From The Ashes: CRP And Energica Rebuild For MotoE

CRP helps Energica race to the race, rebuilding destroyed motorbikes in record time.

Just two months ago, we heard about a devastating fire in Spain that destroyed all 18 of Energica Motor Company’s race-ready electric bikes. The machines had been developed and produced with the help of the company’s partner CRP Group, which is well known for its high-strength, 3D printable Windform materials.

Motorsports are a huge market for 3D printing, as the technology enables rapid, accurate prototyping as well as an increasing amount of end-use parts. The fire marked a significant loss for CRP’s partner Energica, which was readying the bikes to compete in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup.

The Ego Corsa bikes are a sleek showcase of how 3D printing and other advanced manufacturing processes come into play in motorsports, and their loss was quite a setback.

However, fall down seven times, stand up eight. It’s not just a pleasant and time-honored Japanese proverb, but an excellent way to go through life — and to do business.

So CRP Meccanica and CRP Technology helped the Ego Corsa machines stand up again.

“On the day after the fire in Jerez, it was clearly known that a special effort had to be made: now, as Energica’s technological partners, I can very proudly say that we did it!” said Eng. Franco Cevolini, CRP Meccanica and CRP Technology CEO. “Since the early hours following the unfortunate event, CRP Meccanica and CRP Technology’ve been sided with Energica to support them in facing their challenge. The experience gained in 50 years of activity serving the most advanced sectors, has allowed us to address the situation in the most proper and efficient way.”

Within three short months, all of the Ego Corsas needed to race will have been completed, with all work set to be completed by the end of May.

CRP’s help was significant in the efforts for both the original and rebuilt Ego Corsa race motorbikes. The machines are based on the original Energica Ego, heralded as the first Italian street-legal electric motorcycle.

3D printed parts made of Windform include components of the battery pack, the motor terminal cover, and the transponder holder, all made by CRP Technology. CRP Meccanica also used CNC machining to create parts in the rear suspension, the battery pack, the crankshaft, the gear cascade, and the pinion shaft.

That the materials and production were supplied by CRP operations is also notable. The teams at CRP Technology and CRP Meccanica are looking to raise their profile as “all-rounded consulting and manufacturing companies” that work closely with their customers and partners to determine and implement the best-fit production solutions. This was also clear in CRP Group’s recent repositioning of Windform on the market, which restricted availability and included focus on their own in-house production offerings.

That thinking is proving itself out in this from-the-ashes story, as the Energica team is obviously pleased to be back in the races.

“This is a true miracle, and only CRP Technology and CRP Meccanica could help us do it. Rebuilding more than 18 race motorbikes from scratch in two months is an unique and extraordinary event, in the world and in history,” said an enthusiastic Livia Cevolini, CEO of Energica..

The initial race date was slated for May 5th, but was pushed back due to the fire at the Jerez paddock, which was traced back to a short circuit. The new bikes will now set out on the track at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, in about a month.

Via CRP Group