Ortlieb motorbike luggage: Touratech becomes sole distributor
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Waterproof bags by Ortlieb are extremely resilient, completely watertight and an essential companion on many motorbike tours. All motorbike luggage by the Middle Franconian manufacturer will now be marketed exclusively under the name “Touratech Waterproof made by Ortlieb”. The rack-packs, saddle bags and tank bags will be available via motorcycle equipment specialists Touratech, based in Niedereschach, as well as through other dealers in Germany and worldwide via Touratech’s distributor network.
Established in 1982 at Heilsbronn in the Ansbach district of Bavaria, Ortlieb Sportartikel GmbH have made a name for themselves with high-quality outdoor equipment. Their products are used wherever waterproofing is essential, such as on the way to the office – or on a wilderness adventure. There are solid reasons for Touratech to become the sole distributor of Ortlieb’s motorcycle line. As previously with Adventure Rack Packs, the product range is being further optimised for motorcyclists in close collaboration with Ortlieb, and new developments added. These include packsacks and saddle bags, tank bags, water bags, document bags, outer pockets and many more. “Touratech Waterproof made by Ortlieb” is a brand that combines Ortlieb’s experience in manufacturing waterproof equipment with Touratech’s expertise in adventure touring.
A love of adventure unites the two companies, which have followed parallel paths in many ways. Like Touratech, Ortlieb’s first products came about through a personal need to develop equipment for individual use that didn’t exist before. For Touratech founder Herbert Schwarz, it was the IMO 200T motorcycle computer and homemade aluminium panniers. For Hartmut Ortlieb, it was waterproof saddle bags, made from lorry tarpaulins, for cycling trips. Both companies have an impressive history of success. They attach the utmost importance to “quality made in Germany”, and house all departments – from development and production to sales and marketing – at their headquarters.
“I am delighted that we can offer this additional range of products under the Touratech brand. ‘Touratech Waterproof made by Ortlieb’ is precisely tailored to motorcyclists’ requirements,” says Touratech sales manager Martin Wickert. “We see obvious advantages in partnering exclusively with market leader Ortlieb in this segment, and pooling the knowledge of both firms in the interests of our customers.”
Ortlieb employs 170 people and offers a range of more than 500 individual items. All waterproof original ORTLIEB products are manufactured in a high-frequency welding process directly at the company’s headquarters in Heilsbronn.
www.touratech.com
Simon Reeve, a familiar face on British TV and renowned for his extraordinary journeys to over 110 countries, will be speaking at The Adventure Travel Show.
… we turn left onto Highway 6 and head south. To my right are driftwood strewn beaches, and ahead an empty road winds through the trees and fields. Every now and again I pick up the rhythms of the bends and it feels like I'm floating over the road. We stop briefly at Ross, once a gold mining town, and now recovering from its near closure thanks to tourism (you can even try your hand at panning for gold.) And then the serious riding begins.