Stage 8 Beijing：From ABB to Bird’s Nest
Jen Chen | 17. April 2025
We have arrived in Beijing, the capital of China. With a history spanning over 3,000 years, Beijing is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As China’s national center for scientific and technological innovation, Beijing boasts many universities, research institutes, and high-tech enterprises. It has achieved remarkable progress in areas such as commercial aerospace, artificial intelligence, and integrated circuits. Today, let’s explore this ancient capital where modern technology meets rich historical culture.
In the morning, we visited ABB and Hitachi Energy, which are located in the same industrial park. These companies are dedicated to improving industrial energy efficiency and accelerating the digital transformation of power grids by integrating smart grid technologies with renewable energy sources — all in support of global carbon neutrality goals.
Zhang Chengzhong, who is a Supply Chain Manager at ABB, stated: “Our collaboration with igus has always been smooth and highly effective. In addition to offering reliable product technology, igus brings outstanding innovation—such as the chainge recycling plastics program. According to preliminary estimates, this initiative has contributed to approximately 2% of ABB’s carbon reduction goals.
Engineer Mr. Mao from the Technology Department of Hitachi Energy also remarked: “The eco-friendly bicycle showcased this time is truly impressive. I never expected that discarded fishing nets could be transformed into a bicycle. It’s a surprising and creative product, embodying a strong concept of sustainability and environmental responsibility.”
Subsequently, we visited several enterprises including General Medical, JD Industrial Park, Yaskawa Robotics, Beijing Zhongbang, and the Beijing Materials Handling Research Institute. All of them are long-standing clients of igus and have been eagerly anticipating the launch of the igus:bike — an eco-friendly bicycle made entirely from recycled plastic.
Mr. Du, Technical Manager of X-ray Systems at General Medical, Mr. Xiao, Technical Manager at Beijing Zhongbang, and Mr. Li Zhenyang, Procurement Manager at the Beijing Materials Handling Research Institute, were all enthusiastic about giving the bike a try. They fully embraced the sustainable concept of plastic recycling, commenting: “igus has always been a leader in the field of engineering plastics — constantly pushing boundaries with new materials, cutting-edge technologies, and forward-thinking ideas.”
Finally, we arrived at Beijing’s most iconic Olympic venues — the Olympic Torch Tower – Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube. The Bird’s Nest features a natural ventilation and rainwater harvesting system, saving up to 100,000 tons of water annually. Its rooftop solar panels generate approximately 2.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. The stadium has been awarded China’s top-level Three-Star Green Building Certification.
The Water Cube, meanwhile, utilizes an ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) membrane structure to reduce energy consumption by 30%. Its wastewater reuse system cuts annual emissions by up to 140,000 tons. With the integration of LED lighting and intelligent temperature control, the venue maintains a low-carbon footprint throughout its entire lifecycle — making it a global benchmark for sustainable transformation of “dual Olympic venues.
At the Bird’s Nest, we also had a pleasant encounter with international friends from Berlin, Germany, who took the opportunity to try out the igus:bike. When they learned about the bike’s eco-friendly concept and the fact that it’s made in Germany, they felt a strong sense of pride.
The ancient capital of Beijing is being revitalized through the power of technology, while discarded fishing nets—once seen as waste—now embody a sustainable future through environmental innovation.
Our rider: Laban Li
Hi, I’m Laban. The igus:bike World Tour is an event focused on sustainability and environmental protection that both our clients and I have long been looking forward to. Our customers often speak highly of igus’ products and philosophy. At igus, we’re committed to exploring and innovating alongside our customers, working together toward carbon neutrality, and striving to create meaningful and impactful change.
Map of the tour
