James Cropper, Range Rover Stage World-First Drive-Across Paper Bridge
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A Range Rover (U.K.) SUV has traversed a specially constructed bridge made from James Cropper PLC (U.K.) paper in a celebration of the vehicle’s 45th birthday. The unique freestanding bridge was commissioned in collaboration with British artist Steve Messam and specialist paper manufacturer James Cropper at the 13th China International Automobile Exhibition held in Guangzhou November 20 - 29.
The five-meter bridge, constructed solely from paper and completely free from glue or bolts, was built using Natural Crystal 330 gsm high-quality white paper. The paper was produced by James Cropper, which celebrates its 170-year anniversary this year.
The hand-built bridge took three days to construct, using 54,390 sheets of paper to support the 2,374 kg vehicle. The feat of engineering and artistry was erected in China, the birthplace of paper, in the ancient water city of Suzhou—famous for its bridges and nicknamed the "Venice of the East."
Artist and paper bridge designer Steve Messam said that "paper structures capable of supporting people have been built before, but nothing on this scale has ever been attempted. It’s pushing engineering boundaries, just like the Range Rover, and the ease and composure with which the vehicle negotiated the arch was genuinely breath-taking."
The project follows the success of Steve Messam and James Cropper’s collaboration on a pedestrian bridge installation over a stream in the heart of Britain’s Lake District countryside, home to James Cropper, in May of this year.
Chris Brown, commercial director at James Cropper, added that "it’s an honor to collaborate with fellow British manufacturers and designers to be a part of this world-first, which puts our paper’s durability to the ultimate test. The combined expertise of Land Rover, Steve Messam, and James Cropper represents the highest standard of British engineering, manufacturing, and design."
The James Cropper Group has well-established links with the automotive and engineering sector through its Technical Fibre Products (TFP) Division, which manufactures non-woven materials from carbon, glass, and polymer fibers, used in the production of lightweight composites for car manufacturing.
The challenging drive was negotiated by Land Rover Experience chief instructor, Chris Zhou, using a variety of all-terrain technologies to preserve the delicate fabric of the unique structure.
A video of the bridge construction and crossing is available online.
