Media365
02:58
Dahon’s founder discusses how innovation has boosted his brand’s growth
Dahon’s founder discusses how innovation has boosted his brand’s growth
Physicist and aerospace engineer Dr David Hon, who was a keen cyclist throughout his student days, turned his back on a highly successful career researching laser energy for a leading American company to follow his dream – and launch his own business.
Today his company Dahon, which he set up in 1982 and named after himself, is the world’s largest manufacturer of folding bicycles. Hon’s contribution to innovation in the industry has led him to be described as the “father of modern folding bicycles”.
Known for the ingenious high-quality design of its easily stored and transported bicycles, the brand’s subsidiary, Dahon Tech, officially debuted on the main board of Hong Kong’s stock exchange in September.
Dahon Tech’s initial public offering, trading under the stock code 02543.HK, was more than 7,550 times oversubscribed.
It attracted a total investment of US$127.6 million from companies including Allianz Global Investors Asia Pacific, Greater Bay Area Development Fund Management, Harvest and Veken Hong Kong.
Hon said the listing, which marked a new chapter for the company, had provided funds that would be used to boost its production capacity, advance research and development projects, and support initiatives to help build greater awareness of its brand.
