Posedla sets new standards in the bike saddle market with BASF Forward AM's Ultrasint® TPU01 material.
The 3D-printed custom saddles provide cyclists with enhanced comfort and performance through intricate lattice structures, only achievable with 3D printing.
The individual customization process relies on a specially developed algorithm that considers each cyclist's needs and preferences, delivering the saddles in just three to four weeks.
Posedla Revolutionizes Personalization for Cyclists with 3D-Printed Ultrasint® TPU01 Bike Saddles.
The Posedla Joyseat - The world's first custom 3D-printed bike saddle made with Ultrasint® TPU01; Image: Posedla
Posedla, a bicycle saddle manufacturer based in the Czech Republic, has brought a groundbreaking innovation to the bicycle saddle market by utilizing BASF Forward AM's Ultrasint® TPU01 material.
Through the application of additive manufacturing and the unique lattice structure of TPU01, they are able to produce custom bike saddles that significantly improve comfort and performance for cyclists. These saddles are not only tailored to each rider's individual needs and preferences but also offer an aesthetically pleasing design.
Founded by Martin Ripa and Jiri Duzar, both passionate cyclists, Posedla transformed their enthusiasm for cycling into a business with a unique goal - providing custom bike saddles for riders of all experience levels. With limited design possibilities and variations in traditional bicycle saddle manufacturing, they aimed to offer cyclists more than off-the-shelf options.
The solution lay in 3D printing technology using BASF Forward AM's innovative Ultrasint® TPU01 material. TPU01 is a thermoplastic polyurethane powder specifically developed for industrial 3D printing.
It boasts high flexibility, durability, and strength, making it ideal for bicycle saddles. Moreover, TPU01 enables the creation of complex and intricate lattice structures that would be impossible with conventional manufacturing methods.
The production process for these customized bike saddles begins with an algorithm based on each rider's individual needs and preferences. Factors such as bike type, average riding time and distance, body position on the bike, physical flexibility off the bike, as well as age, gender, and weight are taken into account. Together with the "Smiling Butt Kit," which captures an impression of the rider's buttocks, cyclists can order unique saddles made with Ultrasint® TPU01 and 3D printing techniques.
The result is a perfectly tailored, lightweight, and durable bike saddle that optimally distributes pressure on bones and muscles, increasing comfort by minimizing pressure points.
The lattice structure allows for improved airflow and ergonomic support, contributing to the rider's well-being and health. Since male and female riders have different pelvic anatomies, each zone of the saddle is tailored specifically for male and female cyclists to ensure a healthy and comfortable riding position for both genders.
Another advantage of 3D printing with Ultrasint® TPU01 is the ability for mass customization. Traditional manufacturing methods make it challenging and costly to create unique equipment for each rider. However, 3D printing enables bicycle manufacturers to produce custom parts in bulk, catering to the individual needs of each rider.
The introduction of Posedla's custom 3D-printed bike saddles marked a milestone for the cycling community. Since their launch in May 2022, these saddles have garnered enthusiastic customers. Posedla's 3D-printed bike saddle, known as the "Joyseat," exemplifies how innovative technologies such as 3D printing can revolutionize the way we manufacture and use bicycle parts.
