DT Swiss AG emerged in 1994 from a management buyout of Biel wire manufacturer Vereinigte Drahtwerke. Its initial specialism in spokes grew to include other components: in 2004, the company introduced complete wheels using its own spokes, nipples, hubs and rims. Making one component had expanded into producing an entire assembly.
A spoke begins as stainless steel wire, straightened and cut to length. For butted spokes, cold forging reduces the centre section while the head and threaded end remain thicker. The thread is formed by rolling. Material checks and dimensional inspections accompany several manufacturing stages.
The organisation of production has changed too. In October 2023, aluminium rim manufacturing began in Poland with digitally connected processes. Machine information and process data appear on a single screen, while employees receive guidance through production and logistics. The aims included better material flow, traceability and quality.
This example offers a wider view of the wheel industry: the finished product depends on both metalworking expertise and the everyday organisation of a factory. Both matter when the same result must be repeated at scale.