Calling engineers from all over the world: the igus vector award is entering its next round. For the ninth time, igus is honouring design engineers and project managers for creative, courageous use of energy supply systems and cables made of high-performance plastic. Winners will receive prize money of up to €5,000.
In the past, traditional windmills drove mill grinders and irrigation pumps, but in future they are to produce green electricity. For this purpose, students at the HTWG Konstanz, a university of applied sciences, are installing high-tech components. igus is supporting the Sailwind 4 project with €10,000 and providing the young engineers with lubrication-free linear guides and polymer bearings, which will ensure that windmill operation requires little maintenance.
From microdrives to microscopes to precision engineering, engineers around the world are building increasingly compact products. igus now produces microgears for them with modules as small as 0.2. Tooth dimensions are very close to those of a human hair. Thanks to high-performance plastics, the teeth still allow precise, low-wear movement for high-quality products.
The robot kitchen from Cook-e, a French company, prepares fresh, healthy dishes without human help and is intended to relieve restaurateurs of the pressure associated with the skilled worker shortage. To allow the robot to operate even in restaurants with little space, the developers use compact, hygienic igus toothed belt axes.
igus has added an ESD variant specifically for highly sensitive cleanrooms to its e-skin flat series. The modular ribbon cable’s new material prevents the chain from becoming electrostatically charged while ensuring that it generates no particles, even during very fast movements. The modular design with individual pods also allows quick energy supply system filling.