Energy chains
With the new pull-e-cable design study, igus is presenting a particularly low-profile and cost-efficient solution for guiding cables over long travels – without the need for a classic energy chain. The system is ideal for applications with limited installation space and a low budget, for example in camera technology, laboratories, moveable displays or automation.
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.
Whether in food-vending machines, laboratory equipment or electric doors: whenever space is at a premium, designers often dispense with guides for individual moving cables – and thus risk cable damage and unnecessary maintenance costs. A new, one-piece, injection-moulded and particularly compact energy chain made of high-performance plastic from igus is designed to put things right. As this product is currently still a design study, the Cologne-based motion plastics specialist is now looking for interested companies that would like to use the energy supply systems in pilot projects and develop them further to series production.
A faulty power connection on a lorry ramp can bring the entire logistics process to a standstill. Cable reels with slip rings are a common weak point. With the e-spool flex, igus is launching a new type of solution that does not require slip rings (which are susceptible to faults) and allows for a reliable power supply – even under harsh conditions.
The efficient use of loading space is becoming increasingly important in view of the growing volume of lorry traffic on German roads. igus has therefore developed the new readychain eco-rack. The transport and assembly rack for pre-fitted energy chains consists of strong multiplex panels made of birch wood. In contrast to classic metal racks, it can be dismantled without tools. During return transport, it saves up to 88% of the original transport volume, reducing CO₂ consumption and transport costs. The eco-rack is now available for customers of the readychain service.
igus launches triflex TRE ESD, the world’s first ready-to-connect dress pack for industrial robots that is now ESD-certified, including all connection elements. The solution tested by Fraunhofer IPA significantly reduces design effort and increases safety in sensitive production areas such as microelectronics, the semiconductor industry or in the component production of battery systems. The system can be seen for the first time at automatica 2025 in Munich.
Two years ago, igus presented the E6.29, the first certified energy chain for dry cleanrooms. In order to offer customers long-term security, the motion plastics specialist commissioned the Fraunhofer IPA to carry out a test to investigate the ageing behaviour of its e-chains in the dry cleanroom – with positive results. Together with the IPA, the company has now developed new certificates that confirm the suitability of the energy chains E6, e-skin flat, e-skin soft and easy chain E14 for dry cleanrooms in long-term tests.
The energy chain specialist igus is presenting its new energy chain called “glide-chain” at the Hannover Messe. It has been developed specifically for gliding applications and is ideal for travels of up to 30m, as is the case with indoor cranes, for example. Its slim design ensures cost savings of 30 to 40%.
Seaports are under pressure worldwide: to remain competitive, terminals have to handle larger ships in shorter periods of time. Therefore, more and more operators use modern components such as igus’s robust energy chains that are compatible with Industry 4.0. The motion plastics specialist has now equipped the 2,000th STS crane with e-chains and is making more and more terminals fit for the future.
With the igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet (iMSPO), igus has developed a mobile connection system for shore power supply that can be positioned at any location along the terminal where a ship is berthed. This solution, which is already in use at the Port of Hamburg, received the “Ports and Harbor Innovation of the Year” award at the Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo Europe 2024 in Amsterdam.