The aim: to introduce industry partners, media representatives and consumers to a new form of urban mobility that combines riding fun and sustainability. The urban bike stands for many of the advantages of Igus products, the "motion plastics": it does not rust, does not need oil and is virtually maintenance-free. The ball bearings, drive and freewheel also require no lubrication as they are made from high-performance plastics. At the same time, the Igus:bike is an example of how the transformation to a sustainable circular economy for plastics can succeed.

The Igus factory premises in Cologne Porz-Lind, Tuesday morning, 11 o'clock. In front of Igus employees and representatives of the press, the Igus:bike starts its birthday tour. For one year, the plastic bicycle will be seen on the streets of 16 countries around the world - including Germany, Italy, the USA and China. The mission: to show industrial customers, recycling partners, media representatives and consumers that plastics do not have to end up in incineration or landfill, but can help shape the mobility of tomorrow as a recycled raw material. The Igus:bike will visit various customer applications and partners in stages. With this worldwide tour, the motion plastics specialist is once again demonstrating its pioneering spirit and bringing Igus and customer stories to life at each stage.

Fishing nets become bicycles

"As a company that has been manufacturing industrial components for movement made of plastic for 60 years now, we are committed to driving forward the transformation to a sustainable circular economy for plastics. The Igus:bike is a milestone on this journey," says Igus Managing Director Frank Blase. "On this journey, we hope to inspire many companies and end consumers to also commit to sustainable solutions in the use of plastics."

Plastic waste from landfills around the world could become the raw material for the Igus:bike in the future. Igus manufactures the individual components using rotational and injection molding processes - from the frame to the bearings to the drive. The material researchers have succeeded in gradually increasing the proportion of recycled plastic added since the start of development to 50 percent - and the trend is rising. This makes it possible to process used fishing nets, shampoo bottles and other plastic waste into recycled pellets for the rotational molding machines and turn them into a valuable resource.

Driving pleasure and easy maintenance combined

On the Igus:bike world tour, interested parties can see for themselves that a plastic bike is fun to ride and particularly easy to maintain. As the bike is made almost exclusively of plastic, it is weather-resistant and corrosion-free. For example, it is no problem to hose down the bike with a garden hose or leave it outside overnight - not only on your own doorstep, but also at campsites, harbors, festivals and company premises. In addition, the high-performance plastics enable low-friction dry running without additional lubricants, which often become dirt magnets on classic bikes. This also eliminates the need for time-consuming relubrication and cleaning. Riding comfort is also guaranteed. The material also provides suspension with its damping properties. The bicycle thus stands for many of the advantages of Igus motion plastics, which can be experienced by everyone during the world tour.

The Igus:bike has already gone into series production under the name RCYL and can be ordered from Igus.