WMG help mudguard company to victory

Researchers at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) have helped Oldbury Company CMK win an award for a new contemporary mudguard product for bikes.

The award was presented by Enduro, leading mountain bike magazine.

CMK director Bruce and brother Jamie Gardiner came up with the innovative ‘MudHugger’ concept, which was brought to life by WMG’s SME team based at the International Institute for Product and Service Innovation at University of Warwick.

The team at WMG was able to give CMK recommendations on potential manufacturing processes and technology to produce the new product, which attaches to the seatstays instead of seat post of the bike.

A material analysis on how to bond different plastics was also presented to the businessmen.

The WMG team also helped with marketing, by creating and launching a Facebook campaign to generate consumer interest in the product.

Bruce Gardiner commended the team, saying, “We are delighted that the MudHugger product has been so warmly received.

“The support that the WMG SME Team gave us throughout the product development process helped us look at things in a completely new way enabling us to develop something truly innovative yet feasible to produce and market.”

Scott Crowther, Knowledge Transfer Specialist in WMG’s SME Team acknowledged the success of their collaboration: “It has been great working with Bruce and the team behind MudHugger.

“Their commitment and vision has resulted in a fantastic product that has filled a gap in the mountain biking market. This is a really great example of how universities and industry can work together to make a difference to the success of a product.”

Warwick student and mountain biking enthusiast Harry Belk, told the Boar: “The Mudhugger looks like an intelligent product that will enable riders of all levels and mountain bike disciplines to ride all year round.

“It is also suitable for the ever growing 29” industry, which is a huge benefit to riders making the change in recent years.”