Minelli Magazine - Shooting Sports

3 reasons to choose a European wooden bow maker

Written by Alberto Franchini | August 05 2021

The growing interest in archery as a recreational sport is one of the key factors that has positively affected today’s bow market.

People look for high-performance and durable risers that correspond perfectly to their needs, but they also ask for “just in time” services.  

Therefore, it is important to find the right wooden bow maker that can satisfy your and your clients’ needs. Let’s discuss why a European OEM partner is the best choice.

Looking for a reliable wooden bow maker? Here’s our advice

According to research by Business Wire, the global archery equipment market reached a value of US$3.21 billion in 2020 and is expected to continue moderate growth during the next five years.

After the pandemic emergency and the many restrictions to individual freedom, an increasing number of people are more prone to enjoy contact with nature. Archery lets practitioners be outdoors in complete silence and focus on concentration as a form of meditation.

Besides this reason, increasing female participation and international events have boosted market growth.

Archery equipment refers to various tools used in archery, such as:

  • risers
  • arrows
  • stringers
  • targets
  • finger tabs
  • bracers
  • bow stands

The riser is the most important part of the arm, as its stability and structural stiffness determine the accuracy of the arrow launch.

Wood is the ideal material for bow risers, as it is not too lightweight (the lighter the bow, the less steady the arm) but is resistant and durable.

A high-performance riser must be solid and have the right shape and weight to ensure a perfect shot. Precision is essential in wooden bow manufacturing.

Therefore, you must rely on an expert bow maker that can guarantee perfect products customized according to your clients’ needs.

Why choose a European OEM riser manufacturer?

There are 3 main reasons.

#1 A European manufacturer guarantees selected raw materials and accurate quality control

Solid wood for bow riser production must be perfect: knots and discolorations cannot be present, there must be the right level of humidity, and the country of origin must be certified. Wood must also be FSC certified to ensure it comes from responsibly managed forests.

Archers care about the environment and prefer buying a sustainable object.

Northern European FSC-certified birch is the best and most resistant wood for recurve bow risers.

Screws, bushings, and joints are also essential elements, and they must be exclusively made with steel or brass to ensure maximum resistance and durability.

A competent manufacturer makes many tests to guarantee the quality and performance of the riser. A Degree of Bending Test, a Stress Test, and a Breaking Load Test are essential during the design phase. Then, after production, each riser must be tested to verify if any anomalies are present. Before shipment, risers must undergo final quality control before being certified.

In the video below, you can discover more about these quality tests:

 

 

#2 A European wooden bow manufacturer can offer a wide range of finishing options

Many people believe that wooden bows are limited in terms of customization. If the manufacturer you select operates exclusively in the timber sector and is known all over the world, he will be able to offer many wood essences, wood combinations, and customization possibilities.

He will also be able to provide natural pigments and water-based finishes, which have less of an impact on the environment.

We discuss customized wooden bow risers in this article.

#3 A European partner can be more flexible during production

Large companies can provide dedicated production lines for each product manufactured and offer customizable private stocking solutions.

It means they manufacture products in advance and store them in secure and safe warehouses so that clients can order their components from stock with “just in time” delivery. This lets you save time as well as high warehouse expenses.

Dedicated production lines let wooden bow makers be more flexible, giving clients the opportunity to produce bow risers in small lots and only when clients request them. This ensures greater efficiency, major cost-effectiveness, and a greater possibility of success.

A leading company will be able to guarantee the same quality for a single product and for one million pieces.

Leading manufacturers also invest a lot of money in the newest technologies to guarantee the same precision and the highest quality for each production lot.

The wooden bow maker you choose must be ready to cooperate with you and help improve the design and characteristics of your products. He should also provide consulting services before moving to production to satisfy the most demanding customer requests.

The Minelli Group and subsidiary Minelli USA have manufactured wooden firearm stocks for the OEM market for more than 50 years, and the Archery division has been active for more than 10 years.

Thanks to our internal research & development department, our sophisticated software, and cutting-edge machines, we can produce innovative and inimitable products customized according to your clients’ preferences and needs.

We take advantage of well-known Italian craftsmanship that we translate to our American production plant, where we can produce the same top-quality wooden risers.

If you have a project in mind or need more information, contact us right now!