Metron Advanced Equipment Celebrates Delivering Bicycle Parts To Ninth Consecutive Olympic Games
Metron Advanced Equipment, the British 3D-printing specialists based in Ilkeston Derbyshire, are proud to have delivered bicycle parts to their ninth consecutive Olympic games for the world’s best cyclists. Hoping to add to their achievements - with over 100 gold World and Olympic cycling medals to date - the Midlands engineering design and manufacturing company is excited to see their components being raced in various events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and beyond.
“The team [at Metron A.E.] have been able to turn my direct feedback from a great product, into a perfect product, for what I was looking for from a handlebar and stem combo for the Paris Olympic Games. The quality and attention to detail of their products cannot be faulted, and inspires a huge amount of confidence for me to be racing on at the pinnacle sporting event.” – Aaron Gate, reigning Track Cycling World Champion.
Metron A.E. is a small but high achieving company, who have designed and manufactured parts which have raced at every Olympic games since Barcelona back in 1992. The engineering company originally specialised in carbon fibre, as one of the original innovators who implemented the material in bicycle frames. Founder, Dimitris Katsanis, began producing carbon fibre bicycle frames in his garage in Greece in the early 1990’s when steel was still the material typically used. Through the use of carbon fibre, he was able to achieve great improvements to aerodynamics and significant reductions in weight.
After years of producing state-of-the-art bicycle frames with carbon fibre, Dimitris identified the next evolution of manufacturing technologies. He switched his focus to harnessing the capabilities of metal 3D-printing technology, also known as Additive Manufacturing. By producing components from 3D-printed Titanium and Scalmalloy materials, Metron A.E. has amassed many recent World, Olympic and Tour de France victories, as well as World Record performances. Using this same cutting-edge technology, Metron A.E. has also manufactured parts for the Medical, Aerospace and Motorsport sectors.
Having developed their reputation for design and production of high performance 3D-printed metal parts, Metron A.E. has completed projects for four national teams, commissioned to specifically target the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. These components are designed to deliver a combination of optimised aerodynamics; strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio as well as custom fit to meet the top level rider’s needs. This results in some of the best performing components currently available, verified by their success on the world stage. Metal 3D-printed components are manufactured in-house at their UK facility, and will be used in Olympic track cycling and road cycling races.
Metal 3D-printing is an innovative technology that is set to revolutionise the way we make strong and complex components. Already used in critical high-tech applications such as medical implants, jet engine blades, and Formula 1 car parts, 3D-printing is making inroads into the top level of cycling since 2015 - when it was first used on the 3D-printed handlebar that Bradley Wiggins used to break the Hour Record in cycling. Since then, Metron A.E. spearheaded the application of this state-of-the-art technology in the highest level of the sport, by manufacturing and/or designing handlebars, frames, forks – and other parts – for the Rio, Tokyo and now for the Paris Olympics.
Two years ago, Metron A.E. launched its own line of 3D-printed cycling components under the brand name MYTHOS. The TX-1 family of 3D-printed endurance track cycling drop handlebars have already been ridden to four victories and 10 podium positions at the Glasgow 2023 World Championships. For the Paris 2024 Olympics, MYTHOS components are expected to be raced by up to 13 national teams in the track cycling events.
Looking back at his achievements over the last 32 years, Dimitris Katsanis, remarked "when I made the bike frames in my parents' garage for the Greek National team in 1992 - for the Barcelona Olympics - I was doing this more as a hobby rather than a profession. Fast forward to 2002 and with three Olympics under my belt, British Cycling enquired about designing a bike for the 2004 Athens Olympics. This bike became the now famous UKSI bike which went on to enjoy great success. Again, I thought that I would not go too far past the Olympics, but the relationship with British Cycling still continues today, 22 years and counting. So, nine Olympics later, I wonder how far my hobby will take me?"
Looking towards the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, Metron A.E. have collaborated in a 3D-printed bicycle frame project with UK Sport. This 3D-printed frame has already been piloted to success under Will Tidball, who won the Scratch Race World Championships at Glasgow in 2023. Metron A.E. intends to build upon this success, further refining the design and manufacturing more complete 3D-printed bicycle frames and components. With their excellent knowledge and power of Additive Manufacturing, Metron A.E. and MYTHOS have their sights set firmly on the top steps of all cycling events.
Learn More About Metron A.E. here, and view the MYTHOS Cycling Components range here.