igus UK Limited

In 1964, Günter and Margret Blase founded a small business called igus in their garage in Cologne-Mülheim, Germany. Fast forward to 2021 and the company is a global brand, supplying customers worldwide with lubrication-free and maintenance-free motion plastics, robots and cable assemblies. The company is now celebrating the founding couple’s joint 90th birthday.

In this week’s video of the week, it is obvious of the main benefit of changing your metal bearings for igus polymer ones.

The world’s first non-chemical weeding robot for cereal crops, made by agri-tech startup Small Robot Company, has successfully identified and killed weeds at a field trial in Hampshire.

Assessing the service life of a machine must take account of the costs of purchase, procurement and installation, as well as all the costs incurred in the long term operation, maintenance and repair of the machine. Using wear-resistant materials and low-maintenance components reduces not only running costs but also the risk of unscheduled shutdowns and extensive maintenance work.

Energy supply using polymer e-chains are virtually unlimited, whether the application is linear, vertical or rotational. And new polymer materials, improved designs and customer-specific requirements are continually expanding the product range, exemplified by the E2.1, the new e-chain standard for the small and medium load range.

Water treatment plants or sewage treatment plants are harsh environments. They are full of chemicals, bacteria and waste. 

The International Federation of Robotics predicts that by 2020 more than 1.7 million industrial robots will be working in factories worldwide. Robots move continuously in multiple axes and must be supplied with data and energy by cables without interruption, so these cables need careful consideration. For applications where robot cables are subjected to torsional stress, the cables have to be designed and manufactured in a completely different way to cables for linear motion. 

Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution (HydroPRS) is an advanced chemical recycling process designed to rapidly convert waste plastic that cannot be recycled easily, into valuable raw materials, reusing waste that would otherwise pollute the environment. igus has invested further in recycling company Mura Technology, to a total of €5m, to advance this important technology worldwide. Mura Technology and igus have also partnered with KBR to help license the technology globally.

igus has released a cost effective, lightweight, plug & play gearbox kit consisting of gearbox, encoder, controller, force control system and motor for collaborative robotics. The potential for service robotics is growing fast: in hospitality, medical care, agriculture and logistics, lightweight robots help to automate monotonous tasks. To show that using service robots can be easy and low cost, igus will present a modular, configurable gearbox kit for robotics at the Hannover Trade Show from 12th-16th April. 

Energy chains for protecting moving cable assemblies in cranes can be damaged by foreign objects like loose tools, causing costly system failures. This prompted igus to develop a new push/pull force monitoring system. The EC.PR system records the precise force values of the moving end and adjusts the force limits, preventing potentially catastrophic damage to the crane and expensive repairs.

The igus e-chain is a great alternative to busbar and festoon systems and thanks to the various orientation options, these can be assembled in warehouses and on indoor cranes. 

Animals and birds can adjust the power and position of their grip in many ways to suit their needs. Industrial applications tend to be binary in comparison; mechanical grippers used for attaching lids to jars, for example, have very restricted, 'closed/open' dexterity. When a new product is introduced, a new gripper to match that product can take weeks to design and manufacture.

For safe cable guidance in unsupported and long travels, igus has developed the E4Q energy chain. The bionically inspired design saves weight, while crossbars with locking tabs reduces the assembly time of the e-chain by 40%. To facilitate assembly further, igus has launched a new interior separation system for the E4Q. Universal separators are placed on the chain crossbars, shelves can be inserted from the left or right, along either the inner or outer radius. A mechanism in the separators automatically locks the chain when closing.

Sheet metal and metallic parts in food processing are regularly exposed to friction and wear. igus has developed a new coating material to increase the service life of these components, by reducing friction and wear. The IC-05 tribo-polymer protects sensitive and small bearing points as well as sliding surfaces, it is coloured blue for high visibility and is approved for use in manufacturing by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

Telescopic slides are used within all kinds of applications, from kitchens, furniture to aircraft and automotive. 

This weeks Video of the Week shows how easy the igus module connect 'plug and play' system really is!

A new elastic double joint from igus is proving to be a perfect - and quiet - solution for the machine building sector. The igubal GPZM coupling joint, which was officially launched at the end of 2020, is lubrication-free, maintenance-free and 20% more flexible than its conventional alternative.

For extreme environments, it is vital that your energy and data supply is protected. igus energy chains withstand dirt, humidity and other harsh environmental factors in industries such as recycling and composting plants.

The world’s first hybrid chain is now available in two new sizes - designed by igus for construction machinery and lifting equipment. These YE hybrid chains, made of polymer and steel, are 50% lighter than conventional steel chains and can safely move large hydraulic hoses and high fill weights vertically on both mobile crane platforms and construction machinery.

With its easy opening design, the E4.1L e-chain can be filled 51% faster and closed 86% faster when compared to the E4.42 series.