Marzocchi to cease operations: Reports

  • Apr 23, 2015
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Italian suspension manufacturer Marzocchi is reported to be on the verge of closure, according to reports coming out of Italy. This means that top-end brands like BMW, Ducati, MV Agusta and Bimota will have to look for alternative front forks in future

Marzocchi Forks

Italian reports suggest that the Marzocchi brand may soon close down after a decision was taken to close down the Bologna factory by parent company Tenneco.

Marzocchi is owned since 2008 by American parent firm Tenneco, and the suspension manufacturer’s closure was imminent with plans first mooted in 2011 for closure. But labour negotiations resulted in laying off 50 of the company’s 170 employees.

Marzocchi is known to manufacture high quality shocks and has been the favoured choice of top-end brands like BMW, Ducati, MV Agusta and Bimota. According to reports, motorcycle manufacturers that use Marzocchi shocks as an OEM part have already been notified that they will no longer be supplied with suspension pieces once the existing stock of Marzocchi forks are exhausted.

It is widely speculated that parent company Tenneco no longer wants to be involved in the suspension business, since the motorcycle suspension industry has become increasingly competitive and saturated with companies like Ohlins, Sachs and WP providing a lot of OEMs with suspension systems.

To make Marzocchi more competitive would mean more investment, particularly to keep up with the advent of electronically adjustable suspension systems and semi-active electronic suspension becoming standard on premium motorcycles.

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