The starting signal for the application phase of the vector award 2026 has been given. For the tenth time, a joint initiative is honouring designers worldwide who use energy chains made of high-performance plastic to create cable guides that set new technological standards. The winners receive up to 5,000 euros in prize money.
In Germany, there are a lot of family businesses with strong development despite the challenging times. igus is one of them. The Cologne-based company started out in 1964 with plastic components such as industrial plain bearings and energy chains. It is also constantly tapping into new and promising business areas, e.g. low-cost robotics. This agility is one of the reasons why igus is a finalist in the globally renowned competition “EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025”. According to the organiser Ernst & Young, this makes igus one of the best owner-managed companies in Germany that are shaping the future with confidence.
Many design engineers are familiar with the problem: they want a particularly smooth-running guide for pull-out mechanisms that can withstand high loads without wearing out quickly. Examples are retractable steps in train carriages, plinth solutions in the furniture industry or laboratory equipment. Classic lubricated metal ball bearings are out of the question as they require too much maintenance and are not sufficiently weather-resistant. It is precisely for this application that igus has developed the new hybrid roller bearing with roller retraction system for the drylin W series. Thanks to its crafty design, it combines smooth operation with heavy duty.
igus has developed two new chemical-resistant and particularly durable xiros ball bearings especially for use in contact with chemicals. They are 65 times more wear-resistant than ball bearings made entirely of the plastic polyether ether ketone (PEEK). This durability is due to a combination of races and balls made of technical ceramics and a PEEK-based igus cage. Designers in the chemical and process industries, aerospace and the automotive sector, among others, benefit from their long service life.
Design engineers can considerably increase the efficiency of autonomous logistics robots with linear modules from igus. The RoboCup World Championship in Brazil in 2025 will prove this as robots from all over the world will handle products in a simulated factory. Here, the Carologistics team from Aachen has succeeded in implementing a fast, precise and reliable gripper system using igus linear axes from the drylin ZLW series. With this solution, the team won the world championship title and set a new world record.