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Factory Visit: Industry Nine, Asheville, North Carolina

24.05.2014
by

After visiting with Industry Nine owner and head engineer Clint Spiegel for a few minutes, a few things became clear. His passion for high quality in the design and manufacturing of his products. And the overall passion of employees at I-9 for putting together some pretty kick ass wheelsets.

Industry Nine, or I-9, Asheville, North Carolina. An insane amount of local riding is in the immediate area, proving to be a wonderful testing ground for I-9 products, and also World Cup downhill riders Neko Mulally and Walker and Luca Shaw.
Industry Nine, or I-9, Asheville, North Carolina. An insane amount of local riding is in the immediate area, proving to be a wonderful testing ground for I-9 products, and also World Cup downhill riders Neko Mulally and Walker and Luca Shaw.

About 20 years ago, Spiegel was exposed to the bicycle component manufacturing industry while machining parts for early Rock Shox models, when those forks were put together in the building that is now Cane Creek, back then was Dia-Compe. He also worked with some engineers at Cane Creek on hub designs that ultimately never went anywhere.
As years went by, and his own passion for riding mountain bikes grew, he re-investigated ideas on hub and drivetrain design, and realized it was time to start his own company. Industry Nine was born.

We talked a bit about manufacturing in the USA, and competing with the onslaught of parts built in Asia. “We believe in making stuff as locally as we can, and employing people in this country, rather than outsourcing everything, so part of it’s a philosophy. But also when you have an idea, and the manufacturing capabilities on hand, you’re able to realize the idea quicker and then modify and tweak it and redevelop it a lot faster than say, if you were on a computer creating a design and then sending it to Asia and waiting many, many months for it to come back. But it also gives us a lot more control with our processes, our quality can be higher, and it also allows us to be a lot more custom. We are able to offer a lot more variations in the builds, we’re able to adapt to new industry standards, like axle configurations, very, very quickly and bring them to market and be more responsive to our customers.”

“We try to take a philosophy of no compromise, using the best material, the best processes, the secondary processes that increase the longevity. Everything we do, we try to maximize that quality.”

It was quite refreshing to see some gals working in the assembly area. For whatever reason, this is usually the domain of guys. This I-9 employee has one of the more crucial jobs of putting together all of the miniature pieces that make up hubs. The focus required to do this all day long is great.
It was quite refreshing to see some gals working in the assembly area. For whatever reason, this is usually the domain of guys. This I-9 employee has one of the more crucial jobs of putting together all of the miniature pieces that make up hubs. The focus required to do this all day long is great.
The assembly room at I-9 can be a hectic place. Every single hub or wheel that goes out the door is put together, by hand, right here. And of course this crew is powered by the “Party Size” potato chip bag. They need those calories.
The assembly room at I-9 can be a hectic place. Every single hub or wheel that goes out the door is put together, by hand, right here. And of course this crew is powered by the “Party Size” potato chip bag. They need those calories.
Facial hair in the bike industry can be impressive at times.
Facial hair in the bike industry can be impressive at times.
Want a little bling for your bike? Industry Nine can fulfill that need. In addition to being ultra durable hubs and wheelsets, you can look like a rock star with a custom anodized color combo.
Want a little bling for your bike? Industry Nine can fulfill that need. In addition to being ultra durable hubs and wheelsets, you can look like a rock star with a custom anodized color combo.
I-9 does all of their own anodizing, in house. After experimenting with shops in North Carolina, and then around the country, I-9 owner Clint Spiegel decided that between the turn around time, money, and stress caused, it was something that was totally worth bringing in house, and perfecting that process.
I-9 does all of their own anodizing, in house. After experimenting with shops in North Carolina, and then around the country, I-9 owner Clint Spiegel decided that between the turn around time, money, and stress caused, it was something that was totally worth bringing in house, and perfecting that process.
An I-9 hub being machined at the neighboring machine shop, started by Clint’s father. Now co-owners of the two businesses, keeping things in the family is important. The machine shop has employees with over 25 years at that location and are masters of their craft. Being small, efficient, and high quality focused can keep you in business and flourishing, as I-9 is.
An I-9 hub being machined at the neighboring machine shop, started by Clint’s father. Now co-owners of the two businesses, keeping things in the family is important. The machine shop has employees with over 25 years at that location and are masters of their craft. Being small, efficient, and high quality focused can keep you in business and flourishing, as I-9 is.
Spiegel demonstrating one of the super high tech CNC machines that can drill holes in seemingly a thousand different angles and patterns, something that sets the radical design of Torch hubs apart, with straight pull spokes offering greater strength and durability than regular J-bend varieties.
Spiegel demonstrating one of the super high tech CNC machines that can drill holes in seemingly a thousand different angles and patterns, something that sets the radical design of Torch hubs apart, with straight pull spokes offering greater strength and durability than regular J-bend varieties.
Industry Nine makes all of their own spokes, and this machine places the laser etched name on each and every one. They don’t just look cool. The spokes are created with wrench flat surfaces, eliminating the need for a screw on nipple, and another weak spot.
Industry Nine makes all of their own spokes, and this machine places the laser etched name on each and every one. They don’t just look cool. The spokes are created with wrench flat surfaces, eliminating the need for a screw on nipple, and another weak spot.
The pawls in all of I-9’s hubs are cut from crazy high strength A-2 Tool steel, and to such exacting dimensions, that a special machine had to be brought in to cut them. Another ingredient in the durability recipe.
The pawls in all of I-9’s hubs are cut from crazy high strength A-2 Tool steel, and to such exacting dimensions, that a special machine had to be brought in to cut them. Another ingredient in the durability recipe.
Raw aluminum in one end, spokes and hub parts out the other. With the machine shop just a couple hundred feet away from the assembly and office building of I-9, quality control is kept to high standards and tight tolerances.
Raw aluminum in one end, spokes and hub parts out the other. With the machine shop just a couple hundred feet away from the assembly and office building of I-9, quality control is kept to high standards and tight tolerances.
Raw material. A lot of it.
Raw material. A lot of it.

Moving onto the subject of the amazing riding in the Asheville area and how that benefits I-9. “Obviously, being where we are, any of our designs have a great test bed, a great group of riders to test it. When we’re bringing out a new product, between the riders here, the people we know, and our buddies are ready to ride it immediately, and really put it through some abuse.”

“It works out great for people who have moved to this area for the amazing riding. We find them, and those hard core riders are working here, which brings a lot of passion to the company, a lot of energy, a lot of new ideas. It works out great. I think this is a unique area that really helps this company thrive.”

I-9’s six pawls have a proprietary design, and utilize phased engagement to double the number of engagement points from 60 to 120. In the end, what we need to know, is an almost instant engagement freehub, with very little drag.
I-9’s six pawls have a proprietary design, and utilize phased engagement to double the number of engagement points from 60 to 120. In the end, what we need to know, is an almost instant engagement freehub, with very little drag.
Spoke ends after getting dipped in a bath of secret sauce, just prior to being assembled into a wheel.
Spoke ends after getting dipped in a bath of secret sauce, just prior to being assembled into a wheel.
Spiegel likes to say he has a family of veteran bike mechanics, with years of experience who all have spoke wrench calluses and intimate product knowledge. Everyone at I-9 knows how to build high quality, hand built, wheels.
Spiegel likes to say he has a family of veteran bike mechanics, with years of experience who all have spoke wrench calluses and intimate product knowledge. Everyone at I-9 knows how to build high quality, hand built, wheels.
It’s a small space, with a lot of expensive parts. I was amazed at the groove of wheel building activity. The music was low, and the concentration level was high, but not at a stressed pace. A crew of bike lovers, rocking out to the hum of quality construction.
It’s a small space, with a lot of expensive parts. I was amazed at the groove of wheel building activity. The music was low, and the concentration level was high, but not at a stressed pace. A crew of bike lovers, rocking out to the hum of quality construction.
Custom made spokes, waiting to become part of a custom made wheelset. Color choice by you.
Custom made spokes, waiting to become part of a custom made wheelset. Color choice by you.
I-9 employee and dirt jump honch Joe Haley demonstrating some lunch time moves on the dirt jump track, feet from the back door.
I-9 employee and dirt jump honch Joe Haley demonstrating some lunch time moves on the dirt jump track, feet from the back door.

One thing that sets I-9 apart from other companies is Spiegel’s experience basically growing up in a machine shop. Not only does he know all the various CNC machines inside and out, but he knows how to create a radical design manufacturable. Sometimes, amazing designs will sit on the table for years, because they’re simply cost prohibitive to bring to real life. Spiegel’s designs come from a huge pool of experience in multiple worlds. The bike design world, and what works really well for the job it’s needed to do, but also what can be produced, at a high quality, at a cost that’s beneficial to remaining in business, but also reachable for conscious customers. “Form follows function. I’m very much into making it beautiful, but, it’s gotta be beautiful based on the function it’s performing. It absolutely has to follow the function of the part.”

Where does I-9 go from here? They’re growing, does it continue? “As long as we stay creative, and pay attention to detail and quality, I think we’ll keep growing, and hopefully, strongly.”

Words, Photos: Daniel Dunn

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