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.
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.
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.
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.
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.