Unprecedented Precision: RPK Group’s Wave Spring for the Revolutionary OQUO Q10 Hub
A local collaboration with global impact that sets a new benchmark in innovation, efficiency, and performance for high-end cycling
At the heart of one of today’s most celebrated cycling innovations — the OQUO Q10 hub, awarded Best Innovation of the Year at the 2025 Eurobike Awards — beats a key component developed by RPK Group: a custom-engineered wave spring designed to take mechanical precision and performance to new heights in the cycling world.
The OQUO Q10 Hub: Cutting-edge engineering for the most demanding riders
The Q10 hub represents the pinnacle of engineering applied to high-performance cycling. Manufactured by OQUO, Orbea’spremium wheel brand, and produced entirely in the Basque Country, this hub has been recognized as a global innovation leader at Eurobike 2025, the world’s most prestigious cycling trade fair.
Designed for lightness, tool-free disassembly, and a distinctive freehub sound, the Q10 incorporates top-tier materials and processes: CNC-machined 7075 T6 alloy, a proprietary Sharkratchet and Sharktooth design with 45 teeth and low-friction ceramic coating — all with one clear goal: to deliver the most precise, durable, and efficient hub on the market.
This innovation is not just theoretical — the professional Lotto cycling team is using it across all their bikes during the 2025 Tour de France, putting this new technical benchmark to the test under real-world competition conditions.
The challenge for RPK Group: Creating the perfect spring for an unprecedented hub
To reach this level of precision, OQUO needed a solution that could manage axial loads and stresses with micrometric accuracy. That’s where RPK Group came in. Just 60 km away, the two companies launched a close and agile collaboration to develop a custom Wave Spring from scratch for the hub’s core.
The challenge was significant: design a spring that not only fits into a highly compact space, but also provides even axial load distribution, maximum durability, and minimal weight, all without compromising system stiffness.
The Wave Spring: A feat of extreme precision
The Wave Springs developed by RPK Group in partnership with OQUO have exceeded all expectations. Tested in the Marquina-Xemein lab, they have withstood over 200 million cycles under real-world, high-stress conditions — an unprecedented achievement in high-performance cycling and wave spring technology. This confirms their ability to endure the dynamic and demanding conditions of disciplines such as gravel and road racing.
Multiple spring variants were developed, with different loads and geometries, to tailor hub performance to its final use precisely. This adaptability makes the Wave Spring not just a mechanical component but a strategic asset in performance customization.
Key advantages include:
- High load capacity in compact spaces
- Reduced overall system weight
- Even axial load distribution
- Greater durability compared to traditional springs
Proximity and collaborative engineering
The geographical, business, and cooperative proximity between RPK Group, OQUO, and Orbea was key to the project’s success. Collaboration between engineering teams, rapid prototype exchanges, and agile process adjustments accelerated development while ensuring top-tier quality.
This type of collaboration is a powerful example of what precision local industry can achieve, where shared expertise and a commitment to technical excellence result in innovations recognized on a global scale.
波形弹簧