To enhance efficiency and reduce downtime in production processes, igus introduces the fast positioner as a valuable addition to its readychain service—an offering that simplifies the installation of energy supply systems. The readychain service provides pre-assembled systems, encompassing chains, cables, connectors, and various components, all sourced from igus.
igus GmbH specializes in the development and production of motion plastics, offering lubrication-free, high-performance polymers that enhance technological applications and reduce costs in moving systems. The company, a global market leader in energy supply solutions, excels in the production of highly flexible cables, plain and linear bearings, as well as lead screw technology crafted from tribo-polymers.
With its headquarter located in Cologne, Germany, igus is a family-run enterprise with a presence in 35 countries and a workforce of 4,900 employees worldwide. With a turnover of €961 million in 2021, igus is committed to ongoing research, conducted in the industry’s largest test laboratories, resulting in continuous innovations and enhanced safety for users. The company includes a comprehensive product offering of 234,000 items available from stock, complemented by an online service life calculator.
igus introduces the fast positioner as a new addition to its readychain service, aiming to enhance installation efficiency and ease of handling. When machines or systems face downtime, it results in significant costs for production companies. In response, igus offers the readychain service, providing pre-assembled systems that include chain, cables, connectors, and various components.
Notably, igus ensures a comprehensive solution by delivering everything from a single source. The energy chain is supplied filled, fully harnessed with connectors, quality-checked, and ready for connection, with the option for delivery in the exact installation position upon request. The newly introduced fast positioner acts as an “assembly helper,” simplifying the handling of ready-to-install e-chains.
In recent years, igus has expanded its portfolio through the establishment of internal startups, covering areas such as ball bearings, robot drives, 3D printing, the RBTX platform for Lean Robotics, and intelligent “smart plastics” tailored for Industry 4.0. Notable environmental initiatives include the “chainge” program, focusing on the recycling of used e-chains, and active participation in enterprises dedicated to converting plastic waste into oil, also known as, Plastic2Oil.
In a world where time is a precious commodity, especially in machine operations, streamlined workflows and time-saving solutions are crucial. Markus Hüffel, Product Manager for readychain and readycable at igus, highlights the significance of the readychain service in this context, stating, “It is important to us to deliver not just a product, but a complete solution. We also think about the customer’s upstream and downstream processes and want to actively improve them.”
Emphasizing the delivery of comprehensive solutions rather than merely a product, Mr Hüffel highlighted their focus to consider customers’ upstream and downstream processes with the aim of active improvement. In alignment with this principle, a valuable addition to the service has been introduced: the fast positioner. This tool is designed to enhance the ease, safety, and speed of handling and precisely positioning the ready-to-connect energy chain systems.
The new addition, the fast positioner, acts as a simple yet effective tool to facilitate the handling and precise positioning of the ready-to-connect energy chain systems, making installation easier, safer, and faster. Supplied along with the readychains in a preset installation position, the fast positioner simplifies the installation process.
Users only need to unpack, position, detach the fast positioner, and the e-chain is ready for connection. This eliminates the need for additional tools or multiple handlers, resulting in a quicker and more straightforward installation process.
Customization and sustainability are key aspects of the fast positioner. Utilizing 3D printing, igus manufactures individual parts tailored precisely to customer requirements, offering options such as individual color selection and imprints for identification purposes. The parts can be easily placed between the upper and lower parts of an energy chain and securely fixed in place with cable ties.
The removal process is equally simple. Additionally, the material used can be regranulated and recycled, while there is also the possibility to produce the fast positioner from sustainable materials like corn starch. The material boasts robustness, lightweight properties, corrosion resistance, and compostability, depending on the source material.
One of the distinct advantages of igus is its ability to provide customers with a complete solution from a single source. Handling design, production, and harnessing on-site, igus ensures short throughput times and fast deliveries. The fast positioner, serving both as a carrying handle and a fixing device, guarantees that the chain is consistently in the optimal installation position. Hüffel emphasizes, “With this tool, we show our customers that we have thought out our solution carefully from start to finish.”
By incorporating the fast positioner into the readychain service, igus reaffirms its commitment to delivering innovative solutions that not only meet but exceed the needs of its customers. The focus on efficiency, ease of use, and sustainability positions igus as a valuable partner in the evolving landscape of energy supply systems for various industries.
