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It’s done: after a long period of development work, the igus:bike, a bicycle made of 92 per cent plastic with a high share of recycled content, has gone into series production. The Dutch development partner MTRL is currently producing the first 100 units together with igus. At the same time, the plastics specialist is building its own production line at the Cologne site to increase production capacity to 10,000 units over the next two years. This brings the companies one step closer to their sustainability vision of transferring plastic waste to a circular economy and using it for the urban mobility of the future.
The German economy is weakening and will only recover slowly in 2024, according to the Institute for Macroeconomics and Business Cycle Research (IMK). The mechanical engineering industry is also feeling the effects. To strengthen competitiveness, organisations will have to focus on automation. Thanks to Low Cost Automation (LCA) and the RBTX robotics marketplace from igus, companies of all sizes can find a complete solution that suits their requirements and budget – from as little as €2,000. The plastics company is now honouring the projects with the fastest return on investment (ROI) with the ROIBOT Award for the third time. Users can now apply to win LCA products worth €5,000 in addition to international recognition.
What is an easy way for me to improve my machine? The answer is: try the new igusGO app. Plastics specialist igus® has now used AI to develop a unique product search app. Just take a photo of the application and its environment, and the igusGO intelligence will show you which products to use for, say, lubrication-free design. The app also shows where there is even more potential to improve machine technology while saving costs.
Cologne, Teesside, October 2023 – Plastic waste is not incinerated, but turned back into oil in 30 minutes – using only pressure, heat and water: this revolutionary HydroPRS™ recycling is now being launched on a commercial scale for the first time. The British company Mura Technology is now starting to commission the world’s first plant – with the support of investor igus. A significant step towards an environmentally friendly and resource-saving recycling economy for plastics.
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.
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 addition to the shortage of skilled workers, high energy costs combined with increasing cost pressure and declining incoming orders remain the biggest challenges for the machine tool industry. To survive in this environment, companies must produce even better and more cost-effectively. So igus will be presenting cutting-edge technologies at EMO 2023. These are technologies that take the pressure off companies: low-cost robots that are as easy to operate as a computer game, an online service for rapid production of CNC components made of high-performance plastics, a 3D-printed assembly frame, and a low-cost energy chain for unsupported applications.
igus, the Cologne-based plastics specialist, received the renowned German Brand Award in 2023 for communication relating to the iguverse VR platform – in two categories.
After presenting the entirely plastic igus:bike last year, igus is now presenting an additional product line made of high-performance plastics for bicycle manufacturers. Other lines include frames made from a single mould or several components, impellers, and cranksets. The handlebars are about to go into series production and will be used on the Advanced Reco bike. The handlebars are produced with compounded polymers igus developed in house and have vigirously tested in the vast igus bicycle laboratory. The products are recyclable and made partly from recycled material. Production will start in Cologne and be expanded to Asia and North America, so as to offer bike OEMs local supply chains.
Plastic products have many uses and have become indispensable for everyday life. But when they reach the end of their service life, they often end up in the incinerator. Conserving valuable resources and protecting the environment requires a sustainable plastics industry. The Cologne-based plastics specialist igus is pursuing this conservation goal with its “Chainge” recycling platform. The company has now invested in cirplus, a start-up based in Hamburg. The companies have a joint vision of closing the plastics cycle and initiating a revolution in the trade of recycled materials from technical and standard thermoplastics.