Made from recycled plastics, the igus:bike began its world tour on 15 Oct to celebrate igus’ 60th anniversary. Since then, it has travelled 365km through Germany and will make its way to the second stop, Singapore, where it will highlight the importance of sustainability, featuring stops at landmarks like Marina Barrage, the Singapore Flyer, and more. The goal is to raise awareness about the circular economy of plastics by combining fun with sustainability, while displaying the durability and robustness of the igus:bike and its motion plastics components.
The igus:bike is made made from recycled plastic waste such as old fishing nets. For a year, the bicycle will be on display on the streets of various countries across the globe to demonstrate that plastic does not have to end up in incineration or landfill – but that it can be used as a valuable resource to shape the urban mobility of tomorrow, and that new types of mobility can help combat the global flood of plastic. At the same time, the bike represents many of the advantages of the igus motion plastics: it does not rust, requires no oil and is maintenance-free. The ball bearings, drive and freewheel also do not need lubricating as they are made from high-performance plastics.
Kick-off at SIA Sports Club and inspiring students at Crest Secondary School
The Singapore leg of the igus:bike world tour will begin at the SIA Sports Club. The highlight of the evening will be a soccer match between the igus team and the “Surprise” team. Before the match, attendees will have the chance to test ride the igus:bike, displaying the possibilities of eco-friendly transportation.
Following the kick-off, the bicycle will be introduced to students and educators at Crest Secondary School. This visit aims to raise discussions on sustainability and innovation. By displaying how recycled materials can be transformed into practical, sustainable solutions, the visit aims to inspire young minds to imagine and contribute to a sustainable future for urban mobility.
The tour will continue with a scenic night cycling session at Marina Barrage. This event seeks to promote eco-friendly transportation, reduced carbon footprints, and the health benefits of cycling.
Over the next three weeks, the igus:bike will explore Singapore’s iconic locations, from the Little India and Arab Street to Cavenagh Bridge and Marina Bay Sands. The tour will also include stops at Merlion Park and the Helix Bridge, inviting passersby to take a closer look and even test the bike for themselves. This is an opportunity for end-consumers to experience how a bicycle made from recycled plastic can be both fun to ride and low-maintenance.
As the igus:bike is made of plastic, it is weather-resistant and corrosion-free. In addition, plastic components feature low-friction dry operations without additional lubricants, which often become dirt magnets on conventional bicycles. This in turn eliminates the need for relubrication and cleaning. The bicycle thus features the advantages of igus motion plastics.
For the igus:bike, material professionals at igus have developed a plastic compound that is robust, lightweight and allows a recycled content of over 50%. In addition, production techniques such as injection moulding and rotational moulding have been combined such that, with the exception of individual components such as disc brakes, almost all bicycle components can now be made from plastic, including the frame, seat post, brake levers, and the drive unit.
“As a company that has been manufacturing industrial components for movement from plastic for 60 years, we are committed to driving forward the transformation to a sustainable circular economy for plastic. The igus: bike is a milestone on this journey,” said Lena Tan, operations director for ASEAN at igus Singapore.
