Italian Suspension Company Andreani Expands into US Market with New Distribution Center in North Carolina

talian Suspension Company Andreani is planning to use its new US distribution center in Hendersonville, North Carolina as a learning center for retailers interested in adding mountain bike suspension service to their shops. The company acquired distributor Fast Bike International, a motorcycle suspension tuning shop, and has moved into its headquarters about 25 miles south of Asheville.
Andreani’s Plan to Educate Retailers on Mountain Bike Suspension Service
The 10,500-square-foot distribution center will have a dedicated classroom for suspension education, like what Andreani does in Italy with motorcycles. Pietro Palladino, a noted suspension technician who worked for Marzocchi for over 20 years, will join Tom VanDevender, Andreani’s bicycle products sales manager, in conducting classes for bicycle and motorcycle retailers.
The Cost and Benefits of Andreani’s Suspension Education Courses
The courses, which cost $500 per person, are designed to ensure success and are free with a tool package purchase. The company manufactures an assortment of suspension machines and tools, including vacuum pumps, an MTB Shock Tester, tools designed for fork tube and shock spring disassembly, and more. Andreani also manufactures machines and tools for suspension companies like Öhlins, which it distributes in the US.
Andreani’s Range of Suspension Machines and Tools
While Andreani’s US office houses 18,000 different SKUs between products and tools and distributes to about 430 dealers in North America and some small South American dealers, its website is yet to be built out. Once complete, it will highlight Andreani’s new US products, including the mountain bike fork upgrade kit Pro-Impact and tire insert SuperMousse.
The company is keen to market its products in the US and work with dealers, with VanDevender looking to promote its products to his friends in the cycling community. The company is particularly well located, being situated just south of Cane Creek Cycling Components and a Fox Factory service center. The Andreani Group was founded in 1988 by Giuseppe Andreani, a motocross racer, and has continued to make a name for itself in Italy through distribution deals with suspension manufacturers like Marzocchi.