacturing process

The weaving mill 

At Widek, every step of the production process is carefully planned. For our tension straps, we first choose from a range of different yarn types and colors. Once these have been selected, the threads are fed into a special machine developed in-house, which weaves the chosen pattern. The woven pieces are then cut to the desired length using a very special machine (top secret). After that, the hooks are carefully attached by an employee and checked for quality. Finally, they are attached to our new, sustainable packaging, which was developed specifically for Procraft.

Development of the bells 
Before production of the Procraft bell began, the clever minds at Widek conducted product research and planning to develop a bell that complies with DIN standard 33946. The result is two types of bells manufactured in the Netherlands for Procraft: one bell for classic trekking and city bikes. The other bell is designed for sportier bikes.

The next step is the production of prototypes: after selecting the materials, the prototypes were manufactured, tested externally, and carefully inspected. Once all tests were complete, the doorbells were given their final design and series production could begin. During production, state-of-the-art technology and the craftsmanship of Widek's experts work hand in hand—supported by specially developed machines.

To ensure that our bells not only sound good but also look good, the production team then creates the graphic design. This is laser-engraved onto each bell so that the familiar Procraft P logo really stands out.

Finally, the bells are fitted with the necessary attachments and then tested by an employee to ensure that there are no sound defects.

Once they have been assembled, the bells undergo a final quality check before being sent on to the packaging station.

We are proud to be working with such an experienced and passionate partner as Widek and look forward to many more of our products being “Made in The Netherlands.”