For high end, we use High Performance 7005 aluminium alloy which has a very low density combined with high strength due to the special alloy and the hardening heat treatment. By triple butting or even quadruple butted tubing, aluminium tubes are reinforced where required and reduced where possible. In addition we use Special tube shapes, manufactured with Hydroform technology to better cope with the directional forces. The low density and high strength as well as the butting and the Hydroform technology enable us to make high performance frames with an ultimate level of stiffness.

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A plain tube is placed in a mould with the specific form. The tube is filled with a mixture of liquids, often an oil mixture, which is put under high pressure. It presses the material into the negative form of the mould and gives it its shape. The manufacturing of this part concentrates, in the first place, on technical and stability issues related to the forces and stresses the part will be subject to as well as on reduced weight. Besides, hydroforming also has some great design aspects. Hydroforming enables us to make optimally light and strong shapes and internal partitions for our frames.

With press-fit bearings, the outer bearing ring is pressed directly into the frame housing and not screwed-in as usual. With its wider housing, the down tube and the chain stays are joined with the full width. Because the width of the housing is a parameter in calculating the stiffness, every millimetre of additional width gives a significant improvement of lateral stiffness, whilst retaining the comfort-bringing resilience of the chain stays.

For the first time in 2011 we are also manufacturing top tubes and seat tubes of the new AMS ALU models using this hydroforming process, which has proved its worth. In conventional hydroforming processes this custom form and technical advantages cannot be achieved. As this manufacturing method reduces the number of welds, the weight is reduced with a simultaneous increase in stability.

To protect our high-end aluminium frames, they are built with the CUBE Frame Save System replaceable derailleur hanger. The thread is in the hanger and not in the frame as usual. In case of a crash, this hanger can be easily and quickly replaced by a new one.

Joints in high-quality aluminum frames are specially finished via this method and so create the impresssion of seamless tube design. This generates the visual effect of molding and ensures high load-bearing capacity.

On polished and brushed aluminium and all HPC frames the logos and graphics are applied in multi-layer wet paint. We use this surface treatment technology mainly to save weight.