The switch from classic metal gearboxes to worm gear screw jacks made of high-performance plastic from the drygear Apiro series promises several advantages: reduced costs, lower weight and no need for lubrication. However, many design engineers were not able to make this transition because the operating environments were too harsh and demanding. With the drygear Apiro HD, igus is now presenting a hybrid solution that closes precisely this gap. The worm gear is still made of lubrication-free tribopolymers. A zinc die-casting housing provides the necessary robustness.
In more and more cities, food distributors are offering delivery to your doorstep by cargo bike. However, cargo bikes have a weak spot: their wheels bear higher loads than those of normal bicycles. As a result, defects occur time and again, resulting in delivery failures and expensive repair costs, making this means of transport less cost-effective. The solution from igus: robust wheels that are manufactured in one piece from plastic using rotational moulding.
Humanoid robots are currently all the rage. They run marathons and dance the moonwalk to Michael Jackson. In practical industrial applications, however, their use fails mainly due to their costs. This is precisely where igus comes into play with its cost-effective humanoid Iggy Rob robots. Having already introduced the Iggy Rob Industrial for production environments in 2025, the company is now expanding the platform with a new variant: the Iggy Rob Home starting at €55,000. With the new model, igus is transferring the existing platform concept to the service and household sector for the first time. Development and production are carried out entirely in Germany – from mechanics to electronics to software.
Dusty environments can become a problem for overhead conveyors in industry and logistics. When particles settle on conventional metal bearings, deposits cause sluggishness and, in the worst case, failure. To solve this problem, igus is launching a new hybrid ball bearing from the xiros series. Made of stainless steel and high-performance plastic, it allows for lubrication-free and therefore dirt-resistant operation with a load capacity of up to 39kg.
In production and automated systems, linear axes are exposed to various mechanical loads. Apart from coarse dirt, the small parts falling into the system pose a particular risk, for example during assembly or maintenance work. igus has developed the drylin linear axes ZLX-806016-PT and SLX-806016-PT, which prevent foreign objects from entering the axis and at the same time protect users against injuries. Thanks to a fully integrated metal cover, they are a completely closed and robust system, which is easy to assemble and reliably protects the guide, bearing and drive. They are suitable for workspaces, machine panelling or automation solutions, but also for applications in public areas where accessibility and trouble-free continuous operation are required.