Cargo bikes from Monark Exercise have long been used by companies looking to streamline the last part of their delivery chain, The Last Mile, and reduce their environmental impact. When Monark Exercise set out to develop their first cargo bike for consumer use, they turned to Svekon. The project began with the order of a prototype but expanded to a comprehensive commitment after a visit to Vansbro. The result is a modern two-wheeled cargo bike in the Long John style, named Charles.
A comprehensive commitment – from brief to construction of the final product
Initially, Monark Exercise contacted Svekon to develop a prototype of a previous version of the cargo bike. A team from Svekon traveled to Vansbro to kick off the project and realized there was more that Svekon could contribute, leading to an expanded collaboration.
Together, they defined a brief that encompassed a complete development project including market analysis, user studies, concept work, design, user testing, construction including strength calculations, and production adaptation for the entire bike.
Listen to Mats Hermansson, Product Manager at Monark Exercise talk about Monark and the cargo bike Charles.
“It has been a fantastic process! I would say that it became more than just a collaboration; we became very closely intertwined. We brought Svekon into our operations, introduced them to our subcontractors, and discussed the entire chain.”
Mats Hermansson, Product Manager, Monark Exercise
Listen to Svekons Team Manager, August Michael and Senior Designer, Mårten Andrén talk about the project.
Market analysis with the user in focus
To work from a user-centered perspective, research played a significant role in the project. Interviews and field studies were conducted to find out what users think about different types of bikes, what their daily lives look like, and what their needs are, in order to match the final product with real expectations and demand.
The research highlighted, among other things, that package handling continues to increase while urban development is providing less and less space for cars, indicating a growing market for cargo bikes. Many people would gladly replace their car or one of their cars with this type of bike to solve much of their daily logistics, such as shopping, picking up and dropping off children, and commuting to and from work.
Three challenging aspects in product development
Throughout the development, there has been a tug-of-war between different aspects that affect the final product and the intended users’ willingness to buy: design, functionality, and manufacturing. The bike must look attractive and appeal to the target audience while being functional. Finally, the price needs to be reasonable, which significantly influences the choices made during the process.
Listen to Svekons Team Manager, August Michael and Senior Designer, Mårten Andrén talk about Charles’s different functions.
ERGONOMIC AND AESTHETIC INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
A broad expertise in ergonomics, user studies, and industrial design has been required to successfully develop such an advanced construction while balancing ergonomics and aesthetics. With an experienced design team and the ability to discuss design decisions with various functions at Monark Exercise, we have achieved just that.
The result is a secure bike that balances sporty and traditional ergonomics. The bike is constructed with a double frame to take advantage of the elastic steel, which can be both shock-absorbing and rigid depending on the construction. The front wheel is also designed to absorb uneven surfaces like curbs and potholes. The bike’s box can be adapted for different types of use; wide for multiple children or large loads, or narrow for one passenger or smaller loads and agility. The box also features a double floor with storage space and various attachment points for cargo and belts so that children can sit safely in the box.
“We have had the opportunity to work closely with everyone from management and purchasing, to quality and suppliers, to assembly and welding throughout the entire process. This collaboration has been a crucial success factor for the project.”
August Michael, Senior Engineer & Team Manager, Svekon
The Material: A Challenge and an Opportunity
Steel is heavier than aluminum, which has been a challenge since low weight was a goal in the project. The solution was a welded double frame with a low center of gravity and balanced flexibility.
In 99 cases out of 100, you can’t use the material you really want due to cost. In this case, we have a customer who truly believes in keeping production local and working with locally sourced materials and Swedish suppliers as much as possible. This has given us access to various functions within the customer and their subcontractors. We have had the opportunity to work closely with everyone from management and purchasing, to quality and suppliers, to assembly and welding throughout the entire process. This collaboration has been a crucial success factor for the project.
Sustainable Function, Construction, and Production
Sustainability has been a guiding principle throughout the project, thanks to Monark Exercise, whose philosophy and approach have always been to produce bikes with a long lifespan and minimal environmental impact both during use and manufacturing, locally in their own factory in Vansbro and from locally sourced materials and components.
The high prioritization of sustainability by the customer has given tremendous energy to the task, and we are very happy and proud to have been entrusted to be part of Charles’s story and to make The Last Mile more efficient for consumers as well.
