It’s not long ago that the bicycle and pedelec models to be launched in 2017 were presented to the public at Eurobike Show. Behind the scenes, however, manufacturers are already working at full speed on developing the models of the next generation. During the development of new products often the most acute problem is a lack of time. It is therefore not unusual that reliable testing prior to series production is dropped. This can turn out to be fatal resulting in liability claims and even product recalls. This year bicycle manufacturers already had to recall more than 15 products, the number of recalls in 2015 comprised 39 products all in all.

The good news for bicycle manufacturers under time pressure: Technically state-of-the-art and therefore reliable testing does not automatically mean that you have to wait many weeks for the results. In 2016, my team succeeded, apart from a few exceptions, in mounting your test units within 48 hours at the latest on the first testing system and starting the load tests. The test results are usually delivered within five working days at the latest.

To uphold this service in 2017 as well, we have invested once again in our testing systems and the infrastructure of our laboratory.

Take your chance and convince yourself on site: Visit our premises in Ludwigsburg and get an idea of our services and testing procedures on site.

We are looking forward to meeting you.

With best regards,
Dirk Zedler

We have extended our capacities for frames and forks once again to ensure that you obtain your test results at short term. From now on we will be able to test ten frames / framesets at the same time.

It is a fact that there is no agreement among competitors on the market on how to perform tests: It is generally agreed that alternating loads arise during riding and that forces occur in a nearly randomised manner.

There are two ways of responding to this "tohubohu": in terms of figures and with the lowest common denominator as so-called single-step tests (standards) or in terms of more complex tests, which are, however, more realistic, by time-lapse testing of the loads and forces on the testing system. This is basically more logical: the closer to real-life road or trail conditions, the better.

While changing over to the requirements of the ISO tests, we have been optimizing our subsequent Basic, Advanced and Advanced Plus requirements. Thanks to the progress in testing technology – mechanically as well as in terms of control and regulation – we are now able to test in yet more mixed sequences, that is to say more realistic to your benefit.

You are welcome to visit us and see our testing systems in operation.

Test certificates issued in Asia are the basis of many releases in the cycle industry. The test protocols are, however, a two-edged sword, in particular with regard to the process relating to the conformity of pedelecs. The legislator draws a clear line with regard to the acceptance of test results. This line is the economic area of the European Union. Every person importing components from a foreign country into the EU is considered manufacturer of these products. If you as bicycle manufacturer assemble bicycles, you will additionally be considered manufacturer of individual components, if you import these components into the EU. This means, you are not only considered manufacturer of the frame, but also manufacturer of suspension forks, rear derailleurs, handlebars and so on. In strict legal terms the actual logo of the manufacturer, e.g. on a crank, is obsolete. You assume full and sole responsibility.

You do not believe this? The Higher Regional Court Oldenburg, Germany, sentenced a bicycle manufacturer due to missing tests: The manufacturer mounted defective pedals. The court reproached that the bicycle manufacturer had refrained from conducting random sample tests of the purchased products.

A similar judgement was made by the Higher Regional Court Dresden, Germany. A bicycle manufacturer had complained about defective back-pedal brakes. This bicycle manufacturer was also held against that he had not conducted random sample tests.

As a result, any attempt to prove the durability of products by means of test results issued outside Europe can be rejected easily by every court. For this reason you as manufacturer should purchase products either from importers located within the EU and with substantial test protocols. Or you have to test on your own or have the tests conducted within the EU.

Zedler-Institut reached the top 20 of companies competing for the Regional prize for young companies in 2016. The prize is awarded every second year by the state government of Baden-Wuerttemberg and L-Bank.

From the alltogether 604 applications L-Bank Stuttgart selected Zedler-Institut together with 19 other companies and invited them to make a presentation. The convincing points were our corporate concept, our social commitment and our substantial as well as economically sound management.

On the occasion of a ceremony at Stuttgart’s Neues Schloss the top 10 companies will be awarded by Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann and the chairman of the L-Bank executive board, Dr. Axel Nawrath on October 25, 2016.

stadtanzeiger-im-netz.de, July 6, 2016
Nominated for business performance

landespreis-bw.de, 2016/07/06
Regional prize for young companies with record participation

Südwestpresse, 2016/06/18
Going to have some ice cream, shopping or riding offroad

Bike 07/2016
Plus-Hardtails Test

L-Bank 2016/06/03
In the competition "Regional Prize for young companies 2016" the Zedler institute made it on the list of the TOP 20.

SAZbike 13/2016
New guidelines for the replacement of e-bike parts

Cyclinfo, 2016/08/10
Restructuring of Zedler-Group

RadMarkt Spezial, 09/2016
For they know what they do

Events and workshops

On November 17 and 18, 2016, Dirk Zedler will hold a lecture at the workshop "From DIN EN to DIN EN ISO 4210 / 8098 and the new DIN 79010" of the work group bicycle safety of DVM e.V. (German Association for Materials Research and Testing).