By 
To walk through Touratech’s factory in Niedereschach on the fringes of the Black Forest in southern Germany, is, on one hand, jaw-dropping and enlightening. On the other hand, it’s probably just as you’d expect it to be.
I’d gone to Germany knowing full well that Touratech is one of the most respected brands in adventure-motorcycle touring, so I’d expected a top-notch operation with some high-tech machinery.
Yet, after meeting Touratech’s founder, Herbert Schwarz, and realising what an everyday, knock-about kind of bloke he was, it would’ve been easy to fall into the trap of thinking Touratech was a backyard operation punching well above its weight.
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
It’s especially spectacular on a clear night.
Welcome
Niedereschach is like many small country towns in Germany, with spectacular scenery, a busy local trade and regular sightings of tractors rolling down the main street.
Touratech itself is situated right in the middle of town, not on the outskirts in a purpose-built industrial area, and in many ways this gives the place extra character.
Half-a-dozen adventure bikes in the car park quickly revealed the popularity of the place, with riders using Touratech as either a destination or as a stop-over on one of their rides through the beautiful countryside.
We’ll get to the factory soon, but after entering the main building and passing through the coffee shop-cum-café that feeds and waters weary riders, you enter the ‘lolly shop’ – the retail area that can literally eat up hours of your day. Whether you want to touch, feel or purchase any of the Touratech products on display, or simply wish to drool over the dozens of Touratech-equipped motorcycles, you’ll come away more than impressed and ready to tell your mates of the experience.
No matter how high-tech things may get,some things still need the human touch.
Plenty of riders stop by to visit the Touratech facility.
Pannier lids by the dozen.
The public are welcome at the store and café.
Taken as read
The Touratech factory is off-limits to most, but a visit as part of the Touratech Importers’ Meeting meant we were given a guided look through the factory where over 7000 specially designed products are made. And we weren’t to be disappointed.
As of October 2014, Touratech Germany employs over 300 staff, with another 50 or 60 expected to be employed over the coming months as the product range increases. Parts for touring motorcycles and touring and sports enduros are made for BMW, Husqvarna,KTM, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Triumph, Ducati, Aprilia and Kawasaki, and the range includes tried-and-tested pannier systems and soft luggage solutions; the best shock absorbers for rallying and touring; seats for significantly enhanced riding comfort; motorcycle suits that are revolutionising the textile motorcycle clothing industry and the accessories needed to tackle the world’s most challenging trails.
But as a Touratech customer or one with an interest in the brand, you probably already know that.
Based right in the middle of town, not out in an industrial estate somewhere.
Classified
What you may not know is that in 2014 the company spent AUD$2.05 million on new machinery that makes this humble factory in southern Germany one of the most state-of-the-art manufacturing plants around.
Precision laser cutting machines and high-tech robots have revolutionised Touratech’s manufacturing, and while the addition of new technology has made some jobs redundant, it’s also increased product flow andcreated more jobs in other areas.
In fact, the unemployment rate around Niedereschach is virtually non-existent, and the company can have real trouble filling all the positions that become available.
Even as Touratech importers, there were some areas of the factory that were simply off-limits to us, with pre-production bike models under wraps and new designs still top secret.
Even welding is clean and extremely efficient.
Simple start
Touratech has a cherished relationship with manufacturers such as BMW, KTM and Yamaha, and has been an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for many years. Stainless-steel luggage racks are sold as OEM product by BMW for their R1200GS Adventure (as are other parts), while importers of Japanese Yamahas in several European countries also fit various Touratech products as OEM parts through the Yamaha dealer network.
And all are made at the Niedereschach factory.
With the hive of activity going on, it’s hard to believe that Herbert Schwarz started Touratech on a coffee table in the basement of his flat in 1990, where he built a simple navigational device called the IMO 200 T.
There are some repetitive tasks, like welding seams in bashplates, where the speed and precision of a robot just can’t be beaten.
Right here, right now
Moving forward to 2014 – the company will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year – the product range may have increased by more than 7000, the turnover might have skyrocketed and the number of staff ballooned, yet Herbert seems just as down-to-earth as I’m sure he was back then.
He and fellow Touratech founder, Jochen Schanz, both live with their families within walking distance of the factory, and happily chat with customers about their products or riding adventures, whether that be in the Touratech shop, or at any of the shows or events that they attend.
That, in many ways, is the true meaning of Touratech.
‘Made for Adventure’ is the company’s slogan, and their products really are.
Whether it’s Herbert and his family testing future products on one of their motorcycle adventures around the world, a team in the Dakar Rally pushing them to the limit, or simply a motorcycle owner like yourself using the parts on the trip of a lifetime, they really have been designed, tested and ‘made for adventure’.
With the factory tour over and my mind overflowing with what I’d seen, there was only one thing left to do…
head back to the Touratech shop for one last look and to purchase a couple of items that I was sure I really did need!
It’s an Aladdin’s Cave for an adventure rider.
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