A bike enthusiast wants to market a car bike rack. That's not so crazy. But that it had to be radically different and better than all the models already in existence and patented, that is.
Not to worry, we can handle that.
Bike racks for your car already existed. But look, candles also existed and yet we liked the light bulb better. So anything can be better. The added difficulty with this case was that we did not want to use any of the existing patents - a challenge that ultimately turned out to be a triumph. Because creatively navigating between obstacles and pushing boundaries leads to the most innovative and inventive solutions.
A thorough exploration and market analysis had to tell us what could be done better. We inspected every carrier, walked in the door of many a bicycle store and gathered a bomb of information. The conclusion: there was room to improve, there was room to innovate.
Above all, the product itself had to be more ergonomic and the assembly required less muscle strength. And as if these 2 requirements were not enough it had to be possible to still open the case after mounting
Many different materials, mechanical solutions and subsystems were possible. We conceived, tested and validated them all. Result: a turnaround time of more than two years during which things also went briskly uphill.
Fortunately, the final measurement - in which we still took care of the production follow-up - brought a coveted podium finish. And our awards are living proof of that.
The strength of the Cykell bike rack lies primarily in the lever system. When you open the rack, it suddenly clamps itself in place. That lever means less force is needed and no separate operation to secure the rack. One motion, two functions.
This lever was used by Cykell patented, just like the arm that holds the bicycle frame. We thought out this mechanical marvel even before we started the design.
Our designers were able to prove themselves in the search for the right look and feel as well as the lighting. After research, we opted for existing lighting, but the way it integrates with the rack means that the bike can also be placed on top of the light, saving quite a bit of space. The bikes can also be placed at an angle, making it even more compact.
From a vague idea to marketing a new product, sometimes it takes time. Pilipili provided market analysis, design, technology, the supplier who could bend, weld and spray, assembly, testing, packaging and even the design of the manual.
In the end, Cykell is made up of hundreds of parts that all work smartly together, passed all inspections smoothly, and met the heavy standards comply.
From micro to macro. From testing a hundred screws until you find the right one, to traveling the world in search of the right match with a supplier. A solid strength calculation or subjecting yet another prototype to rigorous user testing. The hard work paid off and the overall picture is right. We are quite proud of that.
