Velocity: Heading to America

“Brothers and partners, Tom and John Black will begin manufacturing rims in Jacksonville, Florida in February 2012. Currently, all Velocity rims are made in Australia, but production will cease in Brisbane by the end of November.

Tom Black, the founder of Velocity, will be relocating from Australia to Florida where he will continue to oversee rim production at Velocity’s new manufacturing factory. Velocity’s distribution centre will continue to operate out of Grand Rapids, Michigan as it has since 1992 and become their worldwide headquarters; with the Australian facility remaining as the distribution centre for the Australian & Asian markets.

Velocity has been Australian made since its beginning in 1988 in Tom’s backyard shed, where he produced the original Velocage, gradually increasing to a handful of rim extrusions and bicycle accessories.

Since then, as demand has increased, we have seen two factory moves, to cope with production and improve efficiency.

As you may know, we have a large foreign client base, including 3 major distributors in the U.S alone.

To help with the current supply & demand of Velocity products, we see this as the best option, to assist supplying our handmade products to our valued customers.

With these changes taking place, we want to re-assure you that we will still be committed, and have the ability to focus solely on supplying you with the same great product and services we have for the past 23 years.

Velocity will now be the only U.S. produced aluminium rim in the cycling industry.
John Black, president of Velocity Worldwide, Inc., anticipates this to further propel the company as a leader in quality, ingenuity and customization, customers have come to love and expect from Velocity”

Its sad to see a top class Aussie company like Velocity leave Australia after starting up and being here for 18 years but you gotta do what you gotta do.