Thijs Industrial Designs is a small company existing since 1987 founded by Derk Thijs.

Derk is a kind of pioneer in sports and new techniques.
He was a very successful windsurfer in his young years. Derk gained a lot of national and international Championships.

Derk also was the first windsurfer to break the word sailing speed record ( 1977) , the first windsurfer to do a waterstart ( 1975) and the first windsurfer to build and sail a sinker ( Christmas 1977) 

Derk was also one of the first hangglider pilots in the Netherlands.

He started working on recumbent bikes in 1983 and since 1985 he specialized in rowingbikes.