The coren bike's frame is made exclusively from Umeco’s MTM®49 -3 epoxy resin systems reinforced with high tensile strength woven carbon fabrics and unidirectional carbon fibres, and compatible adhesive film.
“We selected Umeco’s prepregs because they are reliable, have a good reputation in the motorsport and aviation sectors, and we were able to choose from a wide range of fibres and resin systems to provide the best material properties.” |
Sebastian Wegerle, UBC Product and Marketing Manager |
Umeco’s MTM49-3 prepregs are 80-160°C curing, toughened epoxy resin systems and were developed specifically for the manufacture of components requiring excellent ambient mechanical performance combined with good impact resistance after only moderate cure cycles.
UBC, based in Murr, Germany, elected to autoclave cure the prepregs to achieve the required performance characteristics and deliver a bike that weighs only 7700 g.
From tailoring the carbon fibre layers through the manufacture of aluminium forms and bonding the carbon parts to connecting the three sections of the frame, the entire manufacturing process is carried out on UBC premises.
"The frame, like all UBC components, is manufactured in a clean room, in accordance with motor sport and premium vehicle construction standards," explains Marco Noack, UBC engineer. “We document everything, including details concerning the source, type of material, quality and employees."
It takes 40 hours to laminate a coren bike by hand. The design and the size of the frame are based on a new approach, with UBC fitting the down tube, the top tube and the seat tube together on an adjustable frame gauge.
The bike is available in three models – the Singlespeed, Pedelec or Fixed Gear. The Singlespeed recently won the ISPO Brand New Award 2012.