The benefits of our products are as individual as your requirements. But they all have one thing in common, whether bearing technology, energy supply systems, Low Cost Automation, 3D printing or smart plastics: they should bring the Tech up and Cost down! For this purpose, we develop motion plastics with high-performance plastics that offer you the following advantages:
The prediction of the service life of our products and the free online tools with which e.g. you can calculate the service life. Where did we get the data? From our test laboratory, which is unique in the industry with a floor size of 3,800m² and over 15,000 annual tests. And from our customers, who give us valuable information for development with their requirements and feedback. In addition, a growing number of our products are available as smart plastics, where the material condition can be monitored and a possible replacement can be reported in good time.
"I love solving problems. I am really pleased if one of our customers can be made happy as a result. Of course, this is only successful if I work very closely with the customer. I need to completely understand where the difficulty lies in order to find an individual solution. It is not uncommon for such individual solutions to result in innovations that we include in our catalogue product range. Our customers therefore rely on our team as a driving force in the area of research and development."
Stefan Niermann
Vice President and Head of drylin Linear Technology & Low Cost Automation
Our materials and technology designs are diverse: high temperature, food grade, high load, UV and chemical resistant, plain bearings, linear technology, self-aligning bearings, gears, lead screws, 3D printing, automation and more. The core of our developments is friction optimisation. All material mixtures are improved with filler and solid lubricants so that low friction values are achieved and no external lubrication is necessary. There are no lubrication intervals or maintenance interruptions. Our technology runs trouble-free for as long as the conditions allow. And since our materials are tailored to many conditions, this can be a very long time compared to other materials.
The best bearing technology cannot show what added value it brings if the machine does not run at all - because it does not get any energy. Data cables, power cables and cables with media are neuralgic points of a machine, the cause of a failure can often be found here. Our energy chains and the cables optimised for movement have been developed to prevent failures and enable long service life. They are available as complete ready-to-install systems or as single parts.
The "Karat 9" from Lemken GmbH und Co. KG in Alpen is an intensive cultivator that can be used to work shallow, medium deep and deep. In the bearing points, Lemken uses our lubrication-free plastic bearings, which require no subsequent lubrication.
This DMG Mori multi-spindle lathe's high rotational speeds and tight installation space meant that a guidance for the numerous moving cables was needed. A modular, easy-to-maintain energy chain made of plastic provides the necessary flexibility and safety in cable guidance.
To produce sustainable coffee capsules made of wood, a drylin two-axis line robot is used with a D1 dryve control system. The reliable, affordable automated solution helps us fit up to 43 coffee capsules per minute with an exterior circumferential seal of natural rubber.
In order to screw on bottle caps in the packaging industry, maintenance-free plastic grippers were 3D-printed for a customer. The components made of igus filaments brought two advantages. Not only could a cost saving of 85% be achieved, but the special parts could also be delivered 70% faster than usual.
This engine plant, belonging to a carmaker in Austria, uses intelligent sensors on the cable guidance system to prevent expensive plant downtime. During operation, the sensors record the wear and tear of the moving energy chains and give an alarm in good time as soon as repair or replacement is required.
In more than 80 countries and more than 50 industries, motion plastics make our customers' everyday life easier and improve their applications.
During production, in use and at the end of their service life: How sustainable are our high-performance plastics?
Finding suitable products, configuring them, simulating them and making them intelligent, as well as calculating their service life.
Our products undergo more than 15,000 tests a year on 3,800m2 - in the largest test laboratory in the industry. Also your individual application.
igus is audited and certified every year. This is how we ensure that each of our products meets our high quality standards.
243,000 products from stock, ready to ship within 24 hours. Order with no minimum order quantity and without minimum order value.
Every second year, we honour our customers' most innovative applications of plastic plain bearings.
Also every two years, we honour our customers' particularly daring energy supply solutions.
iF International Forum Design GmbH sometimes presents the well-known iF Design Award for industrial design. Since 1987, numerous of our products have received awards. In 2023, for example, our drive-chain and our e-tract cable retraction system were awarded.
To recognize pioneering architecture, campaigns, and designs, the Rat für Formgebung Service GmbH has launched the German Design Award. Participants are evaluated in one of three disciplines, not only within Germany, but also at an international level. In 2023, our igus:bike received the renowned award in the "Excellent Product Design - Bicycles and E-Bikes" category.
The Good Design Award has been used to honour contemporary designs and innovations for 70 years. Its purpose is to recognise products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing. In 2022 we were awarded for the igus:bike, in previous years for example for our virtual-real booth IMPS and various products.
At the Red Dot Design Awards each year, products are assessed on a test rig in the three disciplines of "Product Design", "Brands & Communication Design", and "Design Concept". The panel of judges use an extensive list of criteria including functionality, degree of innovation, and product effect to determine the winners. Our ReBel articulated arm robot was one of the products to receive the prestigious prize in 2019.