Innovative energy chain applications from Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands convince the jury

The winners of the 10th vector award 2026 from igus have been confirmed: terminal operator Cruise Port Rotterdam wins the gold award with its system for supplying shore power to cruise ships in ports. The silver vector goes to Jenaer Antriebstechnik GmbH for an ultra-precise positioning system in microchip production, while the Royal Ballet and Opera from London was awarded the bronze vector for a 37m high stage tower with lowerable multimedia technology. Membion GmbH, which has developed a membrane bioreactor for filtering microplastics from drinking water, is delighted to receive the green vector. igus received a record of 424 entries from 36 countries for the competition’s anniversary edition, which honours creative and sustainable energy chain applications.

Fresh sea air – as if! Many harbour cities suffer from high levels of exhaust emissions when ships run their engines to supply electricity. Measurements by the German Nature Conservation Society (Naturschutzbund; NABU) show: at terminals, one cubic metre of air can contain over 400,000 particles. The load of emissions is up to 80 times higher than that on major transport routes. To prevent this pollution, the terminal operator Cruise Port Rotterdam supplies its cruise ships with shore power as an alternative. It reduces emissions on site to zero. However, the connection proved to be a challenge. As the ocean-going giants vary greatly in size and mooring position, the design engineers had to build a mobile shore power connection unit. One challenge was to guide the energy cables over long travels and protect them from salt and UV radiation. For this purpose, the igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet (iMSPO) is used. This mobile system can be adapted to the requirements of modern terminals. It works with a rail system on which a trolley moves, which transports the cables in rol e-chains made of high-performance plastic. These move in covered guide troughs in the ground of the quay. At the same time, it can be integrated unobtrusively into the existing terminal infrastructure and is barely visible in daily use, so that terminal operation is not disrupted. The cables that the ship lowers to the quay are connected via the trolley. This allows the cruise liners to switch off their diesel generators and avoid emissions. The vector jury, which consists of experts from research, specialist press and industry, was impressed by this technically sophisticated yet sustainable application and awarded Cruise Port Rotterdam the golden vector 2026.

Silver vector: 700 times thinner than a human hair – precision positioning system for microchip production

Surgeons, watchmakers and restorers have great dexterity. However, even they could not possibly work in the production of modern microchips that are used in smartphones, electric cars and diagnostic devices in hospitals. This calls for machines that can place components within a positioning range of 0.1µm. For comparison: a human hair is around 700 times thicker. Jenaer Antriebstechnik GmbH develops the right pick & place solutions for this precision work. Their systems achieve accelerations of up to 100m/s2 with a repeatability of ±0.1μm. Incredible precision, but this only works if the machine components do not cause any disruptive vibrations. When guiding energy and data cables, the design engineers were faced with the problem that conventional energy chains generate too much vibration when the chain links clink together. In addition, many systems cause too much abrasion, which means that they are not suitable for cleanrooms. The solution was cleanroom-compatible flat cables from the igus e-skin flat series in combination with chainflex cables. The system minimises disruptive forces and frictional influences. This ensures consistently high accuracy and friction-free, dynamic movements of the multi-axis system.

Bronze vector: for a lovely evening at the opera – multimedia cable guidance for stage tower that is 37m high

It’s worth taking a proverbial look behind the scenes: the Royal Ballet and Opera in London is one of the most important cultural institutions in the world. A permanent ensemble of world-class dancers, singers and musicians brings around 250 performances to the stage every year. What the audience doesn’t see: above the stage is a 37m high tower that can lower two complete sets, including lighting trusses, to allow for quick scene changes between different productions. Hundreds of cables for power and data have to follow the movement of the trusses down to the floor as quietly as possible without causing any damage or disrupting the performance. Motorised cable reels were ruled out due to the large quantities of cable.
As early as 2000, the design engineers therefore decided in favour of a solution from igus: a customised and space-saving zig-zag energy chain system for the lighting trusses in the upper stage machinery. The system has been operating reliably for over 25 years without failures. Convinced of this sustainability, the experts turned to igus again in 2025 when the lighting was converted to LED technology and requirements such as weight, load and construction changed as a result. One challenge was the pendulum deflection of the energy chains, which was significantly reduced by a reverse zig-zag arrangement. In addition, the weight of the guide boxes was reduced from 200kg to 150kg thanks to an optimised design that used aluminium. Now, 20 pre-fitted energy chains from the E4.56 series with chainflex cables are installed, reliably transporting energy and data for the LED lighting. The opera house asked igus to recycle the old energy chains, thereby improving its sustainability balance.

Green vector: for safe drinking water – membrane bioreactor filters even bacteria and microplastics

Safe drinking water cannot be taken for granted, even in Germany. More and more microplastics and pharmaceutical residues are pushing conventional wastewater treatment plants to their technical limits because the particles are simply too small. While the German government is increasing the pressure on sewage treatment plants with stricter limits in the “National Water Strategy”, technology manufacturers are looking for new filtration options. One of them is Membion GmbH from Roetgen. The company develops membrane bioreactors that look like huge bundles of spaghetti. Their filters have such tiny pores that even bacteria and microplastics cannot pass through. In combination with powdered activated carbon, micro-pollutants such as pharmaceutical residues can be removed. However, the automated production of the membranes only works without failure if the cables, which are permanently subjected to humid conditions and are located in confined installation spaces, are reliably protected. The design engineers therefore rely on energy chains from the igus E2 series with chainflex cables. The small bend radii allow for space-saving installation even in the tightest of spaces. The result is a reliable and durable cable guide that can withstand the demanding operating conditions in the long term.

Find out more about the four vector winners at http://www.igus.eu/vector