Syntace Technik im Detail

The legendary VR-3 fatigue test machine

Syntace simulates the loads which occur in every day use on stems and handlebars with the VR-3 test machine ("The Red Monster"). The results of these tests is incorporated in the highest performance road, multisport and mountain bike handlebars, stems and accessories available.

What the VR-3 can't test, however, is all the stress caused by vibration and long use at critical locations such as srews, joints like quick releases, etc. In time these are the points which can break eventually.

If used over a long period of time and under severe stress materials like Aluminum are subject to the risk of failing. Usually starting with a hairline crack the materieal can break. The reason for such failure is allways the oxygen in the air which slowly corrodes the alumium parts, even if they are coated or anodized. This is a natural process and could only be eliminated when using the parts in vaccum or in an protective atmosphere.

Corrosion testing

The feacts stated above are the reason for extensive corrosion testing procedures developed in cooperation with Dr. Ing. Walter Schütz and Velotech in Schweinfurt. This procedure is called "35° intermitting SCC-Test".

This salt spray test is carried out while the test products are under constant stress. The machine nicknamed "Salt Spray Monster (SSM)" puts Syntace stems through a 400 hour marathon of spraying and drying in a highly corrosive salt spray atmosphere, at 35°C and 100% humidity. This torment highly surpasses the conditions of the real world and is still one of a kind in the bicycle industyry.
Similiar testing is done today only by airplane and automobile manufacturers for a limited number of components.

The result: Syntace is convinced to produce the safest stems in this category

The introduction of these testing procedures helped Syntace to develop new production methods for stems and to precisly reinforce the clamp. The one of a kind SCC-test guarantees for durable products even under the most severe conditions.