Over the course of two weeks, the igus:bike UK Tour carved a path across the country, carrying a message rooted in sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. The tour brought motion plastics to life and connected customers and communities along the way.
The journey began in Corby, where
igus paid a visit to RS, a long-standing partner known for its engineering excellence. From there, the team pedalled through the historic streets of Cambridge, pausing at the Corpus Clock and even taking the igus:bike for a punt along the river. London followed, offering a backdrop of iconic landmarks. The bustling capital sparked lively conversations tourists and commuters around the future of urban mobility and the growing importance of sustainable transport.
After crossing into Wales and navigating the unpredictable weather of the Peak District, the week concluded in Liverpool with a visit to
Adlib, a specialist in event and venue technology. Adlib has worked with igus for over a decade, integrating their solutions into audio, lighting, video, and stage engineering projects across the UK and Europe. Kevin Toms, Adlib’s sales manager, said: “We have used igus solutions in many of our installations, including the Tung Auditorium in the city where they are still going strong.”
Liverpool also offered a moment of creative reflection at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, co-founded by Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996. The institute, rich in artistic heritage, houses a unique piece of cycling history: a bicycle gifted by McCartney himself, proudly displayed in the atrium for students and staff to admire.
Week two began in York, where igus met with agricultural machinery specialists
Sumo UK. Known for their robust tillage and seeding equipment, Sumo integrates igutex bearings from igus to enhance durability and performance. Tim Lord, head of engineering and quality at Sumo, said: “I have been working with igus over the last couple of years. We did use traditional brass and lubricated bushes, but found the deterioration on the pivot points was extreme and we wanted a hard-wearing bush that would give us longevity. We have found that the performance of the igus bush is better than anything else on the market.”
Further north in Newcastle, the tour stopped at
Tharsus, a company renowned for designing and manufacturing strategic automation systems. Principal designer John Kelso, a passionate cyclist with over 15 bicycles of his own, shared his thoughts on the igus:bike. He said: “I think innovation in bicycles is a good thing. It cruises at a nice speed, I can definitely see it working as a good city bike.”
Crossing into Scotland, Edinburgh introduced a new chapter with a visit to
Intelligent Growth Solutions, a pioneer in vertical farming. Its use of igus technology in sustainable agricultural systems echoed the tour’s core message — innovation must serve both industry and the environment.
The final stop in Glasgow brought the journey full circle. At the
University of Glasgow, Gilles Bailet, lecturer in space technology at the James Watt School of Engineering, welcomed the team. Bailet has collaborated with igus on groundbreaking research in micro-gravity 3-D printing, developing systems that enable manufacturing directly in space using granular materials.
Across hundreds of miles and countless conversations, igus said that the
igus:bike UK Tour not only demonstrated the capabilities of motion plastics but also celebrated the people and organisations driving meaningful change in the UK.