After two years of rapid growth totalling 57 per cent, igus was able to maintain its billion-euro turnover in 2023 despite the challenging global economic situation. In 2024, the company will invest in 247 new motion plastics products and digital services. More favourable and better solutions for lubrication-free movements, low-cost automation and CO2-reducing products are the focal points. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has now made it possible to bundle hundreds of thousands of test data and millions of applications from 60 years of igus experience into a simple solution finder for the “Zero Lubrication” goal: the igusGO app. 433 million euros of investment in the last three years, around half of it in Germany alone, is accelerating this technical progress and delivery from stock worldwide. This trend is set to continue in 2024.
Lubricants are as much a part of everyday industrial life as a cup of coffee every morning. And they amount to $240 billion a year across the globe. At the same time, machine downtime worth $750 billion per year is caused by inadequate lubrication. igus now combines 60 years of motion plastics expertise with hundreds of thousands of test data and millions of applications in an AI that immediately takes users to lubrication-free movements in their systems. From excavators and agricultural tractors to water turbines, everything has already been successfully tried and tested. A study by RWTH Aachen University demonstrates the explosive nature of the topic. At the Hannover Messe, the plastics specialist is presenting 247 new products, showing that everybody can achieve “zero lubrication”.
The champagne corks are popping in Portugal, more precisely at the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences at the University of Lisbon. The researchers won the golden vector award 2024 for their MOONS spectrograph. Every two years, igus honours the most spectacular energy chain applications with this award – this year among 328 entries from 37 countries. The silver vector goes to the company TDK RF Solutions, which has developed a test rig for driver assistance systems, the bronze vector to MECAoctet for their movable nightclub ceiling. Bear Machines GmbH was delighted to receive the green vector for particularly sustainable energy chain applications for a machine that automatically recuts tyres.
With the new slewing ring bearing made of WPC (wood-plastic composite), igus is taking another step forward in the integration of renewable raw materials in industrial production. By using 50 per cent wood and 50 per cent high-performance plastics, customers receive a cost-effective and lubrication-free slewing ring bearing. It strikes a good balance between strength, durability and environmental friendliness with a proven low CO2 footprint.
For cable guidance in drawers and pull-outs of all kinds, igus is launching the draw e-chain. Thanks to the minimalist design, the price of the compact energy chain is 30 per cent lower than the most cost-effective standard e-chains. This protects against expensive oversizing, especially if the application is only moved a little.