Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Limited, previously known as 'Atlas Cycle Industries Limited' started with the manufacture of bicycle saddles in 1951, and produced its first bicycle in 1952. The Company was changed to 'Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Limited' on April 16, 2002. The Company is engaged in manufacturing of bicycles and bicycles components.
From a modest beginning of 120 cycles per day, the Company came a long way to become India's second-largest cycle manufacturer. It made units operatioanl at Sonepat, Sahibabad, Rasoi and Gurgaon, all in Haryana. Its combined manufacturing capacity stood at a hefty 3.1 million cycles per annum.
Company further emerged as the largest exporter of bicycles from India. New export markets like Myanmar and South Africa were explored in 1994-95. It has been exporting components, bicycles and mopeds, besides tapping the fitness equipment market overseas. Its ISO-9002 certification is expected to boost exports.
The steel tube manufacturing facility at Gurgaon was expanded from 25,000 tpa to 50,000 tpa. The expansion was funded by a rights issue of NCDs in Nov.'94. This backward integration helped Atlas stem the profit erosion due to rising costs.
It continued its backward integration by setting up a 10,000 tpa cold-rolled (CR) steel project (cost : Rs 14 cr) at Sonepat, housed at the site used previously by its moped unit. The company has developed and implemented a sophisticated frame alignment checking and correcting fixture by employing hydraulic clamping, electronic sensing and display capable of reading errors upto 0.1 mm. A new design for a rowing machine and a bicycle with front telescopic suspension have been developed. Their prototypes are being tested.
The company has awarded its shareholders six bonus issues between 1966 and 1994. During 1995-96, new TANGO range of fancy bikes covering SLR's, CTB's, ATB's, & MTB's has been developed. Company has newly introduced Laser' series of bicycles. The paint application plant has been commissioned.
The Company commissioned a second bicycle plant at Sahibabad in 2000. The Malanpur Unit introduced new models Velocity, Centre-Shock, Chunmun, Simba, Crazy toons, Explorer and also made several improvements in the existing models in 2004. During the period 2007-08, Sahibabad plant added a new state-of-the-art paint plant to improve the aesthetics of its bicycles. The unit also introduced electric bikes in the market with technical support from companies based in Korea and China. The Tube Mill was shifted from Gurgaon to Bawal. The operations were streamlined during the year. Eposy Coating of paint in the plant was introduced in 2009. The Capacity of the Paint Plant was enhanced by putting up a Disc Paint Plant in 2010.
In 2010-11, Sahibabad unit further increased capacity of paint plant by putting up one more Disc Paint plant. It converted one bell Paint plant to disc plant to improve paint finish. Sonepat Unit enhanced capacity of the Paint Plant by putting up a Disc Paint Plant which is supposed to be of latest technology (French Make) to the growing demand from large customers and give better esthetics to the bicycles. Further Sonepat plant put up a Powder Coating paint plant along with an oven for faster and higher output. In Sahibabad unit to improve the quality in tubular shop was also taken up the installation of 45 Tons chilling plant for debras.