The story
Founded by Edoardo Bianchi in 1885, in Milan.1
Edoardo Bianchi, a 21-year-old medical instrument maker, started his bicycle-manufacturing business in a small shop at 7 Via Nirone, Milan in 1885. Bianchi pioneered the front-wheel caliper brake. One of his first developments was to make the front wheel smaller and use the chain invented by Frenchman Vincent to reduce pedal height. In doing so, he created a safe and modern bicycle. Compared to its predecessors, it was much easier to drive because it was easier to balance. He continued to improve the bicycle and developed a construction with wheels of almost the same size. In 1888, he made the first bicycle with Dunlop tires.
In 1888, Bianchi moved to a larger shop on Via Bertani. It came into contact with John Boyd Dunlop and Giovanni Battista Pirelli, whereupon pneumatic tires were introduced as bicycle tires.
As early as 1890, the next move to larger rooms on Via Borghetto was necessary. Series production began here. In 1895, he built the first women's bicycle for Queen Margaret of Italy. At the same time, he began using his bicycles at sporting events to test new technical developments.
In 1897, tests began on a bicycle with an auxiliary motor. A De Dion-Bouton built-in motor was mounted in front of the bicycle handlebars and drove the front wheel.
1899 followed a motor tricycle in the style of the De Dion Bouton motor tricycle, a quadricycle and the first real car.
Due to the increasing outflow figures, especially for bicycles, construction of a new plant on Via Nino Bixio began in 1900, which was occupied in 1902.
Since May 1997, the company has been part of Cycleurope Group, which is owned by the Swedish company of Grimaldi Industri AB.
Bianchi and Ferrari announced in July 2017, a partnership to produce a new range of 'high-end' models. The SF01 was their first collaboration bike.
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Bianchi is currently led by CEO Bob Ippolito, who before joining Bianchi was the executive vice president and general manager of Pacific Cycle, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.
For several years, Bianchi has also been involved in the research of new alternative mobility systems through its Lif-E program, dedicated to smart electric mobility. In 2019, the company introduced the E-SUV (Electric Sports Utility Vehicle), an electric bike designed to move in full harmony with the environment. During 2021, Bianchi started a renovation project of the Treviglio factory, with the aim of bringing the production of carbon frames to Italy in the coming years, while also leading to an overall increase in the activity related to the assembly of bicycles. The project also includes the creation of a museum dedicated to the history of the company on site.
From Wikipedia’s article on Bianchi (company), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4