Current News

Mobile socket from igus makes supplying container ships with shore power safe, fast and flexible

Press release

9th October 2024 | With the igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet (iMSPO), igus has developed a mobile connection system for shore power supply that can be positioned at any location along the terminal where a ship is berthed. This solution, which is already in use at the Port of Hamburg, received the “Ports and Harbor Innovation of the Year” award at the Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo Europe 2024 in Amsterdam.

Find the right drive cable with the new readycable finder from igus

Press release

7th October 2024 | The motion plastics specialist igus has released the latest version of its readycable finder, an online tool that makes it much easier to select the suitable drive cable. Users can find the right cable with the appropriate quality at the most favourable price with just one entry. The integrated chainflex service life calculator also reliably predicts how long the cable will last.

Hackathon at igus: Artificial intelligence meets robotics

Press release

4th October 2024 | A hackathon took place at the igus headquarters in Cologne in mid-September. In line with the motto “Artificial intelligence meets robotics”, 17 participants worked in three interdisciplinary teams to develop advanced automation solutions for logistics. The aim of the hackathon was to create an automated method for packing up pizzas using a large language model (LLM for short) based on AI. The event was organised in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS, the University of Bonn, the Lamarr Institute and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML.

igus® develops new lubrication-free plain bearing materials without PTFE

Press release

26th September 2024 | What do dental floss, skis, a frying pan and plain bearings have in common? They are all based on organic fluorine compounds, also known as PFAS. What makes them special: PFAS are insensitive to water, heat and dirt. They help plain bearings achieve wear-resistant and lubrication-free dry operation. However, as the chemicals can only degrade very slowly, they have a negative reputation. If they get into the environment, this can harm both people and nature. igus is therefore developing plain-bearing materials such as the new iglidur JPF, which dispense entirely with PFAS such as PTFE.

Professional race car simulator to go

Press release

20th September 2024 | The British company Greaves 3D Engineering has developed a professional racing car simulator called “The Ultimate Drivers Rig”, which can be quickly folded up and stored in a road case. This makes transport to racetracks, trade shows and company events much easier. To reduce maintenance work when travelling, engineers rely on robust and lubrication-free linear and drive technology in addition to energy chains and plain bearings from igus.

igus bearings ensure a maintenance-free bottling system

Press release

6th September 2024 | The renowned Belgian brewery Chimay, known for its traditional Trappist beer, relies on maintenance-free spherical bearings from igus in its bottling plant. By replacing rusty, seized ball bearings with lubrication-free igubal H3 bearing inserts, the brewery was able to increase efficiency and reduce maintenance.

Around 34t of plastic waste collected from rivers with the help of igus

Press release

28th August 2024 | Every year, several million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans. Around 1,600 rivers wash most of it into the sea. Plastic waste destroys marine ecosystems and contributes to the loss of biodiversity. To prevent it from spreading uncontrollably in the water and turning into microplastics, the start-up Plastic Fischer collects plastic waste from rivers in India and Indonesia – with the support of the Cologne-based plastics specialist igus, among others.

Double recognition for the iguverse

Press release

22nd August 2024 | Reason to celebrate: the international jury of experts of the renowned competition for communication design Red Dot Award has honoured the open virtual-reality platform iguverse in two categories: “Virtual Reality Installations” and “Exhibition Design Elements”. The award recognises the motion plastics specialist’s efforts to offer SMEs barrier-free access to innovative 3D technologies and thus support their global competitiveness. Customers can present and design products faster, more efficiently and more sustainably without having to draw on their own development resources. They also save costs by using the iguverse: for example, companies can downsize exhibition stands and have digital exhibits created instead of investing in expensive exhibition models. igus is using the recognition as a tailwind to further develop the functionalities of the iguverse.

Smart city: modern pedestrian guidance system relies on flexible cables and e-chain from igus

Press release

15th August 2024 | As part of the Smart City Initiative with Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH, Funkwerk Systems GmbH has developed a state-of-the-art pedestrian information and guidance system that is changing the way pedestrians explore urban environments. The guide moves every three minutes, drawing attention to events at central points in Stuttgart’s town centre. This pioneering project took second place in the German Tourism Award in 2023. It relies on the three-dimensional triflex R energy chain and highly flexible chainflex cables from igus to ensure smooth and reliable operation.

Robust, even in combination with wind and waves: durable high-performance polymers prove themselves in yachts

Press release

6th August 2024 | Summertime is holiday time. People lying on the beach often look out over the sea, which is lined with boats and yachts. To ensure that they remain corrosion-free and require as little maintenance as possible, components that can withstand severe weather conditions are required. Parts such as plain bearings, linear and drive technology from the plastics specialist igus have been proving their worth for years in the rough conditions prevailing in sea air and salt water.

Configure individual rotary energy supply systems from igus online in no time at all

Press release

30th July 2024 | With the rotation module online configurator of the motion plastics specialist igus, engineers can configure and order individual rotary energy supply systems in seconds. This will eliminate weeks of co-ordination by e-mail and telephone, resulting in a shorter design time. Configurator users also benefit from a reduced price for the rotating energy supply as igus passes on the effort saved directly to the customer.

The new OfficeChain from igus: perfect cable guidance for height-adjustable desks

Press release

23rd July 2024 | More and more people are using height-adjustable desks for ergonomic working. Organised cable guidance is essential to avoid tangled cables and tripping hazards. The new OfficeChain OCO.32.37.0 from igus is the perfect solution for this. Thanks to its easy handling and simple design, the chain blends unobtrusively into all kinds of office environments while providing organisation and structure.

igus adds new accessories for hoses to e-chain series E4Q

Press release

11th July 2024 | The safe and efficient guidance of hoses, corrugated tubes and cables in energy chains is a major challenge in various industrial applications. To counter this problem, igus now offers new accessories for their E4Q series: a special outer link for parallel guidance of hoses and a new hose clamp. These additions allow for simple and safe installation of corrugated tubes and hoses. The links with guide channel make it easier to retrofit PMA clips while the hose clamp makes sure that hoses are securely fastened.

When the robot parks the bike

Press release

2nd July 2024 | Bikes instead of cars: for the mobility transition to work, cities need more parking facilities without encroaching too much impact on the cityscape. For this purpose, the Japanese manufacturer Giken has built a garage called Eco Cycle, which parks bicycles completely automatically underground. To ensure the reliability of the robot garage, the engineers used robust and maintenance-free energy chains from igus for the lift’s cable guidance system.

Simple connection to machine construction profiles: new drylin ZLX toothed belt axis from igus

Press release

25th June 2024 | The motion plastics specialist igus is expanding their drive technology range with new toothed belt axes: the compact, robust and lubrication-free drylin ZLX high-performance series. The anodised aluminium profile of the axes has been developed in a completely new geometric design. As a result, drylin ZLX not only looks like a mechanical engineering profile, but can also be quickly and easily integrated into a modular profile system. With a load capacity of 150N and speeds of up to 3m/s, the new toothed belt axis is suitable for automated production lines, pick-and-place systems and 3D printers, among others.

igus develops first recyclable plastic bicycle frame

Press release

24th June 2024 | After RCYL, a bicycle made from 50 per cent recycled fishing nets, igus is setting the next milestone for sustainable mobility: the motion plastics specialist has developed the first bicycle frame made from recyclable plastic material for the German e-bike manufacturer Advanced Bikes, which is manufactured using injection moulding. Decades of expertise in plastics manufacturing and experience with the RCYL bike are channelled into the development of both the frame and new bicycle components made from high-performance plastics.

igutex plain bearing technology: belt and braces thanks to double winding

Press release

11th June 2024 | Handling containers around the clock under extreme conditions – this is the daily routine of STS, RMG and RTG cranes in ports around the world. However, premature wear and breakdowns of the wheel and axis units, the bogies, place an enormous burden on operators. In Rotterdam, igus will be presenting a solution at TOC Europe from 11th to 13th June 2024: wound, lubrication-free and corrosion-resistant polymer bearings from the igutex series for heavy-duty applications.

On the fast track: mobile robots from igus reduce costs for SMEs

Press release

14th May 2024 | Mobile robotic systems are being used in more and more work areas, from e-commerce warehouses to modern restaurants. Conventional models on the market start at around €25,000, while solutions with an integrated robot arm are priced at approx. €70,000 (prices may vary in your country). However, widespread use is often unaffordable for small and medium-sized companies due to the high prices. igus wants to change this with new low-cost robotics offerings and is presenting a series of low-cost mobile plastic robots at the Hannover Messe.

The plastic bicycle from igus goes into series production with the new name RCYL

Press release

30th April 2024 | RCYL starts a new chapter in sustainable mobility. The former igus:bike is now called RCYL – a bicycle made from 50 per cent recycled fishing nets. For the moving components, igus relies on its lubrication-free, rust-free and recyclable high-performance plastics – “zero lubrication”. With series production in Cologne, igus is setting a milestone: the plastics company aims to produce 5,000 bicycles by next season. This, however, is just the beginning. The aim is to establish local production at landfill sites around the world and thus close the plastic cycle.

1.136 billion in turnover, 6.7 per cent more customers and 247 new products at the Hannover Messe

Press release

18th April 2024 | After two years of rapid growth totalling 57 per cent, igus was able to maintain its billion-euro turnover in 2023 despite the challenging global economic situation. In 2024, the company will invest in 247 new motion plastics products and digital services. More favourable and better solutions for lubrication-free movements, low-cost automation and CO2-reducing products are the focal points. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has now made it possible to bundle hundreds of thousands of test data and millions of applications from 60 years of igus experience into a simple solution finder for the “Zero Lubrication” goal: the igusGO app. 433 million euros of investment in the last three years, around half of it in Germany alone, is accelerating this technical progress and delivery from stock worldwide. This trend is set to continue in 2024.

Space scientists win golden vector award 2024

Press release

18th April 2024 | The champagne corks are popping in Portugal, more precisely at the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences at the University of Lisbon. The researchers won the golden vector award 2024 for their MOONS spectrograph. Every two years, igus honours the most spectacular energy chain applications with this award – this year among 328 entries from 37 countries. The silver vector goes to the company TDK RF Solutions, which has developed a test rig for driver assistance systems, the bronze vector to MECAoctet for their movable nightclub ceiling. Bear Machines GmbH was delighted to receive the green vector for particularly sustainable energy chain applications for a machine that automatically recuts tyres.

It’s all in the mix! igus presents new slewing ring bearing made of wood and plastic

Press release

18th April 2024 | With the new slewing ring bearing made of WPC (wood-plastic composite), igus is taking another step forward in the integration of renewable raw materials in industrial production. By using 50 per cent wood and 50 per cent high-performance plastics, customers receive a cost-effective and lubrication-free slewing ring bearing. It strikes a good balance between strength, durability and environmental friendliness with a proven low CO2 footprint.

Annual press conference 2024 of igus GmbH

17th April 2024 | In the run-up to this year's Hannover Messe, we held our annual press conference, where we presented many exciting innovations from the world of motion plastics under the motto "GO ZERO Lubrication". You can watch the press conference with our news highlights in the adjacent video. You can experience all 247 innovations and program extensions live at the Hannover Messe or now via the following button.

igus launches new compact low-cost energy chain for drawers

Press release

13th March 2024 | For cable guidance in drawers and pull-outs of all kinds, igus is launching the draw e-chain. Thanks to the minimalist design, the price of the compact energy chain is 30 per cent lower than the most cost-effective standard e-chains. This protects against expensive oversizing, especially if the application is only moved a little.

The first 100 igus bicycles take to the road

Press release

13th March 2024 | It’s done: after a long period of development work, the igus:bike, a bicycle made of 92 per cent plastic with a high share of recycled content, has gone into series production. The Dutch development partner MTRL is currently producing the first 100 units together with igus. At the same time, the plastics specialist is building its own production line at the Cologne site to increase production capacity to 10,000 units over the next two years. This brings the companies one step closer to their sustainability vision of transferring plastic waste to a circular economy and using it for the urban mobility of the future.

chainflex cables without PFAS: safety for people, nature and businesses

Press release

14th February 2024 | Like the chemicals of the PFAS family, certain polytetrafluoroethylene compounds – PTFE for short – are considered “forever chemicals” and therefore potentially harmful to the environment, people and animals. The European Union is therefore working on a ban on the substances. With the “PFAS-free” seal, igus demonstrates that their own chainflex cables are free of the chemicals and already offer customers operational safety in the event of a ban.

Find the right plain bearing even faster

Press release

12th February 2024 |Enter dimensions, determine application parameters, find plain bearings – simple! This is how the new igus online shop for polymer plain bearings now works. Whether catalogue part or special bearing, customers receive a transparent overview of all plain bearings that are suitable for their application. Convenient filters such as price, delivery time and service life help with the selection. Technical drawings and CAD data are available as a free download.

igus is once again looking for creative Low Cost Automation projects with the fastest return on investment

Press release

15th January 2024 | The German economy is weakening and will only recover slowly in 2024, according to the Institute for Macroeconomics and Business Cycle Research (IMK). The mechanical engineering industry is also feeling the effects. To strengthen competitiveness, organisations will have to focus on automation. Thanks to Low Cost Automation (LCA) and the RBTX robotics marketplace from igus, companies of all sizes can find a complete solution that suits their requirements and budget – from as little as €2,000. The plastics company is now honouring the projects with the fastest return on investment (ROI) with the ROIBOT Award for the third time. Users can now apply to win LCA products worth €5,000 in addition to international recognition.

igus launches first UL-listed motor cable for cable tray and e-chain

Press release

10th January 2024 | With the new chainflex cable CF33.UL, igus has developed the world’s first motor cable for energy chains and cable trays with UL approval and a four-year functional guarantee in the energy chain. This allows the cable to be laid seamlessly from the energy chain to the cable tray without a plug connection in between. The CF33.UL also adds a shielded PVC motor cable to the chainflex range.

igus fixed flange bearings become intelligent

Press release

8th January 2024 | Expensive machine and vehicle breakdowns due to undetected faults in heavy-duty fixed flange bearings: these will soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new generation of two- and four-hole fixed flange bearings. Their special feature is that the bearings, which are made of lubrication-free high-performance plastic, are equipped with miniature wireless sensors, enabling condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.

Custom-fit orthoses from the 3D printer

Press release

28th November 2023 | Produce orthoses that splint injured fingers in hospital in record time using a 3D printer: students at Trier University of Applied Sciences are developing a compact platform that measures fingers. The igus Young Engineers Support (yes) is supporting them by providing free miniature linear guides.

Two drives in one: igus launches double-shaft stepper motor

Press release

23rd November 2023 | Cost-effective automation in a confined installation space. To provide an easy introduction to automation, igus has now developed a new double-shaft stepper motor for its drylin linear technology. It can be used to drive two linear axes. Another possible application is the installation of a hand wheel on the second drive shaft. In an emergency, users can turn the motor by hand. Manual zero point calibration is also possible.

igus offers new record guarantee of four years on cables

Press release

23rd November 2023 | If cables break, machines and systems come to a standstill. However, companies weren’t able to be sure how long a cable would last. Not until igus solved the problem: 10 years ago, igus was the first industrial company in the world to introduce a 36-month guarantee on moving cables. Just in time for the SPS 2023 automation trade fair, the plastics specialist is extending the guarantee period for its entire cable range by a further 12 months to four years. This gives customers even more functional and planning security. The guarantee, which is unique in the industry, is possible due to thousands of new customer applications and over 20 billion additional test cycles in the in-house chainflex laboratory carried out in the past decade.

Position ready-to-install energy chains easily, quickly and accurately

Press release

21st November 2023 | If machines or systems are at a standstill, this costs production companies valuable time and money. To make it easier for customers to install energy supply systems and reduce installation time, igus offers the readychain service with pre-assembled systems consisting of chain, cables, connector and many other components. What makes it special: igus offers customers everything from a single source igus. The energy chain is filled, fully harnessed with connectors, quality-checked and delivered ready for connection – on request in the exact installation position. igus is now supplementing this service with a new “assembly helper”: the fast positioner. This simple tool makes handling ready-to-install e-chains even easier.

Shaking hands with a robot: igus launches bionic hand for ReBeL cobot on the market

Press release

21st November 2023 | Robots have become an integral part of industry and are increasingly finding their way into small and medium-sized companies in the form of cobots, such as the ReBeL. They sort, pick and move with the help of cameras, suction devices and gripper systems. igus has now developed a finger gripper for the ReBeL cobot so that it can also perform humanoid tasks. It is made entirely of lubrication-free plastics, and is therefore very cost-effective and easy to integrate.

"Can I use my machine without lubrication?" – igusGO® App now provides the answer

Press release

14th November 2023 | What is an easy way for me to improve my machine? The answer is: try the new igusGO app. Plastics specialist igus® has now used AI to develop a unique product search app. Just take a photo of the application and its environment, and the igusGO intelligence will show you which products to use for, say, lubrication-free design. The app also shows where there is even more potential to improve machine technology while saving costs.

Plastic recycling pioneer Mura Technology celebrates pre-opening of world’s first HydroPRS™ plant

Press release

13th November 2023 | Plastic waste is not incinerated, but turned back into oil in 30 minutes – using only pressure, heat and water: this revolutionary HydroPRS™ recycling is now being launched on a commercial scale for the first time. The British company Mura Technology is now starting to commission the world’s first plant – with the support of investor igus. A significant step towards an environmentally friendly and resource-saving recycling economy for plastics.

Compact for small installation spaces: igus presents new miniature linear guides

Press release

13th November 2023 | Laboratory equipment, espresso machines, tiny houses: wherever installation space is scarce and components are difficult to reach, designers are looking for space-saving and maintenance-free linear guides for adjustment and positioning tasks. igus is therefore adding new miniature linear guides in Installation Size 06 to its drylin W series. They are not only compact but also lubrication-free.

New low-cost igus carriage for curved rail made of recycled high-performance plastic

Press release

25th October 2023 | Injection-moulded from regranulated high-performance plastic and therefore very cost-effective and sustainable, the new polymer carriages from the igus drylin econ series make adjustment and positioning tasks simple. They cost less than 20% of what their milled aluminium counterparts do. Thanks to movable bearings, they can even handle cornering on curved aluminium rails without any problems.