On a recent press tour of igus’ Cologne, Germany headquarters, I had the pleasure of chatting with Frank Blase, the company’s CEO—and one of the most approachable and down-to-earth manufacturing leaders you are apt to find. Blase shared some of what has helped him grow his father’s small German company—over several decades—into the global manufacturer […]
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igus motion plastics car ends 20,000 mile tour across North America
For nearly a year, the igus motion plastics tour has traveled across North America, visiting with more than 4,000 current and potential customers in all industries at more than 160 companies from Mexico City to Toronto. It has now returned to its home base in Rhode Island. After completing a worldwide tour in 2014, the […]
Heavy duty oil rig robot takes top prize
The project from Norwegian company Robotic Drilling Systems has been awarded the most creative Energy Chain application system in biennial awards. Every two years, igus presents its “vector awards,” celebrating unique and creative uses of Energy Chain cable carrier systems. This year, the gold vector was awarded to Norwegian company Robotic Drilling Systems, for their […]
Construction machines use world’s largest Energy Chain cable carrier
Edited by Ken Korane • At the recent Bauma construction-equipment exhibition, the world’s largest trade fair, igus fittingly showcased the world’s largest all-plastic hose and cable carrier. The E4.350 energy chain features a durable construction and is designed to carry thick, heavy and stiff cables and hoses. It is especially built for use on rugged-duty […]
Catching up with Frank Blase, CEO of igus
I had the opportunity to chat with the worldwide CEO of igus, Frank Blase, while at the Hannover Fair in Germany last month, and as usual, Blase was direct and willing to discuss anything and everything. Blase has previously told me about his company’s “contact to claim,” program when I’d last seen him in 2015. […]
Industry 4.0 gets trouble-free motion with smart plastics
Motion plastics, high-performance plastics for motion, defy rain, salt, extreme temperatures, are resistant to oil or chemicals, are lighter, more dynamic, more energy efficient and yet cost effective. At the recent Hannover Messe, igus introduced the next step—intelligent “smart plastics” for Industry 4.0. The company’s goal: to make predictive maintenance even easier and thus reduce costs […]
Motion system applications for cables
By Mary Gannon • More than any other component, cables come in customized versions to satisfy specific application requirements. The number of conductors and strands to transmit power to motors and feedback to and from sensors and controllers are just a couple cable features designers match to designs. More after the jump. Usually requiring UL listing, […]
igus unveils maintenance-free xiros polymer ball bearings
Igus (www.igus.com) has announced that its xiros polymer ball bearings are lubricant and maintenance-free, enabling them to withstand temperatures of up to 150°C. Light weight and non-magnetic, these highly corrosion-resistant bearings can also be cleaned and washed. The xiros ball bearings offer an economic alternative for various applications where the use of traditional metal ball […]
igus unveils new plastic bearings technology
Igus (www.igus.com), a German-based plastic bearings specialist, has unveiled the ‘green bearings’ technology with the development of a wear-resistant plain bearing comprising 54 percent natural and sustainable raw materials. Aimed at low-load applications, the new iglidur N54 plain bearing uses polymer that is mainly made of castor oil, rather than crude oil, which is commonly […]
What are industrial bearings? Technical summary for design engineers
Updated May 2015 by Lisa Eitel. || Industrial bearings are simple machine elements but are crucial for motion applications. The purpose of a bearing is to reduce frictional forces between two moving parts by giving a surface something to roll on, rather than slide over. A bearing consists of smooth rollers or metal balls and […]
