OGK’s mission to deliver “granted” safety and security
Aiming for ZERO bicycle accidents
Bicycle parts are the core of OGK. Since bicycles are vehicles casually used by a wide range of people, from children to the aged, OGK has proprietary standards several times stricter than the SG Standards* established by the Consumer Product Safety Association. OGK conducts repeated heat, cold, and durability tests on its products to market only those that passed the tests.
Meticulous weather resistance testing under adverse conditions
Bicycles are frequently left outdoors. Sunlight is especially a natural enemy that accelerates deterioration on all kinds of products. Child seats, seat belts, cushions, etc., which are parts directly connected to safety, are all carefully tested. In OGK, adverse conditions are generated inside an environmental chamber in a short time to investigate changes in products.
Upset test to protect children in the event of an accident
OGK has created its own proprietary test to ensure the safety of children riding on a bicycle should it overturn. The test is conducted by placing 3 kg weights on each footrest and a weight of 20 kg on the seat of the child seat installed on a bicycle. In addition, to simulate harsh road conditions such as bumps in the sidewalks and curbstones, concrete blocks are placed in the area where the headrest would hit should the bicycle turn over laterally. The bicycle under these conditions, is then pushed over towards the ground with force to see that the child seat is not damaged.
Measuring the strength of each of the final product portions
OGK’s products are sometimes subject to unforeseen external forces as they are used under diverse conditions. Sometimes, it is the product which needs to deform or break to protect the user. This testing machine applies a large force on products to see how they change.
Measuring the strength of each of the parts as well
Products are a combination of parts. The performance of each individual part becomes the performance of the final product. This testing machine, similarly to a tensile load (pressurized tensile) testing machine, applies a large force on products to see how they change.
Testing resistance to strong and sudden shocks
Normally unimaginable shocks may also occur. This machine tests whether child seats, wheels, baskets, etc. have the resistance to shock expected of the product by dropping the product to subject it to a sudden shock.
Reproducing an actual ride
Even paved roads have differences in level. Then, there are uphills and downhills, and road conditions that vary from moment to moment. This testing machine reproduces the conditions of an actual ride. It allows testing by reproducing differences in level as well as bumpy roads.
Inspection guidelines
In OGK, each product is always inspected several times. Since inspection results vary, a product needs to be tested several times to improve the accuracy of its safety. Furthermore, OGK constantly verifies problems regardless of whether they were found in their own or in another company’s product. If concerns remain, it repeats the inspection under higher load than defined in regulations. In this way, OGK has a double, triple set-up to pursue safety.
* What is SG Standards? A system for consumer goods and the like to guarantee a solid level of safety. They define shapes and functions for each type of product and those complying with the standards can carry an SG mark. The product certification is conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Association, an association under the control of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
