Dutch company Falco leads Europe in sustainable bike parking solutions
A 75-year-old family business in Vriezenveen, Falco, is transforming urban spaces across Europe with innovative, circular bike shelters and street furniture. Their products, used daily by thousands, blend functionality with sustainability, impacting cities from Sweden to France.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Falco |
| Location | Vriezenveen, Overijssel, Netherlands |
| Founded | 75 years ago |
| Employees | Over 100 |
| Export Market | 35% of products exported to Sweden, France, England, Denmark, and more |
| Product Focus | Bike racks, shelters, street furniture, traffic provisions |
| Sustainability Approach | Circular design principles, easy assembly/disassembly, reuse/repair |
The municipality of Vriezenveen highlights local businesses like Falco to showcase regional economic contributions and innovation. Such visits by local officials also aim to strengthen ties between government and enterprises, fostering collaboration on public infrastructure projects.
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Falco is a specialist in modern bike shelters
Almost everyone is familiar with the 'notches' where you can lean your bike against. There's a good chance they were made by Falco in Vriezenveen. Alderman Arjan Hof and company contact officer Jacqueline Tuinbeek visited the 75-year-old family business to learn about the story behind bike racks, bike shelters, street furniture, and traffic provisions. Director Franz Friesacher and his son Jirayr shared more about the company.
Franz's grandfather started by manufacturing transport equipment, such as stone wheelbarrows, concrete wagons, and carts for gravel and tar. In the 1950s, bike racks and bike shelters were added to the product line. "We couldn't have imagined that this step would later become the core of Falco's work," Friesacher explains. In 1977, the company moved to its current location on Weitzelweg in Vriezenveen.
European market
William Flim, who has been head of the company's office for years, joins the conversation. He explains that the company has since grown into one of the larger players in the European market for public space design, bike parking facilities, bike parking systems, street furniture, and traffic provisions. "We now employ over 100 people." Friesacher adds that 35 percent of the products are exported. "We supply many to Sweden and France, and we also have locations in England and Denmark."
Circular
"We design and manufacture our products ourselves at our location in Vriezenveen, and we're proud of what we do," Flim says. "We're not afraid of the competition. Not everyone can do what we do." Friesacher explains that Falco is also looking to the future by incorporating circular principles into the design phase. For example, the company creates designs that are easy to assemble and disassemble. They also explore whether products can be repaired or reused.