- Polisport Group is a Portuguese-based company, the world leader in the manufacture of child mobility chairs for bicycles, founded by Pedro Araújo, CEO and President since 1978.
- With more than 44 years of expertise, Polisport manufactures and distributes plastic parts and accessories for motorcycles and bicycles, having a huge focus in competition.
- Polisport Group is responsible for the management of 5 business units: Polisport Plásticos S.A, Polinter Plásticos S.A, Polisport Molds, Polisport Brasil and Polipromotion.
- With headquarters in Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal, Polisport has been expanding its portfolio of customers and markets and it is now present in more than 72 countries around the World.
- History
- The origin of Polisport Group dates to 1978 when Pedro Araújo and his brother founded a small company that produced homemade front fenders and handguards in fiberglass. The ambition to expand to a bigger company arose few years later due to the sales increase.
- · 1982: Pedro and Paulo Araújo Plásticos Lda. was established as a company, with the production of plastic fenders for motorcycles.
- · 1984: The company attended the first international event, IFMA Fair, in Cologne, Germany. In the same period, the company, already named Polisport, started exporting to Spain.
- · 1988: Polisport started producing baby carriers and acquired 50% of the capital of Oliveira e Silva Lda, an injection company that originated Polinter.
- · 1989: Internal mold production began.
- · 1990: The first bicycle mudguards were launched.
- · 1991: The bidon line for bicycles was released.
- · 1993: Polisport Plásticos emerged with facilities in Oliveira de Azeméis.
- · 1996: The first line of bicycle helmets was launched.
- · 1998: Polisport achieved the Certification of Quality System based on the norm NP EN ISO 9001.
- · 1999: Polisport moved into a Joint-stock company.
- · 2000: Durable Gloss Polypropylene (DGP) technology was developed and launched.
- · 2002: Baby car seats started being manufactured.
- · 2004: Polisport Group holds 100% of Polinter's capital.
- · 2005: A new industrial unit was built in Arouca and the Inmold Plastic Decals (IPD) technology was launched.
- · 2006: Polisport’s structure expanded, with the creation of Marketing, Logistics & Research, and Technological Development departments.
- · 2008: Polisport won the American IMDA Award (Inmold Decoration Association Award) for the best injection part with IPD technology.
- · 2009: Polisport won two IMDA awards in the categories "Best Injected Part" and "Best Durable Part". It also achieved an honorable mention in the award of the SME Innovation Network COTEC-BPI.
- · 2010: COTEC-BPI distinguished Polisport with PME Innovation Award. The company also received the PME Excellence award.
- · 2011: Polisport received the Certification of its Innovation Management System according to NP 4457: 2007.
- · 2012: Honorable Mention in Entrepreneurship Awards INSEAD was attributed to Polisport. In the same year, the company won two iF Design Awards in the categories ‘Innovative Design’ with Guppy baby carrier and ‘Innovative Material’ with the Corky bottle. Polisport Molds is now the Polisport Group's third company, joining Polisport Plastics and Polinter.
- · 2013: Headgy Helmets, a spin-off in association with Strategic Sports, was founded. In the same year, Polisport acquired 100% of the capital of Bobike, becoming the World leader in the baby carrier market.
- · 2014: Polistar, a subsidiary of Polisport in Brazil, was established.
- · 2015: Guppy Junior won an IF Design Award in the category of Design awarded for its functionality and aesthetics. One year later, the German Design Award in the best design category was attributed to the same product.
- · 2017: Polisport has been awarded the "Red Dot Award" for Product Design, for its Foldable Lift Bike Stand. The product was launched in 2016 and included by the jurors in the 'Best of the Best' category.
- · 2018: Polisport achieved the "Gut" rating to Guppy Maxi, FF and Bilby FF. This award distinguishes the safety and quality of the products and it is one of the most important recognitions in the Nordic market.
- · 2021: COTEC distinguished Polisport for the development of innovative solutions.
- · 2022: MINIA, the first cycling mobility brand focused on the online channel, was launched. In the same period, the company was certified with ISO 14001 and received the European Quality Trademark (ETQM) for its Polisport and Bobike child seats.
- Group Companies
- Polisport Group owns 5 business units, including Polisport Plásticos SA, Polinter SA, Polisport Molds, Polipromotion and Polistar Brasil.
- Polisport Plásticos, SA
- Polisport is a manufacturer of plastic products, accessories, and replacement parts for two-wheel vehicles.
- Present in more than 70 countries, Polisport Plásticos, SA is the World leader in the production of child seats for bicycles, distributing more than half a million units per year and setting industry standards.
- Polinter, SA
- Polinter is the company responsible for the injection of plastic materials. With 35 years of experience, Polinter has the internal capacity to implement new processes, develop products and provide services, as well as carrying out tests, pre-series, and reduced quantities according to the customers’ needs.
- Polisport Molds
- Polisport Molds is specialized in the manufacture of high-precision technical molds for sectors such as Automotive, Houseware, Electrical/Electronics, and Gardening.
- Polipromotion
- Founded in 2018, Polipromotion produces customized bottles and other accessories for sports, casual use, and custom branding.
- Polistar Brasil
- Polistar Brasil emerged from the need to intend operations in the Brazilian market not only as a distributor but also as a local producer. Located in Santa Rosa, the most recent acquisition of Polisport Group covers the manufacture of bicycle and off-road accessories, as well as baby seats for bicycles.
- Brands
- Polisport owns 9 brands, from which some were acquired, and others were created from scratch by the Group with the objective of expanding its operation: Polisport Off-Road, Polisport Bicycle, Bobike, Dieffe, Polisport MOVE, Catlike, Polisport Street, CEMOTO and MINIA.
- Polisport Off-Road
- Polisport Off-Road was the first brand to be released, in 1978, with the aim of developing replica plastics for off-road motorcycles. The growth and expertise of the group allowed the development of partnerships with some of the biggest motorcycle manufacturers. The brand has a replica range for labels such as Sherco, BETA, Husqvarna, KTM, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Gas Gas, and Rieju.
- In addition to replica plastics for the aftermarket, Polisport Off-Road offers accessories and plastics parts for enduro, motocross, and supermoto.
- Polisport Bicycle
- Released in 1996, Polisport Bicycle operates in the sportif division with a range of cycling accessories such as helmets, bottles, mudguards, and other related products. This offer covers all the cycling areas such as Road, Gravel, MTB, and Trekking.
- Bobike
- Acquired by Polisport in 2013, Bobike is a well-known Dutch brand of baby seats, that operates in the high-end segment. The brand also offers complementary products for safety, such as children’s helmets and some accessories for seats.
- DIEFFE
- DIEFFE was acquired in 2019 to complete the portfolio at the entry-level, foreseeing the entry into large distribution in Italy, Eastern Europe, and South America. DIEFFE is an “on-the-budget” brand for cycling leisure and mobility accessories to respond to the Mass-market customization strategy.
- Catlike
- Acquired in 2020 by Polisport, CATLIKE is known for its presence in the cycling world by sponsoring pro-tour teams such as the Movistar Team, Olympic and World champions.
- Distributed in more than 50 countries, CATLIKE offers a wide range of premium cycling helmets and accessories, distinguished by their ergonomic, lightweight and safe design, for ROAD and MTB.
- CEMOTO
- Acquired by Polisport in 2021, CEMOTO is an Italian manufacturer of plastics for dirt bike, motocross, street bike and enduro. Having an entry-level range of plastic parts, CEMOTO products target amateur and experienced off-road riders, offering essentially 4 to 5 parts kits.
- Polisport Street
- After more than 40 years of expertise in the off-road market, Polisport Street was launched in 2021 as a decision to move to the Street motorcycles market and put all the efforts, knowledge, and experience into the development of parts that could add something new to this segment.
- Polisport Move
- Polisport Move was founded in 2021 and is focused on the launching of products that favor family transportation and mobility, sustainable processes, and materials. Polisport Move aims to reach a very specific target audience, eager to include sustainable means of transport, mobility, and sustainable products in their daily lives.
- Minia
- Founded in 2022, Minia is the most recent brand from the Group and is the first one exclusively focused on the online channel.
- Minia offers sustainable solutions for urban mobility, namely cycling accessories for riders and bicycles.
- Innovation
- Innovation is one of the Group’s main engines, which is determined to bring knowledge and innovative solutions to the market.
- Overall, the Group counts 45 patented products, 64 designs registered, and 66 brands registered.
- Recently, in 2022, Polisport accomplished the COTEC INOVADORA Statue. Resulting from a partnership with the financial sector, the COTEC INOVADORA Statue recognizes the performance of companies that stand out for their investment in innovation, financial robustness, and economic performance. The INOVADORA Statue is a brand that reinforces the reputation and prestige of the companies and allows access to more favorable financing conditions from the financial sector.
- In 2010, the company achieved the PME Innovation Prize, an award sponsored by COTEC and Banco BPI. The main reason for this award was the leadership role adopted by Polisport in the "two wheels" market, through the production of plastic parts using the patented Inmold Plastic Decals (IPD) technology. IPD is a technology developed by Polisport and applied to plastic motorcycle parts. Tested in extreme racing conditions, this is a decoration process that fuses graphics into the plastic parts as a strong alternative to decals. This technology adds value to motorcycle manufacturers as it allows various possibilities for customization and the supply of numerous parts to major European motorcycle manufacturers such as BMW, KTM, Husqvarna, Gas Gas, and Sherco.
- Sustainability
- Polisport plays a huge role in making lifestyles increasingly sustainable through environmental, economic, and social factors.
- With a focus on the environment, Polisport reduced water consumption by 3% and achieved an 18% reduction in waste, 5% in electricity, and 27% in CO2 emissions (2021 figures). In addition, Polisport and its brands are working on more sustainable solutions. For the cardboard and paper components, for example, there is a preference for using the FSC mark.
- On a social level, the company adopts policies that promote the well-being and equity among the employees. To make this possible, Polisport provides health and life insurance, an annual training plan, performance evaluation system, profit sharing, support through partnerships with local entities, among others.
- Regarding the community surrounding, Polisport runs charity auctions, supports charities, and promotes essential social practices such as donating blood.
- In the future Polisport intends to focus on and develop actions in areas such as renewable and affordable energy, as well as in sustainable production and consumption practices, aiming to ensure that society lives sustainably.
- Other initiatives
- Save the Bees
- Polisport understands social responsibility as part of its DNA and therefore on 2022 World Arbor Day, the Group announces the "Save The Bees" program, activated by the Bobike brand, which released a sum of 0.50 cents for each yellow Bobike One chair sold. The group recently donated €2,700 to the NGO British Beekeepers' Association, based in the United Kingdom.
- Bees play a crucial role in agriculture everywhere and represent an irreplaceable link in food, helping the production of more than 30 percent of the world’s food.
- According to Pedro Araújo, "It is possible for us all to play an active role when it comes to bee protection. Plant flowers and plants in your garden, or even on your balcony, creating conditions for bees to thrive. Choose locally produced food whenever possible and preferably organic. Prefer the use of natural pesticides rather than aggressive chemicals or, like us, support an association that promotes the protection of the world's most valuable species."
- In summary, Bobike developed a chair that helps to save the most valuable species on Earth.
- Da casa Fiz Mundo
- Polisport joined the project “Casa Fiz do Mundo - São Tomé” which supports more than 1000 children, from pre-school to 6th grade. The Group supports these children with food, educational material, sewing materials, hygienic and health products, as well as childcare items.
- Moreover, a group of volunteers from Polisport goes to São Tomé to unload it and distribute the supplies. These people give trainings to preschool and elementary school students, provide health programs, and organize after-school recreation activities.
- More than being concerned about the local community, Polisport acts to ensure the sustainable development on a global scale.
- Awards and recognitions
- · Prémio COTEC-BPI (2010)
- · Prémio PME Inovação (2010)
- · IF Design Awards (2011)
- · Red Dot Award (2017)
- · EQTM® - European Quality Trademark (2022)
- · ISO 14001 (2022)
- External links
- ·
Polisport Group Website (German/English/Spanish/French/Italian/Portuguese)
- ·
Polisport Bicycle Website (German/English/Spanish/French/Italian/Portuguese)
- ·
Polisport Off-Road Website (German/English/Spanish/French/Italian/Portuguese)
- ·
Polisport Street Website(German/English/Spanish/French/Italian/Portuguese)
- ·
Polisport Group LinkedIn
- ·
Polisport Off-Road Instagram
- ·
Polisport Bicycle Instagram
- ·
Polisport Move Instagram
- ·
Polisport Street Instagram
- ·
Polisport Brasil Instagram
- ·
Polisport USA Instagram
- ·
Polsiport Molds Instagram
- ·
Polisport Plastics Australia Instagram
- ·
Polisport Plastics South Africa Instagram
- ·
Polisport Indonesia Instagram
- References
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"Polisport only has hands to foreign customers". Retrieved 4 April 2017
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“A criação da Bikinnov é um dia histórico para o setor das duas rodas e mobilidade suave –Pedro Araújo”
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