Origami is the art of folding paper into shapes and is an ancient part of Japanese culture. But what if this process could be applied to the manufacturing line?
The Stilride SUS1, the first origami e-bike set to hit Europe in Autumn. Credit: Stilride
This was the idea for Swedish design startup Stilride, which has unveiled a line of electric motorcycles and scooters created through a process they dubbed "industrial origami" - robots that fold single sheets of recycling steel into intricate, lightweight and durable structures that could hit showrooms later this year.
The use of green steel and low-carbon robotics allows the active carbon emissions from the production of the motorbikes to be significantly reduced.
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The robots take this renewable steel and fashion it into both the chassis and body of the vehicles to form a fleet of "next-generation" motorcycles that run entirely on electricity.
Known as the "Stilfold" technique, it is the brainchild of best friends Tue Beijer and Jonas Nyvang. Both have backgrounds in fashion and engineering and decided to meld the two into a fascinating new design.
The duo have ambitions to redefine how high-performance mobility products are manufactured and distributed using the cutting-edge of industrial technology: green steel, robotics and innovations in design.
“[Our design] at the intersection of technology, mobility and design. My co-founder Tue first introduced the idea for the scooter to me at a dinner in 2019. He sketched out how it could be manufactured using origami folding and built a model out of paper," Stilride CEO Jonas Nyvang said.
He described the technology as a "dance between robots and steel" with the ambition of creating high-performance motorcycles that can stand up to their traditionally-fuelled cousins.
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"It’s surreal to have now created a high-spec electric motorcycle that’s true to that original vision. It meets our commitment to sustainability whilst also having a radical and distinctive design identity.
"Not only is it unisex, but it’s uni-age. It’s designed for everyone and we hope it can be an accessible entry point to the world of scooters and motorcycles for those with an eye for style and a love of nature," he added.
The first model due to hit shelves is the company's Sport Utility Scooter One (SUS1). Unlike traditional scooters which consist of a tubular frame and plastic body, the entirety of this motorcycle is made using folded stainless steel over curves, mimicking the origami technique.
The company claims the major advantage of this design is a significant reduction in materials during production. The SUS1 reportedly required 70% fewer components, sees a 25% reduction in labour costs and a 20% reduction in material costs.
E-motorbikes are just the first step for the company, which will also be attempting to apply this design process in creating cargo bikes and trailers.
The company is also planning to refine its production process that will allow the steel to be flat-packed and shipped to local factories across Europe. These will be folded and fitted with a hub motor and a battery pack.
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"We’re launching in Europe first as it’s a market that relies heavily on outsourcing and has much to gain from increasing its domestic manufacturing capabilities. Next, we will look to expand into other international markets. It’s an exciting time to be in the green mobility space and we’re ready to make our mark," Nyvang concluded
The firm claims that, under current development, the creation of the chassis of these origami scooters has a climate impact 50% lower than traditional ones.
The SUS1 has reached 90,000 pre-orders and the first rollout is expected for Autumn 2022.
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