From now on the Zedler institute issues test seals for successfully passed tests of frames and components of mountain bikes, road racing, trekking and e-bikes. The new test seal series is available in altogether four levels. The components have to withstand different amounts of load to obtain the respective award. The common EN safety standards serve as basis which must be fulfilled to obtain the seal of the lowest level (safety seal, grey). The requirements are accordingly higher for the three following levels bronze, silver and gold.
The different graduations of the new test seal issued by Zedler
Practice-oriented testing
Particular attention deserve the seals from the silver level on. According to Zedler, this category was introduced to meet higher loads acting on mountain bikes and e-bikes. Perfect product safety is crowned with the gold label. To obtain this seal a component must pass multiload tests developed by Zedler. "Multiload stands for block program tests reflecting reality much clearer than common single-step tests do, e.g. the EN standard", explains Zedler in the letter of announcement of the new service.
Strictest test standard in development
Today, multiload is already available for handlebars-stems and for seat posts, as both the research and the wealth of experience make such a requirement possible. Managing director Dirk Zedler looks ahead to the future: “In consideration of the latest research results we are currently working on offering multiload also for forks and frames in the near future".
The new seals are based on the testing services offered by Zedler since many years.
The new offer is directed at the manufacturers of bicycles and components who wish to promote their quality towards their customers. After the load test was passed successfully on the respective level, the test seal can be labelled to the products. For this purpose Zedler offers a customization service including brand name and type of the component tested.
For the new service the Zedler institute with its head office in Ludwigsburg can draw on nearly twenty years of experience in the field of technical testing of bicycles and bicycle components. The company is among the few officially certified bicycle experts in Germany. Besides Zedler develops tests for the industry and independent magazines, such as TOUR and bike, and also performs these tests upon request. In addition, under the guidance of founder Dirk Zedler the company has been building test stands and written user manuals for bicycles for more than 15 years.
Author: Urs Rosenbaum
