Plastics manufacturer develops first recyclable plastic bicycle frame
E-bike manufacturer Advanced Bikes is relying on igus for future frame production. As agreed by Helge von Fugler, founder and managing director of Advanced wi8th Jan Philipp Hollmann, head of bike components at igus.
Midrand, Gauteng, SA (31 July 2024) – Industrial polymer developer and manufacturer, igus, has developed the first injection-moulded polymer bicycle frame designed for advanced bikes, a milestone in sustainable mobility. igus collaborated with German e-bike manufacturer Advanced Bikes to create a bicycle frame made entirely of recyclable plastic material using injection moulding technology.
e-bikes are becoming increasingly popular driven by increased environmental awareness. Traditional bicycle frames, predominantly made from steel, aluminium, or carbon fibre, are produced through energy-intensive processes and often end up in landfills.
Advanced Bikes has partnered with igus to develop a sustainable composite plastic bicycle frame for their new Reco Urban trekking e-bike. Leveraging decades of expertise in plastics manufacturing and experience from its previously developed 50% recycled RCYL bike, igus has designed a frame that is both eco-friendly and efficient.
The new bike frame is 3.3 kg
The new frame boasts impressive strength, rigidity, and lightweight properties, thanks to a composite material made from high-performance plastics and carbon fibres. igus utilised a multi-part injection moulding tool to create the complex geometry of the bicycle frame, resulting in a 3.3 kg lightweight, single-piece frame that is corrosion-resistant, durable, and free from weld seams.
The company envisions extending this recyclable approach to other bicycle components like pannier racks, rims, handlebars, and seat posts, aiming to realise a fully recyclable e-bike.
igus’s innovation extends beyond bicycle frames to various components made from lubrication-free high-performance plastics. The technology is being applied to develop new bicycle components such as wheels, cranks and handlebars. These components are lighter, corrosion-resistant, and can withstand high-pressure washing without the risk of lubricant loss or rust.
igus offers a comprehensive solution to the bicycle industry, providing everything from design to the finished product. By utilising high-performance plastic components, igus presents a new technology that allows for innovative design and geometry. – www.igus.co.za
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