Tecnologia

Innovative design combined with the latest technology, materials and manufacturing processes ensure that FSA deliver technically superior components. This means we can offer the ultimate performance that our consumers demand at a competitive price.

Our history in the sport and our heritage of innovation, design and manufacturing is important to us. We’re proud to constantly invest in our product range, ensuring that we provide the very best components possible – for both professional and enthusiast riders alike.

We invest heavily in research and development, to ensure that all FSA products are manufactured using the very latest cutting edge technologies to develop and deliver the best products possible. They are tested to stringent standards and meet the highest certification. Below is more detail about our processes and technologies.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

FSA’s R&D team uses the very latest techniques to ensure we produce the best performing products.

Our 3D modelling team uses the most modern Surface Modelling software to design, evaluate and validate the product design before tooling is opened. The 3D Measurement facility allows exact analysis of dimensions, whereby precise attention to the tolerances and accuracy of our products results in optimal performance and durability. First developed for the aerospace and nuclear industries where the safety of structures is critical, FEA – Finite Element Analysis – has formerly been the purview of only specialized analysts, and later, Formula 1 teams. FSA has long been in the vanguard of the cycling industry, making FEA an integral part of our R&D process.

As part of our R&D department, FSA employs a metallography team, who study the microstructure of various components of metals, ceramics and polymeric materials. After sectioning, mounting, grinding and polishing, a specimen is ready for examination under high magnification with various chemical and electrolytic etchants. Some microstructural constituents, such as nitrides and inclusions, are revealed using cross-polarized light. This window into materials helps us to control quality and push the envelope of advanced design in cycling.

PROCESS & MANUFACTURING

Ensuring that the innovative design and development concepts come to fruition, FSA’s manufacturing facilities use the most advanced processes.

At FSA we use the most advanced techniques when working with carbon fiber alone, aluminum alone, and with carbon fiber and aluminum combined. FSA manipulates a single block of high grade aluminum to yield a hollow crankset with superior strength to weight ratio – we call this Hollow Forged Technology. The outstanding results improve further when the process is applied to 7050-T6 aluminum. Hollow Molded Carbon technology is the unique air bladder molding technology FSA uses for all K-Force and SL-K cranksets. It yields a hollow crank arm and spider with an I-beam down the length of the arm: FSA’s hollow cranksets are true monocoque structures delivering great strength and light weight.

Carbon Structural Integration – CSI – is our fusion of carbon fiber and aluminum. Once an aluminum component is wrapped in carbon fiber, the fiber becomes an integral part of the structure and increases the overall stiffness of the component.

CERTIFICATION & TESTING

FSA ensures that as well as meeting or exceeding CEN Certification standards, our in-house testing procedures continually push the safety and performance capabilities of all products.

CEN is the European Committee for Standardization of the materials, safety and design of bicycle components. The CEN norm is currently the most rigorous standard for safety in the bicycle industry. FSA regularly works with external test laboratories and uses its own test machines to ensure that every component meets or exceeds CEN and other industry standards.
FSA’s extensive in-house testing facilities include techniques such as Pneumatic Fatigue Testing – whereby products are extensively tested to prove their durability, thereby ensuring we meet or exceed all industry standards. Using the Yield Strength testing process we push all FSA products well beyond the point of normal use so that when you push to your limits, you can be comfortable in knowing your FSA components will respond as intended.

Handlebars are put through harsh Drop Impact destructive tests to ensure durability meets the highest standards. All products are extensively tested to prove the materials and design strengths turn out as engineered, like with carbon layups – we call this Material Fatigue Strength Testing. After many hundreds of hours working Computational Fluid Dynamics (a virtual wind tunnel), FSA spends days in the wind tunnel proving our designs to achieve maximum aerodynamic efficiency.

Form di ricerca

ANTEPRIMA PRODOTTO

K-Force WE

Tecnologia