The winners of the 9th vector award 2024

Unique energy chain projects were wanted!

Companies around the world are raising the bar for innovative cable routing. This is impressively demonstrated by the response to the 9th vector award: with 328 submissions from 37 countries, the diversity and scope of this engineering skill is overwhelming. Applications included theatre auditoriums whose rows of seats transform like a Transformer, automatic massage beds with artificial intelligence, numerous industrial robots that make work easier for people during welding and assembly, and sustainable technologies for agriculture.

Our independent jury of experts has now selected the winners of the vector award 2024. In the coming weeks, the prizes and honours will be presented to the respective winners in person. These celebratory ceremonies will take place on site to honour the success and achievements of the winners.

The winners

The golden vector

one The Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Lisbon wins the golden award for the use of a complex triflex® system in an optical vector spectrograph. Energy chains from the triflex® series from igus® were used for the rotating cable sheathing. They ensure that the sensitive optical fibres that transport the light from the front end to the spectrograph are not exposed to any loads that could endanger the scientific observations.

Find out more about the winner of the golden vector

The silver award vector

The silver vector award goes to TDK RF Solutions for the use of energy chain and e-spools in a test rig for vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) tests to measure the electromagnetic compatibility of vehicles with driver assistance systems. Control cables and compressed air hoses follow the movements in the 1400 series energy chain. e-spool® series slip ring-free spring cable reels are also used to wind the e-chain®. Thanks to the absence of slip rings, maintenance times have also been reduced.

Find out more about the winner of the silver vector

The bronze vector

Mecaoctet vector wins the bronze for the use of e-spool® flex systems in an animated mirrored ceiling in the ACCOR Arena in Paris. For the power supply, the experts rely on slip-ring-free spring cable reels from the e-spool® series from igus®, which are fitted with hybrid cables and connected to the centres of gravity of the triangles. According to Mecaoctet, the igus® solution made it possible to avoid complex reels with rotating collectors, which would have been very expensive and unreliable. Compared to a slider system with cable loops, the igus® solution is also more aesthetic.

Find out more about the winner of the bronze vector

The green vector

one Bear-Machines GmbH vector wins the green for the use of e-chain® and cable in a machine for regrooving truck tyres. The engineers needed bendable and flexible cables for the machine's motors and decided in favour of the cables from the chainflex® range from igus®. The cables move in e-chain® of the E2 series. According to the engineers, this solution perfectly fulfils the requirements for oscillating movements and compliance with the bend radius.

Find out more about the winner of the green vector

All applications of the 9.vector award 2024

This brochure offers you an entertaining overview of all entries, concisely presented in words and pictures. Immerse yourself in the world of cable routing. And be inspired by the creativity and ingenuity that characterises the global engineering industry.

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