Carbon frames 100% made in Italy: 3T's challenge

Most bicycles carbon fiber frames (including high-end ones) are manufactured in Asia. This is because the volumes of the global market are enormous, and labor costs are lower in the East.

But does this always ensure quality?

To address this debate, 3T - the Italian company headquartered in Presezzo (BG) - has reorganized its production processes to design and build frames directly within its own premises.

Thus, after producing the Torno aero crankset in Italy, the Bergamo-based factory has shifted its focus to 100% Made in Italy frames, introducing the new Racemax Italia and Extrema Italia models.

At the core of these bicycles lies a production process optimized for the demands of the current market, with a focus on performance enhancement: the result is a lightweight and high-performing frame like no one before.

The 100% Italian production is based on an innovative process. Typically, to build carbon fiber frames, pre-impregnated fiber sheets are manually inserted into molds. The raw product, once dried in energy-consuming ovens, requires significant manual finishing work and can exhibit significant defects.

3T, on the other hand, revolutionizes everything: the main tubes are made by wrapping dry carbon filaments around a mandrel.

The process is carried out by sophisticated CNC machines (designed and built specifically for 3T) that increase product quality and reduce manual labor.

In a second step, resin is injected using the Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process.

Result: zero defects and drastically reduced finishing times. Not to mention shorter drying times, leading to cost and environmental impact savings.

Speaking of sustainability, this innovative process achieves several objectives. Firstly, producing in Italy ensures compliance with EU regulations regarding environmental protection. It avoids wastage and processing scraps (inevitable with the traditional pre-impregnated carbon fiber sheet procedure). Dry fiber filaments do not require energy for storage and preservation; furthermore, the RTM process requires less electrical current than the pre-impregnated fiber process. The entire production emits no toxic fumes whatsoever. And it avoids emitting tons of CO2 into the atmosphere for frame transportation from the East.

RACEMAX ITALIA & EXTREMA ITALIA

This is how Racemax Italia and Extrema Italia, the two top-of-the-line models emphasizing 100% Italian production in their names, are born, through an innovative carbon fiber processing method with artisanal attention to detail, completed with hand-painted finishes in Italy.

Thus, for the Racemax Italia, you can choose from 3 different colors inspired by the Italian flag: Green, White, or Red.

Extrema Italia differs technically with even more generous tire clearances, accommodating gravel and MTB tires up to 29"x2.2" or 700x57c. The chosen colors are inspired by natural elements, representing the habitat of this adventure-oriented model: Terra and Mercurio. Both feature a transparent logo revealing the carbon fiber weave.

For an extra exclusive touch, both models are also available in a customizable "RTP" (Ready To Paint) version, according to customer requests.

Finally, Project X is a special edition with a transparent finish that highlights the visible carbon fiber layering.

The Racemax Italia and Extrema Italia frames are set up for internal cable routing in combination with the More handlebar attachment.

They are available as frame kits only and, of course, as complete bicycles in various configurations.

TORNO CRACKSET

In addition to Racemax Italia and Extrema Italia, it is worth noting that these frames are not 3T's first experience in 100% Made in Italy carbon fiber production: the first project to come directly from the Bergamo factory, dating back to 2018, is the Torno aero crankset, the lightest and fastest on the market.

Cicli Corsa, as always, is ready to assist you if you are considering purchasing 3T products.

We are just a few kilometers away from the 3T Presezzo headquarters, on the outskirts of Bergamo, and we have established a solid relationship with the historical Italian brand aimed at maximizing customer satisfaction.