During Hannover Messe 2022, igus unveiled a bike made entirely of recycled plastic. Everything from the bike's frame to components such as bearings and belts are composed of recycled plastic. The urban bike shown at Hannover Messe was a demonstration of the company's new line of components made from recycled plastic for bicycle manufacturers known as the igus:bike platform.
The components will be available to all bicycle manufacturers, with the first model expected to be available by the end of 2022.
Plastic waste is piling up in landfills around the world, which is what drove igus to spend the last several years researching and developing ways to give it a second life. "The plastic in rubbish dumps around the world is becoming a valuable resource," explained Frank Blase, igus CEO, in the company's press release announcing the new igus:bike platform.
Recycled Plastic Provides Design Improvements
Reusing plastic as a material for components not only keeps it out of landfills, but also provides new design opportunities for igus.
Chief among the advantages offered by use of recycled plastic is its lighter weight and lower maintenance capabilities. Plastic is a lightweight material; by using it for bike components, the overall weight of the bike can be reduced. This can benefit riders by making it easier to use and transport.
igus also notes in its press release high-performance plastics which are lubrication free are used for all parts of the bike, such as various bearings and the brake levers. Integrated solid lubricants are instead utilized, providing low-friction dry operation. This minimizes maintenance by eliminating the need to add oil from time to time. The company says it also prevents sand, dust and dirt from accumulating within the components, extending their lifespan.
Another key benefit of using plastic components is the elimination of rust. “As all components are made of plastic, no part of the bike rusts, even the gears," said Blase. This enables the bike to survive use in all weather conditions, and even be left outside without worry about potential damage.
igus engineers working to ensure the plastic components allow for smooth and quiet operation as well as enhanced durability.
“We have lots more ideas, such as installing condition monitoring using igus smart plastics. That would let you use your smartphone to see how many more thousands of kilometers the bike can take. That will hopefully convince many people who are still skeptical about plastic,” concluded Blase.
Video supplied by igus.
