High-quality bicycles can now be transported securely in the FBox from the company formgüter GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
The inside of the transport case is made of Neopolen P, an expanded polypropylene (EPP) from BASF. The foam protects, for example, racing bikes, mountain bikes, and triathlon bikes from impacts and damages because the tough-elastic material shows great impact resistance and very good cushioning performance - two properties which can be attributed to its outstanding ability to absorb energy even after several impacts. The foam is also stable, light-weight and water-resistant, which means that the bicycle case is easy to handle.
High-quality bicycles can now be transported securely in the FBox™ from the company formgüter GmbH, Berlin, Germany. The inside of the transport case is made of Neopolen® P, an expanded polypropylene (EPP) from BASF. The tough-elastic foam protects, for example, racing bikes, mountain bikes, and triathlon bikes from impacts and damages. The bike along with any accessories such as helmet and shoes are fixed in place in the dimpled Neopolen surface using straps and mobile fixing modules. Photo: formgüter/BASF 2011.
Thanks to the BASF material, the two-shell FBox, which runs on four castors, only weighs around 10 kg, making it much lighter than conventional transport cases for bicycles. The bike along with any accessories such as helmet and shoes are fixed in place in the dimpled Neopolen surface using straps and mobile fixing modules: This design versatility regarding the various fixing options is possible because the flexible BASF material shows very good resilience following static or dynamic loading and thus helps to ensure that the FBox can be used for a long time. Neopolen P is also resistant to chemicals: Thus, the transport case can easily be cleaned using cleaning agents.
"Lots of innovations come together in our bicycle transport case. With Neopolen P we have found a flexible cushioning material which fits our outstanding FBox very well and plays a crucial role in providing our customers with reliable protection for their bikes," says Thomas Kemper, managing director of formgüter GmbH. The outside of the FBox is made from a thin shell of polycarbonate. In total, the FBox measures around 1.3 by 0.9 meters and is available in three models for different types of bicycle. The box can also be mounted on the roof rack or on luggage systems of vehicles.
Neopolen P - a wide range of applications
Neopolen P shows very good impact resistance, low weight and high temperature resistance. The particle foam combines high energy absorption - even after several impacts - with good resilience and isotropic deformation behavior. This interesting combination of properties, that also include low water absorption and good resistance to chemicals, open up a wide range of possible applications: from vehicle construction and packaging to sports and leisure applications. Neopolen P is 100 percent recyclable. It is supplied without any greenhouse gases or other chemical blowing agents.