A highly adaptable Manufacturing System for new and existing bicycle, e-bike, cargo bike, and specialist cycle producers.
Lead Participant:
THE BICYCLE ACADEMY LIMITED
Abstract
The Bicycle Academy (TBA) are a dedicated team of designers, engineers and cycling experts committed to facilitating the creation of better, longer-life, and more accessible bikes in the UK. TBA proposes to create focused systems to support the UK cycle manufacturing industry. TBA will develop machinery and processes to help bring British engineering to the fore of the global cycling industry.
TBA's goal is to remove the barriers to entry into the cycle industry for engineers, entrepreneurs and investors, to unlock the potential of existing UK cycle companies, and to increase the resilience of the manufacturing supply chain.
In line with the other zero-emission vehicle solutions, bikes and electric assist cycles (pedelec, often referred to as e-bikes) are a critical part of the UK's future transport plans. The adoption of e-bike vehicles will deliver economic growth and environmental improvements on a local and national scale.
COVID-19 has resulted in significantly increased bicycle and e-bike sales. Over 2,500,000 bicycles (pedal/pedelec combined) were sold in the UK in 2019 (Bicycle Association, 2020) with sales rising by over 63% during lockdown (forbes.com, 2020) and e-bike sales up 50%.
This increase in sales has caused serious supply chain challenges for bicycle retailers experiencing an unprecedented shortage of bicycles and e-bikes, whilst producers are struggling with longer manufacturing lead times, and protracted development cycles due to the reliance upon a non-domestic mass production business model. Currently only 1.5% of bicycles sold in the UK are produced here (CTC, 2015). This presents a significant opportunity for the UK manufacturing sector to dramatically increase its share of this important and growing market.
Our Project
TBA aims to innovate a highly adaptable manufacturing system for new and existing UK bicycle/e-bike/cargo bike/mobility bike producers. The system will be composed of a suite of highly adaptable bicycle manufacturing machines, tools and fixtures, a focussed training program, agile operational processes, and the provision of key design and validation consultancy services. Compared to traditional manufacturing lines the adaptable manufacturing systems will offer a solution that requires fewer machines, less space and significantly reduced downtime for design setup changes.
By providing an agile domestic solution for bicycle design; development; and early stage manufacturing the project aims to support SME's striving to achieve a faster route to market and greater responsiveness to the changing needs of the market.
TBA's goal is to remove the barriers to entry into the cycle industry for engineers, entrepreneurs and investors, to unlock the potential of existing UK cycle companies, and to increase the resilience of the manufacturing supply chain.
In line with the other zero-emission vehicle solutions, bikes and electric assist cycles (pedelec, often referred to as e-bikes) are a critical part of the UK's future transport plans. The adoption of e-bike vehicles will deliver economic growth and environmental improvements on a local and national scale.
COVID-19 has resulted in significantly increased bicycle and e-bike sales. Over 2,500,000 bicycles (pedal/pedelec combined) were sold in the UK in 2019 (Bicycle Association, 2020) with sales rising by over 63% during lockdown (forbes.com, 2020) and e-bike sales up 50%.
This increase in sales has caused serious supply chain challenges for bicycle retailers experiencing an unprecedented shortage of bicycles and e-bikes, whilst producers are struggling with longer manufacturing lead times, and protracted development cycles due to the reliance upon a non-domestic mass production business model. Currently only 1.5% of bicycles sold in the UK are produced here (CTC, 2015). This presents a significant opportunity for the UK manufacturing sector to dramatically increase its share of this important and growing market.
Our Project
TBA aims to innovate a highly adaptable manufacturing system for new and existing UK bicycle/e-bike/cargo bike/mobility bike producers. The system will be composed of a suite of highly adaptable bicycle manufacturing machines, tools and fixtures, a focussed training program, agile operational processes, and the provision of key design and validation consultancy services. Compared to traditional manufacturing lines the adaptable manufacturing systems will offer a solution that requires fewer machines, less space and significantly reduced downtime for design setup changes.
By providing an agile domestic solution for bicycle design; development; and early stage manufacturing the project aims to support SME's striving to achieve a faster route to market and greater responsiveness to the changing needs of the market.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| THE BICYCLE ACADEMY LIMITED | £99,809 | £ 99,809 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Andrew Denham (Project Manager) |