Every two years Igus presents the Vector Award, which honors outstanding applications with energy chain systems. This year, 187 different applications from 30 countries were submitted for participation. The golden vector went to the company Loxin from Spain. In this application, two articulated robots work in the final assembly line for aircraft fuselages.

Two Industrial robots, which work automatically in the final assembly of aircraft fuselages with a diameter of 4 m and take over work steps such as drilling and riveting. In the past, the main problem with this application was collisions of the Industrial robots with the aircraft fuselage, which could lead to dangerous damage to the aircraft. Two three-dimensionally movable e-chains from igus are now used. They are attached parallel to each side of the robotic arms, allowing for better mobility of the robotic arms and greater accessibility to the fuselages despite the difficult geometries.

Articulated arm robots cut time in test bench for exhaust gas turbochargers in half

This means that more different lines and hoses for connecting elements can now be routed to the end effectors of the robots. In addition, other energy chain systems with various geometries and directions of movement supply the robots. For this application, the Loxin company received the golden Vector and 5000 euros in prize money at the Hanover Fair. The prize, awarded every two years, honors exciting and spectacular energy chain applications; the jury consists of representatives from the trade media, business and research.

Silver Vector for US application

The "Hummingbird" is a development for the agricultural industry for irrigation and fertilizer supply of fields. It replaces conventional individual machines, can be equipped with a wide variety of sensors and can use software that processes data relating to temperature, nutrients or disease. In this way, the substances to be sprayed can be adapted, mixed and distributed on a case-by-case basis to the plant growth.

The management of pipes and hoses is solved here by a "micro flizz" system from Igus, in which a chain of energy is compactly traversed in a housed aluminum trough. This spectacular energy management, which makes up a large part of the facility, as well as the great positive environmental aspect of the application meant that the jury awarded this submission to Cordoba Technologies Inc. the Silver Vector.

Bronze for innovative elevator

Thyssenkrupp Elevator has the conventionally used ropes Linear motoren replaced. The linear drive and the guide linkage can rotate through 90 degrees, allowing the cabins to be moved both vertically and horizontally. One of the biggest challenges during implementation was the lack of space in relation to the amount of cable, both in depth and in terms of rotational movement. The cables are also subject to high requirements, such as shielding and small diameters and bending radii.

For the first time in the elevator sector there are cable drag chains for such an application. Two counter-rotating energy guiding chains running on a circular path and guided in a gutter system together with the corresponding Igus cables guarantee the necessary energy and data transmission to the rotatable platform. An exciting application with an extraordinary energy management. Thus, the company secured the bronze Vector 2018.

The whole world of igus robots

Special recognition for energy production

The generation of energy by means of sea wave energy offers enormous future potential, as the average energy density is five times higher than with wind power and ten times higher than with solar cells. But it also poses special challenges for the energy supply systems used, which have to withstand the rough conditions inside buoys at sea for years. The application of "Cor Power Ocean" from Sweden was awarded the Special Vector 2018 for its innovative and environmentally friendly solution.

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