igus UK Limited

It has been announced that igus has launched a new online configurator that enables engineers to configure gear wheels in just one minute. Once ordered via the web shop, the gear wheels are 3D printed from iglidur I6 material for quick dispatch. 

It has been announced that igus has expanded its range of bearing liners for its drylin linear guide systems, specifically for use in the food and drinks industry. The new iglidur A160 liner complies with both the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) specification for repeated contact with food and the EU 10/2011 Directive. 

To avoid machine downtime, it is important to use robust and long lasting machine elements. Here, self-lubricating and maintenance free high performance plastics, such as from igus, show their advantages. Using industrial forklifts as an example, the areas where motion plastics from igus can be used are highlighted. 

  igus has been awarded the 2nd prize in the clean technology awards for its e-skin corrugated hose. Designed for use in cleanrooms it also has the seal of approval Fraunhofer Tested Device ISO Class 1.

At the recent IMM furniture fair in Cologne, Germany, a group of 15 prospective wood technicians from the Gsechs University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg presented a very elegant wine storage series, called Dolio. Made from teak/oak, cork and slate veneer, each of the designs integrate self-lubricating and maintenance-free plain bearing components from igus.

They can play football, they have mastered rescue missions and can even take over the logistics in a Smart Factory – they are the robots from across 14 different countries that have competed against each other at the RoboCup German Open 2018 in Magdeburg. In the logistics league, the Carologistics team from Aachen has become German champion - with the support of the motion plastics specialist igus.

In this video, the igus robolink ReBeL is put to the test. Is he just another robot?

igus has been developing the family of smart plastics with improved ‘isense’ sensors and monitoring modules since the launch back in 2016. These add intelligence to energy chains, cables, linear guides and slewing ring bearings, and measure, among other things, wear status and alert the user early enough to plan repair or replacement.

An innovative new bearing, called drylin W Exchange, has been introduced from igus, for its drylin W linear system, where the liner can be replaced directly on the rail quickly and easily without dismantling the system. By using a practical assembly tool, you can push the old liner out of the housing, clip the new one onto the shaft and push it into the housing for a flush fit. Simple, yet clever, maintenance that saves engineers time and money, while maximising machine up-time.

Extending its range of chainflex cables, igus has introduced cables that are optimised for fast, short strokes with minimum bend radius factor of 5xd. In addition to the flexible conductor structure, the chainflex CFSOFT uses highly abrasion-resistant, soft jacket materials. This guarantees a long service life in energy chains, even in the smallest of spaces.

Essential requirements for leadscrew modules are safe, fast and quiet adjustment, and with this in mind, igus has expanded its range of leadscrew nuts with the material iglidur E7 for trapezoidal and high helix leadscrews. This is characterised by its smooth and low-vibration operation with low loads and high speed.

Five of the iglidur high-performance polymers from igus now officially comply with the fire safety requirements of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for aircraft interiors. Areas of application for iglidur plain bearings are, for example, bearing points in seats, tables and doors.

As the automation of production processes become more important for increased productivity, igus has developed a solution with the new self-lubricating and maintenance-free drylin E linear robot, which is suitable for a wide range of applications, be it in medical equipment with high safety and hygienic requirements, tasks in microelectronics, or pick & place functions.

At Alexandra Palace this year, the ABTT show must go on for igus who will be on stand B30 to help make sure it does. Specialised igus product managers will be demonstrating technology innovations made with the modern theatre in mind. The exhibition, which runs from 6th – 7th June, is a significant date in the calendar for professionals working with pro audio, lighting, broadcast, AV, rigging and stage technologies.

Pillow block bearings play a central and vital role when it comes to roller conveyors or conveyor belts. In the food and packaging industry, traditional metallic bearings do not meet the hygienic requirements as lubricants are used. igus has developed a new ball-mounted pillow block bearing made of the FDA-compliant self-lubricating xirodur B180 material.

The world’s first high-tensile Profinet bus cable for vertical applications, such as storage and retrieval equipment has been introduced by igus. The chainflex CFSPECIAL.182.060 bus cable integrates special strain relief elements in the PUR outer jacket, which protects the sensitive bus elements from the high tensile forces.

Returning to the NEX this year for Automechanika, igus will be on stand 6A132, with its efficient solutions for the industry. Product experts will be on hand during the show in Birmingham from the 5th to the 7th of June to demonstrate igus designs that have been developed and tested in the 2,750m² test laboratory. This largest test lab in the industry in which igus performs about 20% more tests then other leading manufacturerswith test setups for chains and cables to bearings, allows engineers to precisely calculate the function and lifetime of all igus products.

With the ability to be inserted into existing metallic pillow block and flange bearing housings within a few seconds igus have introduced igubal spherical balls. These bearings, which are often used in construction machines and conveyor systems, are exposed to harsh environments requiring regular lubrication and maintenance. The igubal spherical balls are injection moulded in the high-performance plastic iglidur J, which is self-lubricating.

A compact new version of the igus robolink product range has been released which aims to complete simple automation tasks in a cost-effective way. In the new version, the control system is located in the base and the arm is operated without the need for a switch cabinet and PC. The new robolink solution is a complete 4 or 5-axis robot in which a control unit from Commonplace Robotics GmbH (CPR) is integrated at the base of the robot arm.

Contract manufacturer of cosmetic products, Carecos Kosmetik has its own packaging machines and, for each new product being packaged, develops a specific gripper to pick up the lid and screw it onto the bottle. Previously an elaborate machining process was used to make the gripper from aluminium. Not only did that cost up to €10,000 per part, it also took six weeks to manufacture.