The switch from classic metal gearboxes to worm gear screw jacks made of high-performance plastic from the drygear Apiro series promises several advantages: reduced costs, lower weight and no need for lubrication. However, many design engineers were not able to make this transition because the operating environments were too harsh and demanding. With the drygear Apiro HD, igus is now presenting a hybrid solution that closes precisely this gap. The worm gear is still made of lubrication-free tribopolymers. A zinc die-casting housing provides the necessary robustness.
Many companies complain about a shortage of skilled labour. igus, however, is taking on responsibility and increasingly training junior staff. A new Training Factory at the company headquarters in Cologne-Porz will support this project, doubling the training capacity for professions such as mechatronics/electronics technicians and tool mechanics. The company intends to be independent from external specialists as early as 2027. In addition to the Training Factory, the company is also increasingly focussing on adult education in cooperation with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Industrie- und Handelskammer, IHK).
Three at one fell swoop: due to high demand, igus is launching new pulleys, skate wheels and roller adapters in series production, which were previously only available as customised products. Manufactured from high-performance plastics, the new components are an economical alternative to classic metal counterparts in numerous applications. They are lubrication-free and insensitive to dirt, durable, maintenance-free, vibration-dampening and ensure a quiet operation.
