Independent Fabrication

Independent Fabrication
Company typePrivate
IndustryBicycles
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
HeadquartersLynn, Massachusetts , U.S.
Key people
Keith Rouse, Shawn Estes
ProductsCustom Bicycles
Revenueundisclosed
Number of employees
13
WebsiteIndependent Fabrication

Independent Fabrication (IF) is a bicycle company located in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA. IF fabricates bicycle frames from steel, titanium and carbon fiber. Independent Fabrication has twice won the Bicycling Magazine "Dream Bike of the Year" with its carbon-tubed, titanium-lugged XS road frame.[1] Independent Fabrication was founded by and is owned by its employees. In 2005, the company took part in a CNN television program called The TurnAround.[2] The show paired a growing business with a mentor from a more successful company. Independent Fabrication was paired with Jeff Swartz, chief executive of Timberland.[3]

In 2011, the company announced that its factory would move from Somerville, Massachusetts, to Newmarket, New Hampshire, within the year. A handful of IF's employees made the move with the company, and several former employees returned.

In 2022 Independent Fabrication was purchased by longtime employee Keith Rouse. He moved the company back to Massachusetts, not far from their Somerville location.

  1. ^ Road Bike Reviews: Editor's Choice 2006 - bicycling.com
  2. ^ CNN/Money: The Turnaround
  3. ^ "Dirt Rag {Web Rag: News}". Archived from the original on 2008-03-26. Retrieved 2008-07-02.