As our cities become increasingly congested with traffic and pollution, bicycles are proving an increasingly popular way to get around town quickly and easily, with the added benefit of zero emissions.
However, cycling is not always practical for everyday life. If you have to transport children, pets or shopping it can be difficult. Swedish Designer Jordi Hans saw this as an opportunity and invented a versatile add-on solution – the SideBuddy side trailer.
The SideBuddy can be attached to both standard bicycles and new electric models, providing space for up to three children (aged 0 - 7 years) or cargo up to 120kg. Multi-functional and versatile, it is ideal for families, street sellers, tourists, commuters and even surfers.
Always eager to support new and innovative ideas, TR Fastenings Sweden was keen to hear more when approached by the designers of SideBuddy to be a possible collaborator. Eugen Kühnl, engineering and R&D manager at TR Fastenings Sweden, commented: “As a leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial components, environmental thinking is an area we are particularly interested in. In our opinion, the Sidebuddy is a unique project with huge commercial potential and one we are delighted to support.
“The components that were selected – such as screws, nuts, washers, springs and rubber parts - were already approved and validated for use in the automotive sector and readily available for us to supply to the customer. This amounted to a huge saving in terms of time for the Sidebuddy team.”
Using its experience in assembly and fastener technology, TR Fastenings worked closely with Jordi Hans, from concept to the final design. Together the team overcame a number of design challenges, including finding a suitable way to connect the bicycle to the Sidebuddy, alongside steering issues, to combine functionality and top-quality design in a multi-functional, moving product.
Jordi Hans commented, “We are hugely grateful to TR Fastenings and our other sponsors for all their support. We have just officially launched Sidebuddy and are delighted with the response so far.”
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
