Saturday 10 November 2012

Cardboard Bicycles May Roam Across the Streets

By Andy Anderson


The inception of cardboard has evolved how the entire world turns. This material is a number one component for boxes or as construction. And not too long ago, with the creation of eco-friendly cardboard, it has become an important ingredient in selfmade garden compost.

A few genuinely innovative people take it a mile more.50-year-old Israeli engineer, Izhar Gafni, who designs mass-production machines is but one good illustration of bringing the ante up another level. His latest innovation is fully functional bicycle that is 90 percent made of cardboard.

Gafni's fascination of applying unconventional materials and technologies to everyday things is commenced by the creation of his cardboard bike. The bike was completed a total of four years of perfecting and reinforcing weak structural points of corrugated cardboard. Structural integrity was corrected by learning how to fold and cut cardboard pieces the right way.

Gafni stated that he was pleasantly surprised at just how strong cardboard is after he perfected his folding and cutting techniques. In fact, the bike can carry the full weight of an average person and can withstand bumps and vibrations from riding down the road. Gafni made a secret blend of organic substances to coat the cardboard bike with to prevent it from getting wet. Finally, lacquer paint is added for colour.

As of now, about 80 percent of the bike is made of cardboard. The other 20% is made out of metal components. However, Gafni is presently working on the creation of all-cardboard mechanical system, and the technology will be revealed after solving pending patent issues and when the bicycle is ready for mass production.

Making the bike 100% cardboard is what Gafni is currently striving to achieve, however patent issues are preventing him from mass-producing these.

Gafni, being a cyclist himself, owns top of the line bikes, each amounting to thousands of dollars each. A prototype of the cardboard bike only cost over USD 9. Thus, the bike would only cost to about USD 20 when mass produced.

Gafni's business partner, Nimrod Elmish, is optimistic about the success of the cardboard bike. He stated that using the recyclable, affordable, easily obtained material from cardboard boxes for moving, illustration boards, greeting cards, and other sources can trigger a positive, major change in present production norms.Using recycled cardboard boxes can trigger a major, positive change in present times production practices. By using recyclable and eco-friendly materials, it's possible that the government will provide tax grants to companies manufacturing cardboard bikes. Since production is planned to be automated, pensioners and the differently-abled can be employed for the production line. These tax grants could further lower down production costs, making the bikes cost even lesser.

No one knows? Someday, you would possibly order today cardboard boxes, give these to the business after using them then watch them be transformed into sturdy, streamlined bicycles.




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