improve what moves with motion plastics

The benefits of our products are as individual as your requirements. They all have one thing in common, whether they to do with bearing technology or energy supply systems: they are intended to improve technology and reduce costs in the process.Unique to us is certainly the prediction of the service life of our products and the free online tools, with which the service life can be calculated.

Where did we get the data?

From our test laboratory, which is also unique in the industry with a size of 3,800 m² and around 15,000 annual tests. And from our customers, who give us valuable information for development with their requirements and feedback. More and more of our products are also available as smart plastics, where the material condition can be monitored and a possible replacement can be notified in good time.

Bearing technology - self-lubricating and durable

Our materials and technology designs are diverse: high temperature, foodgrade, 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 for trouble-free operation. Our technology runs without maintenance interruption for as long as conditions permit. And since our materials are tailored to many conditions, this can be a very long time compared to other materials.

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User report: 3D printing

Maintenance-free grippers from the 3D printer

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 have two advantages: First, they cut costs by 85%. Second, the special parts were delivered 70% faster than usual.

User report: plain bearing technology

Robust plain bearings for cultivators in agriculture

Lemken GmbH und Co. KG's "Karat 9" is an intensive cultivator for shallow and mid-depth work. In the bearing points, Lemken uses our lubrication-free plastic bearings, which require no subsequent lubrication.

User report: Energy chains

Energy chain for DMG Mori machine tools

This multi-spindle lathe's high rotational speeds and tight installation space meant that a guide 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 routing.

User report: smart plastics

smart plastics prevent failures in an engine plant

This engine plant, belonging to a carmaker in Austria, uses intelligent sensors on the cable guidance system to prevent expensive plant downtime. The sensors measure the energy chain wear during operation and notify the user early enough to allow repair or replacement.

User report: Low Cost Automation

"Pick and place" robotics for sustainable coffee

To produce sustainable coffee capsules made of wood, a drylin two-axis line robot is used with a dryve D1 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.

Pre-filled cable carriers with cables or pre-assembled with connector options

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 cable carriers and the cables optimized 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.

Low Cost Automation

Automate small and large applications in the service sector or large-scale industry, as simply and cost-effectively as possible: This was the idea behind our Low Cost Automation. Articulated arm robots, delta robots for pick & place applications, and linear robots with flexible, modular deployment are to allow entry into the automated factory.

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Custom Parts Services

Print convincing 3D models quickly: With this goal in mind, we not only have developed our own 3D printing filaments made of abrasion-resistant plastics, but also support the design of 3D printers with compact, durable energy chains and linear plain bearing technology that requires no lubrication or maintenance. They are complemented by our online 3D printing service.

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IoT & Industry 4.0

Equipping products such as cable carriers, cables, and storage technology with sensors enhances system planning reliability. We call these intelligent products "smart plastics". With condition monitoring or predictive maintenance recommendations, these digitalised products avoid expensive application failures, saving time and money.

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Most recent awards for our products

2022 iF Design Award

iF Forum Design GmbH
iF International Forum Design GmbH sometimes presents the well-known iF Design Award for industrial design. Since the '80s, more than 40 of our products have received awards. In 2022, such applications as our new 3D energy chain TRX and our ReBel in the area of Low Cost Automation were recognised.

German Design Award

Rat für Formgebung Service GmbH (German Design Council)
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 the area of "Excellent Product Design", our E4Q energy chain and our Module Connect adapter were chosen in 2021.

Good Design Awards 2021

The Good Design Awards
The Good Design Award has been used to honour contemporary designs and innovations for 70 years. The aim is to recognise products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing. We were honoured for IMPS, our virtual/real trade fair stand, and six of our products. Among the current prize winners are our linear technology, smart plastics, and several of our energy chain systems.

2019 Red Dot Design Award

Red Dot GmbH & Co. KG
At the Red Dot Design Awards each year, products are assessed in the three disciplines of "Product Design", "Brands & Communication Design", and "Design Concept, Products, Brands, and Design Concepts". 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.

More information about our plastics

The motion plastics in the automated guided vehicle system

Used in Various Industries
In 72 countries and more than 50 industries, motion plastics make our customers everyday life easier and improve their applications.

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Sustainability
During production, in use and at the end of their service life: How sustainable are our high-performance plastics?

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Online Tools
Easily configure your desired product online with our configurators, calculate service life, reduce process costs.

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Over 15,000 tests per year
Our products pass through our 3,800 m2 test laboratory - the largest in the industry. We also test your individual application.

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Certificates/Approvals
igus is audited and certified every year. This is how we ensure that each of our products meets our high quality standards.

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Shipping and Delivery Times
Ready to ship in 24hrs. No minimum order quantity. Over 200,000 products ex-stock.

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manus award
Every second year we award the most innovative plastic plain bearing applications of our customers. Here are the current winners:

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vector award
Furthermore, every two years, we award prizes to exceptionally bold energy supply solutions from our customers. You can see the current award winners here:

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