A Few Points To Consider
How Kinetic Developed
the Concept of Design Through the Best Shapers in the World
2004 - A Big Transition
How Kinetic Operates
The RND Process in
Western Australia
Loyal to the End User
on the Quality of Performance and Innovation
A
FEW POINTS TO CONSIDER
- Kinetic Sailboards is a family run business with owner James
Chen, his wife Christine along with their son Frank Chen.
- Kinetic Sailboards is the only board company in the world
to manufacture their own production boards.
- The Kinetic Factory first began in 1977 in Taiwan and has
steadily grown into an international company producing sailboards,
surfboards, kiteboards and fishing boats.
- The RND team live in Western Australia utilizing its consistent
wind and wide variety of world class conditions.
- Head designers Martin Littlewood and Robbie Radis are amongst
the best in the world with Robbie being 6 x AWT Champion.
- Kinetic Sailboards are distributed around the world.
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HOW
KINETIC DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT OF DESIGN THROUGH THE BEST SHAPERS
IN THE WORLD
Kinetic Sailboards has always prided itself on only associated itself
with some of the leading boardshapers in the world. Starting of with
our first contracted shaper was Ed Angulo of Oahu. Then, we worked
together with Maui based, Jimmy Lewis, through Japans New Creation's
introduction. We then signed a contract with famous shaper in Bienne/
Swiss- Jean Bouldoires. Jean and Kinetic had a great relationship which
got them great reviews through windsurfing magazine throughout 1994.
Jean then shaped for AHD a few years later and now shapes Olympic design
for JP / Neil Pryde. We then signed the contract with famous shaper
in Western Australia- Neil Scheltema and Jimmy Lewis again! Jimmy becomes
our long term friend and shaper for Kinetic and our unique client for
Kite boards production exclusively! We also worked together with famous
shaper in Canada- Robert Mulder on Roberts sailboards OEM.
In 1998-2000, Kinetic was working as an OEM supplier for North Shore
Maui sailboards shortly. Through Kinetic North Shore Mauis production
boards gathered a reputation through quality and performace with the
sailboard industry and overseas riders. This marked the first milestone
for Kinetic in sailboard technology. Through North Shore Maui's
contact, we worked together with famous shaper Jay Laswell and
Richard Green. Through all these great relationships and contacts Kinetic's
database record of all shapers' designs provides a good references
analysis the merits of each design.
In 2001, Marty Littlewood joined the Kinetic team to be our
distributor in Australia. Robbie Radis followed and started the
evaluation on all Kinetic designs through his unique testing
system working with Martin closely. Marty has brought invaluable
experience in shaping through his many years with his own label
Delta Designs. The unique relationship between Marty and Robbie
has led Kinetic to a new exciting direction. Developing and accelerating
the improvment of the designs in many aspects.
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2004
- A Big Transition
James also started to manufacture surfboards, fishing boats and
kite boards for other companies and by 2003 the factory in Taiwan
was not big enough to handle the demand. By way of bringing
more items to Kinetic, James needed to learn more technologies than
Sailboards. Its innovation and research in technology benefits all
items Kinetic are producing. With Kinetic Sailboards also branching
into new market in Europe, it clearly showed Kinetic
needed to be expanded. James then decided in 2004 to move Vietnam
and build a large more advanced factory. Vietnam is now completed and
in production, producing the full range of Kinetic sailboards
along with surf boards, kiteboards, and fishing boats for companies
all over the world.
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How
Kinetic operates
James Chen, owner and managing director, along with his son Frank over
look the production. Christine, James wife, looks after the business
side of Kinetic. Robbie Radis is in charge of boards' development, RND
and marketing. Kinetic's graphic designer, Jeremy Stewart assists Robbie
with product and brand development through marketing, and also manages
the website. Robbie and Jeremy are both based in Perth, Western Australia. Martin
Littlewood is our head boards shaper and working closely with
Robbie on the wave, freestyle and the free ride line. Pat Redman, Blair
Simpson, Chris Partington and Jane Seaman all contribute to the
development of wave boards. Martin Littlewood is based in Margaret
River Western Australia where he has a factory he makes the proto
type wave board under the Delta Designs label. Robbie together with
James Chen work closely on the Kinetic race line development as well
as the fins' development. Robbie uses Chris Lockwood to assist
him in board the race board testing in Perth, Western Australia.
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The
RND process in Western Australia
With the Wave, freeride and freestyle line's Martin makes the proto
type boards in Margaret River and then has Robbie, Blair, Pat and Jane
test the boards. Blair and Jane are much lighter than the other rider's
so, they focus on the smaller boards, while Chris, Pat and Robbie are
a little bit heavier so they focusing on the mid range to bigger sizes
boards. We found this combination is working very well in order
to get great RND on the whole range. After the best boards in every
size have been tested they are then sent to the Kinetic Factory for
moulding. Robbie goes to the factory to go over all the boards' details
with James. After the boards are moulded and a board is made out of
each mould. It will be sent back to Australia along with the originals
so they can be compared to ensure they are an exact replica. Once we
are happy that the production is as good as the custom we then releasing
the new board line into the market.
The same process is carried out with our slalom and race
line but with the race line Robbie goes to the Kinetic factory
to make the proto type boards with James and then takes
them back to Western Australia to test with Chris Lockwood other
team racers.
The graphics on the boards are designed together with
Jeremy and Robbie then the final designs are sent to Vietnam
for the production!
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Loyal
to the end users on the quality of performance and innovation
Kinetic is a unique company chasing for innovation on performance of
sailboards. The Australian RND team make the dream come true by way
of the good system of testing set up by Robbie Radis. Reviewing a
series of test results through the team carefully, we study the
reason why a few changes make a difference to the performance compared
to our originals in all aspects. This is the reason why our design
has its merits and stands us out against our competitors. Kinetic provides
top class imitating production technology in order to provide the best
performance on each production board againt the best customs in the
world market!
Kinetic is loyal to the end user on the quality
of performance and innovation that opens up a new vision for
the rider to chase the best performance boards through to
the production directly!
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