THE WORLD’S first 3D printed bike frame has been made by a Gloucestershire firm.

Wotton-under-Edge engineering firm Renishaw has unveiled the groundbreaking metal mountain bike frame which could revolutionise the cycling industry.

The company worked alongside a leading bicycle design and manufacturing company to build the one-off titanium MX-6 Evo mountain bike.

Empire Cycles designed the mountain bike to take advantage of Renishaw's additive manufacturing technology.

The hollow titanium frame is both strong and light, some 33 per cent lighter than the original bicycle.

It was designed using topological optimisation, which means using software to distribute material in the smartest way possible.

Renishaw is the UK's only manufacturer of a metal-based additive manufacturing machine that prints metal parts.

Empire Cycles' managing director Chris Williams saw the firm's capabilities at a trade show and asked if the machine could make him a titanium frame.

It will be launched at next week's London Bike Show.

Last November Prince Edward was presented with a 3D printed titanium model of the Renishaw 1802 New Mills building during a Royal visit to the site.