More items in stock, fast delivery and new cables for drive technology and cleanroom applications

Rising copper prices, high capital commitment and long delivery times are increasingly causing problems for industrial companies that want to procure cables. At SPS 2026 in Nuremberg, igus will show how these risks can be reduced: with high availability, an expanded cable portfolio and new chainflex cables for moving applications in drive and cleanroom technology.

If delivery times increase or the availability of certain components becomes uncertain, many companies build up larger safety stocks in their warehouses. Although this reduces the risk of a production standstill, it also increases storage costs and capital commitment. At the SPS, igus is therefore presenting its expanded range of chainflex cables, which now includes more than 1,600 cables directly from stock. The chainflex cables are specifically designed for use in energy chains and tested in the in-house 5,500-square-metre laboratory. Customers not only benefit from a guaranteed four-year service life and a wide range of products, but also from flexible options: all cables are available from a length of 1 metre and can be cut to size individually. There are no minimum quantity surcharges and no cutting charges. To reduce installation effort and accelerate commissioning, igus offers a harnessing service for its cables with the readycable service. Users receive their tested cable from one source. This allows them to reduce inventories, reduce material costs and implement projects more quickly.

New chainflex solutions are ready to go

In addition to the focus on availability, igus is presenting two new cables at the SPS. These include the CFCLEAN.EVO cable series. It consists of data, bus, control and motor cables. It is the first cleanroom-compatible cable series that is suitable for particle-free use, is PTFE-free and has been tested for the 96 PFAS compounds considered critical. It was developed specifically for use in the e-skin flat, which is also PFAS-tested and PTFE-free. As a second highlight, igus is presenting a new chainflex hybrid cable suitable for SEW MOVILINK DDI. With a PUR outer jacket and cross sections of 4mm², 6mm² and 10mm², it can transmit even higher currents reliably in the energy chain, even over long travels of up to 20 metres.

Rethinking cable purchasing

The costs of copper-intensive components, e.g. cables, are increasing many times over. While the copper price was around $5,100 per tonne in 2009, it will reach an average of just under $12,900 per tonne in 2026, according to data from Westmetall. The International Energy Agency expects copper demand to grow significantly faster than supply in the long term . The reasons lie in the high demand for copper for expanding AI data centres, the increase in e-mobility and charging infrastructure and investments in renewable energy. As a result, the former C-part is becoming the focus of purchasing managers. “Companies today are faced with the challenge of ensuring production reliability and economic efficiency at the same time. Anyone who stocks large quantities of cables ties up capital and bears the risk of fluctuating raw material prices. “Our approach is to reduce this load with durable, tested and innovative products, high availability and fast delivery,” explains Rainer Rössel, Vice President and Head of the chainflex Cable Business Unit at igus.

Discover the highlights at the SPS in Nuremberg at the igus trade show stand in Hall 4, Stand 310.