Announcement on award of Prince Phillip Designers Prize 2009 to Andrew Ritchie, founder of Brompton Bicycles
October 27, 2009 12:00 AM
By Cllr Andrew Dakers in Full Council, London Borough of Hounslow
By Cllr Andrew Dakers in Full Council, London Borough of Hounslow
Cllr Dakers with his Brompton Bicycle at Syon House
As the factory is in my ward and I have been a Brompton rider for four years I would like to take this opportunity to send all our congratulations to Andrew Ritchie and the Brompton team on his receiving the Prince Phillip Designers Prize 2009 at the Design Council a few weeks ago.
Andrew Ritchie has dedicated himself to perfecting the design of a single product - the Brompton folding bicycle. In the process, he has made it an international success story and built a business which has grown by 25% for the last three years. About 30,000 are now being produced each year and the Brompton sells in more than 30 countries, contributing to sustainable transport by getting riders out of their cars.
Its success is based on the ingenuity of its folding mechanism, its balance between functionality, durability and comfort, and a consistent 20-year commitment by Andrew to refining the product and its 1,200 parts - many of which are unique to Brompton.
The business still dedicates 50% of management resource to design and development to keep itself ahead of growing competition in the fast-evolving folding bicycle market.
Assembly first took place under the arches of Kew Bridge and is now situated alongside the A4 between Carville Park South and Lionel Rd.
As you know I experience every day what a wonderful piece of design and engineering Andrew has crafted and the presence of the factory is one of the factors that makes representing Brentford such a privilege.
This is an individual and business of which the borough can and should be very proud. Like all of you I am sure, I look forward to many more exciting innovations coming from the factory in the years ahead.
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