Case Study: Straitline Components achieves 3× product line growth and halves physical prototyping time with SolidWorks

Getting gnarly on extreme bicycle component design with SolidWorks

Straitline Components, founded by brothers Dennis and DJ Paulson out of a Victoria, BC machine shop, designs extra‑rugged bicycle parts for stunt, BMX, dirt, and slope‑style riders. Facing the limits of 2D CAD for extreme‑load components and the high cost of physical prototyping and titanium machining, Straitline Components chose SolidWorks design and simulation solutions to move to a 3D, parametric development workflow.

Using SolidWorks design and simulation tools (including SolidWorks Simulation) for virtual prototyping and analysis, Straitline Components tripled its product line from five to 15 items, halved physical prototyping time and cost, and enhanced marketing with 3D imagery — even showcasing a hydraulic brake line detangler on the “Edge Factor” TV show. SolidWorks enabled faster design iteration, stress‑and‑weight optimization, and reduced real‑world testing, delivering measurable time and cost savings.

Straitline Components

DJ Paulson

Co-Owner